Kew. Smell the roses!

 Kew today was glorious, still quite hot though.  

the beds have been replanted now, and will quickly fill out.

Sadly Kim was feeling under the weather so I was flying solo today..

the sticks in the middle are supports for the  sunflowers

pots along the pond been replanted too, 

apart from one which must be damaged as there are barriers around it and still has the pansies in. 

bed at top of Broad Walk.  the anemones have mostly finished now sadly

heading down the Broad Walk but jumping about as blogger is messing with the photo order again....

the giant cardoon are growing tall and starting to flower

the lilies at the top will be open soon

the light on the verbascum was lovely; the photo doesn't really do it justice

lots of poppies in the borders

and the ox eye daisies too drifting 

blogger is going to annoy me today... 

half way down the BW

back to those alliums... with the Henry behind them on the grass

monkey puzzle

carbon garden planting.  out of order to the way I was walking again!

I approached the carbon garden through the bamboos lining the path,  

I saw our friends Patrick and Joyce enjoying some shade and cool so we chatted for a bit 

we all thought how well the carbon garden has settled in, having only been opened 10 months

close to where they were sitting is a wildflower drift  which both Joyce and I photographed

so many cornflowers 

there were lots of bees, but moving fast and i didn't get any in focus

it runs right along the other side of the wicker fencing 

entering from the rock garden 

the roses along the pergola were stunning 

these ones  all seem to have a lot of fragrance

bloody blogger...  

more cornflowers in the wildflower bed along the student plots

the poppies and cornflowers have really come out a lot since Monday!

there were several people taking photographs of them

then the poppies in the evolution  garden

most of these from Monday were still looking good

then back through the roses - love the clematis growing through the roses on the upright

looking back the other way

all but the biggest of the peonies have fnished

heading for breakfast!

stopping for Henry

only semi shade available,  even though it was only 9am all the shady tables were taken 

I was sat right by these beauties 

I went the other way towards the lake, past the Henry by the Victoria gate 

peeking through the holes again!

I stopped to walk through the new wild rose garden 

low level photography of course

Palm house in background

and on the phone 

before making my way across to this Henry

which is interesting from every angle

and a member was sitting sketching it. 

then carrying on towards the lake 

yes, through the holes (legs in this case) again.  

the second swan was just coming out of the lake by the lake crossing

to join it's mate on the side,  

I crossed to the other side, deciding to forgo the woodland today

splash landing!

I walked past the Treetop Walkway (lift out of action again....)

it was 10 as I approached the Davies Exploration house, but neither that, nor the Temoerate House had been unlocked (unusual)  

the slopes by the back of the Temperate House have poppies growing on them this year - last year they seemed to mow them 

i decided to carry on towards the Pagoda for the white Henry

I laid down on the ground again 

I walked back towards the centre 

I'm not used to the lens hood (usually leave it at home)  which is meant to stop sun flare.

I did like the huge horse chestnut behind the pavilion restaurant though, so leaving this photo in!  

I do like the reflections in the restaurant windows though

walking towards the gallery 

dandelions on the slope outside the gallery

more viewing through legs... oops

I went in, moving my rucksack to my front as they like, to avoid knocking hazards!

the light seemed even lower inside than the first time,  the camera was struggling to take pictures so I didn't force it 

but I did still like the reflections of the contents of the cabinet on the glass cabinet!  

the camera really didn't like the lack of light in this room.

with the rucksack on my front and holding the camera, I couldn't manage to take pics with the phone as well!

it was still too dark to read  most of the labels properly

pausing at the shop to buy a couple of Henry keyrings, I crossed towards the Temperate House

I still really like this one, Knife Edge,Two Pieces.

this one which is called Two Piece Reclining Figure : Cut  reminds me of a snake; I may have said that before... it still does! 

I could see the TH doors now unlocked so time to go in

the doors were fully open (not on automatic)  so you can see right through

I didn't change lens but these purple flowers are out again, but they grow so high up it's hard to get good views 

they've got the lotus flowers back in tubs in one of the middle octogans, they are just about starting to appear; most of the tubs are still looking a bit murky

through the holes... 

Mediterranean garden 

despite the sunny day, the California poppies weren't fully opened.. 

cistus

I made my way back to the rose garden - I really wish you could smell these ones, too!

they were all looking fantastic 

the plants are covered in flowers 

I went into the Palm House.

it is being cleared ready for the restoration and lots of the beds are quite empty now.

but you can see from the state of the structure more clearly now, how much the restoration is required. 

it is due to be closed for work starting some time next year 

coming out of the palm house I headed past the bed at the end of the path along the pond,

with the other lens on I could see the aeoniums in the bed better 

stopping at the bed at the top of the Broad Walk 

rhododendron near the POW 

outside the POW 

this cactus flowers are just opening 

by the pond,  tiny passionflower 

fern 

normal sized passionflower!

couldn't see the label for this but I liked the colour!

heading back along the Broad Walk  -   the purple alliums have lost all their purple!   

and finishing with a flower in the pots by the pond 

thanks for looking  - will be a Sunday visit next week as have something else on for Saturday!