Hi all. We were forecast rain today but luckily it stayed away - in fact it was one of the best days for a long time. Lots and lots of photos, may find it hard to prune them out... make a cuppa and sit back.
as we entered, a bit of cloud came over but mostly it was blue
rose leaves in the wild rose garden
slightly different route to the lake today
hitting part of the Zog trail (this year's half term kids event- we've managed to avoid it previous weeks)
you can see it's rained lots recently!
as we approached the lake, a young looking fox ran across the grass in front of us but had disappeared by the time we got to the lake
photobombed by a pigeon centre stage
sitting down on our normal bench we were soon surrounded by pigeons, Canada geese, and the heron!
he was having a right old pose today
we both thought it looked a bit smaller than the one from last week, but perhaps not
couldn't get the whole goose in shot with the macro lens (105mm)
didn't have the long zoom today and he was too close to me on the bench
I noticed that the heron was "kneeling" - the legs bend backward not like ours... it looks so odd!
we crossed the lake - blogger is putting them in it's own order of course
the colour of these trees was amazing, especially with the sun out (it dipped a bit as we crossed)
this was the first one!
as we got to the other side we noticed we were being followed....
we walked round the lake on the other side
more stunning colour on trees in the island
the sun had dipped behind cloud, it would have been lovely with the red n the water too
we came to a tree with low hanging branches and two Egyptian geese toning in with the leaf litter well.
tree trunk
the light playing through the branches was gorgeous - so nice to see the sun this week.
although there was still some cloud too
we wanted to go and hunt for Fly Agaric mushrooms again - the Japanese lady we talk to at the gate showed us some again she'd found last week
she had said again today it was near Queen Charlotte's cottage
we found these again, still going strong from last week
still too wet to lie down for real close ups
we kept going... then Kim saw a flash of red in the grass
success
there were 3 close together
and one small one a little way away
and a few feet further over this one
we headed back into the trees
and headed for more red!
I had my hair done on Thursday!
it was a day for looking around all the time as sometimes the view behind you was better
we came to the path that leads to the Pagoda
but before we went for tea, the red of these berries drew us closer (blogger says view them back to front please)
from a distance this was what we saw
stunning with the blue sky backdrop wouldn't have been so good last week! it does pay to go all the time!
the berries were the same colour as the leaves
(rowan, I think but don't quote me)
huge holly tree, there are lots of berries this year on the holly too
walking towards tea and cake....
past the Temperate House
the cherry trees outside the TH - the leaves are falling fast now
Christmas is coming!
loved the colours on these stars
amazing!
bet they'll be fab at night
I had carrot cake this week
still plenty warm enough to sit outside - in fact it was very mild today
it had been due to rain around now, but luckily no sign of it
this acer was just across the path to where we were sitting for our tea
as we made our way out
they have so many grapes on their vines this year
heading across the grass back towards the gallery and TH
Kin' caught the shadow selfie fun now!
there is a small acer outside the gallery, one half of it had lost it's leaves but the other side
wow!
you can't beat light shining through leaves in autumn
and making shadows on tree trunks
back at part of the Zog trail
one of the scarecrows we saw earlier
the kids were posing with scarecrows so I had to as well
my turn for shadow selfies in the leaves
more colourful trees
then the yoshino cherries around the rose garden framing the Palm House
across the rose garden
some of the rose leaves are turning autumnal
but some are having another flush of flowers
clouds echoing the shapes of the trees
it was time to visit the Waterlily house as it closes this weekend for it's normal winter shut-down, but also for it's renovation that is planned, apparently it won't be open next year at all
there were still quite a few waterlilies blooming
I crouched down to take some between the railings
it's always sad to see it closed for winter but it'll be nice to see what they do to improve it
I took some on the phone (don't like to change lens inside as it's too steamy)
angel trumpet vine outside
I expect the tubs with the aeonium will go too, to protect them overwinter
more berries
around the pond as we head to the POW
there was one dark red dahlia left, still some of the yellow ones, I guess they'll take them out soon
looking back at the Palm House
through the trees
as we headed to the POW conservatory
went in through the arid/cactus sections
then into the rainforest
teeny passionflower
orchids
palms
the other side of the arid section as we head out the way we came in
walked through the rock garden to the alpine house
my favourite scilla, doing well
especially backlit by the sun
by the door
nerines too in the alpine house
grasses in the grass garden wafting in the breeze
produce display in the veg garden
and some strawflowers
along the back wall of the veg garden, fluff - a bearded clematis, I think
sun illuminating some red chard
the strawflowers still in full flower in the bed - breeze picked up at the wrong moment!
sunlit vine along the perimeter of the veg garden
the mahonia is stunning
"phyllis"
it was squishy underfoot so had to just bend over for these
seedheads
these were on some kind of yucca looking plant
rosehips on the pergola through the evolution garden
heading slowly for the exit - it was around 1, time had flown in he sun!
the pond looks odd without the statue there now
the gunnera have been partly chopped back
as we came round the side of the pond, there was one more treat
this yellow beauty
with red tops!
I took some on the phone too so you can see the scale and the overall beauty...
just amazing!
but back at the main gate I wanted to catch the chittamwood too
such gorgeous colours!
and then it was time to go, thanks for looking - thanks for good weather!
couldn't get the whole goose in shot with the macro lens (105mm)
success
there were 3 close together
and one small one a little way away
amazing! 
heading across the grass back towards the gallery and TH
especially backlit by the sun
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