Kew - first bonus visit of the week

 Luckily I don't need the tube to get to Kew (they're striking till Thursday)  so I set off early.. 

they were almost late opening... but I headed off in my usual direction

I was carrying all my lenses today so had a huge choice

this is the wide angle, trying and failing to avoid the sun

and the globe lens even made an appearance

the blue is deceptive, it was quite fresh first thing

I was trying to get a good photo fo the bed in the bottom right, but the sun either cast total shadow over the planting or obliterated it with light. 

down the Broad Walk, the sprinklers had been on 

euphorbia

alchemilla mollis

euphorbia again

round to the Hive

wide angle 

still on wide angle for the carbon garden

I'd been looking forward to sitting underneath the mushroom with the globe lens,

but I was thwarted - it was closed off, people working... I thought it would be open later (after 10)  but when i went back, it was still closed off and "men in suits" milling around....

was able to try from the side

part of the garden was accessible, it was just under the mushroom....

put the zoom on 

cones, with the zoom 

grass garden 

sunflowers outside the veg garden 

ferns in sunlight in the evolution garden

shadows

didn't have the macro on at this time,  got better results I think! 

bronze fennel 

the echinacea are fading now 

asters

the light playing over them was fabulous, the photo doesn't really do it justice.

statue at the end of the evolution garden 

playing with the patterns on a (different to Saturday) drift of sedums 

alpine house - this is after the salvias!

salvias along the rock garden border 

I walked along the side of the Princess of Wales conservatory and found some amaryllis growing outside 

berries

callicarpa 

headed back to the Broad Walk 

and got the globe lens out again 

decided to have breakfast so headed to the cafe 

went for a sausage roll today, hot,   

chose a wobbly table even though I tested it before I sat down, so as soon as I tried to cut the sausage roll the tea spilled... 

yes, they've got smaller much like the cake! 

it was lovely though. 

I took a different route to the lake, 

the other side of the Palm House

this is the new(ish) wild rose garden

other side of the path, gorgeous greens 

the lake is green again! 

as I approached the lake crossing I came across the heron - sat on the bench - and the swan 

I changed lens and as I did so he hopped onto the floor 

zoom time.

they let me sit on the bench, quite close to them, without any fuss

the swan tucked her beak into her feathers but her eyes were open 

they let me move to the side to get closer

and back to the bench, barely a glance

bit of a stretch 

and a preen 

every now and then she'd have a look up as pigeons flew over, but settled down to snooze again 

Not sure I was very successful at not taking as many pictures as Saturday. but what a treat.

several people walked by whilst I was sat there, and they (the birds!) didn't mind at all 

I sat for about 20 minutes or so.  

before heading across the lake - they're still there!

swapped to wide angle for shadows 

one of these will go on the calendar I am determined to make this year!! 

blogger has reversed them of course 

as I left the lake, the swan and heron had been joined by some geese! 

needless to say,the lift to the treetop walkway is out of action AGAIN but I climbed up anyway 

you could see a long way over the trees 

and headed back down again (much easier going down!)

I made my way to the Temperate House

on my way, the crows - I swear they are the same ones - that Kim usually has monkey nuts for - followed me,  I apologised to them for not having anything for them!

some of the cherry trees outside the TH are turning orange 

inside 

sun was streaming through the glass roof

it's my fault this one is on the wonk! 

I climbed more stairs to the viewing platform (although when I got to the other end, the barrier was in place indicating it was closed...) 

Pagoda through the window 

patterns on the floor 

I love these yellow flowers, but the only way you can see them proeerly is halfway down the spiral stairs

back on the ground, there was one lotus flower left 

outside, I put the wide angle on and crouched down to get the sky in to full effect 

headed across to the Pavilion cafe

Pagoda peeking through the trees

grapes growing on the pergola 

the porcelain berries are turning their beautiful colours

I sat and had a glass of water for a few minutes 

enjoying the sunshine - it was lovely and warm now 

before making my way back along the path towards the gallery

to have a look at this one last time - part of their Power of Trees event - it closes this weekend.  I sat and watched the film of the tree (it was recorded on a windy day in 2011 and the sound of the wind as the branches sway is so good)  

back in the sunshine 

carpet of leaves 

the sugar maple is slowing turning 

so is this maple

I walked through the winter garden 

then rejoined the path (camellia walk, although of course these aren't camellias)

and into the Palm House

someone had just come in through the main door - looking out to the pond and the fountain 

quick look in the waterlily house

and then out

to the fountain, as I had the zoom 

which is great for the spray!

I had to change lens to be able to use the globe lens as my zoom doesn't focus close enough for what I really wanted 

which was something arty - need a third hand!  

I went a bit further along the path to get a slightly different angle 

before crossing the grass to the Princess of Wales conservatory

where I found this open (it was in bud on Saturday - timing is everything!) 

back on with the macro

before walking (quickly, it was very humid)  through the tropical sections

outside, the carbon garden as I said,still inaccessible - will have to try next time

and then headed back past the Palm House to make my way home 

I always think it's a shame you can't get to walk round the beds themselves, would  love some close ups of this bed in the centre

and a final bee enjoying the dahlia.

thanks for looking  -  not sure what tomorrow holds, the forecast is good but the tube strike may scupper my plans ; we'll see!