Kew - on Sunday (glorious autumn colour)

 Kim and I decided that Storm Amy would probably cause Kew to stay closed on Saturday so changed plans to go Sunday. As it happened, they did open.  So, putting my weekend out of sync, here's Sunday's trip to Kew, from 10 am!

since last weekend they've emptied the Palm House beds ready to plan for Spring

before we came in, through the gates - I have to place this here as my blog always starts with the same shot!

the leaves over the entrance were stunning in the sun this morning 

the tubs with coleus are still full of colour, too. 

I decided to sit whilst waiting for the gates to open 

nice shadows

the ONLY good thing about not being able to get into Kew until 10 is that all the glasshouses are already open, so started in the waterlily house

leaving in this misted up shot as it is quite atmospheric,

once I'd got the cloth out to clear the lens, this is what it looks like - nice to be empty!

from the side 

there were some lovely reflections in the water 

planting round the sides

they'll be emptying the waterlily house for winter, soon 

outside

the bed at the top of the Broad Walk was being partly cleared, the lady doing so said the dahlias will stay though (these were overhanging the path, before we spoke to her I thought they'd been pulled out) 

we told her how much we'd loved them this year 

the blue sky was gorgeous, and despite still being fairly breezy, it was quite warm 

bloody blogger is reversing all of my photos.... 

not going to keep moving them.

airplant growing on one of the cacti

inside the entrance of the Princess of Wales 

waterlily leaves in the POW 

still some orchids in the POW

great light in the arid section 

rock garden 

alpine house 

those bullrushes from last week - still going strong

I have no idea why blogger is messing with the placement of the text either 

rosehips 

strawflowers in the veg garden 

evolution garden

the sun came back out as I hit the shutter 

dahlia

these were beautiful

cardoons

strawberry tree

callicarpa

liquidamber tree the other side of the Broad Walk 

the wind was blowing the leaves about, think yesterday if it did get to 40mph at Kew we'd have had lots of blurred leaves!

lots of stunning colour today 

the sun went in for this one, it would have been better with blue behind it 

we headed for the lake - this gaggle of geese were heading that way too!

paused for some mushrooms

there were loads of greylags on the lake and all around us 

Canada geese coming in to land 

greylag

trees on the island in the lake 

the colours are just stunning 

and the reflections were good too 

weheaded off for refreshments.

the tree stump near the Treetop Walkway - mushrooms still there but starting to rot now

tree reflections on the lift (actually working for now!) 

colchicums under a tree 

we were going to eat at the pavilion cafe now we have to pay for our tea!  

I went for hot chocolate, and cake (chocolate and beetroot, which was ok but not sure I'll repeat it) 

picture of  me that I actually quite like! 

berries on the vine

and grapes

heading back now, outside the gallery

just to the side of the winter garden 

the path through the winter garden 

this is a better view of the tree to the side of the winter garden, from the path as it is slightly raised

mahonia

heading back along Camellia walk,

trees to the left of the path

huge tree by the main entrance (can never remember what it's called) 

and my favourite autumn tree growing by and over the temple of Bellona 

I had to change lens!

and then it was time to go home - thanks for looking, see you next Saturday!