Kew

 It's back to 10 am opening sadly until May so it was a later start . 

It was a  pleasant start to the day 

the beds at the Palm House are starting to fade now especially the dahlias,  I imagine before long they will be emptied (they've had advance help from some badgers according to signs up)  

I took a brief walk through the nearly empty Palm House (ahead of it's forthcoming renovation) whilst Kim headed to the lake 

it was very humid as ever in there and the floor quite wet so a bit slippery and I was being very careful  - don't want to break another limb!

apparently when it is completely empty they will let visitors see inside before closing it for the refurb - which I think is due to start next year some time, and will last 3 years 

this was from just inside the main doors again as I went round the outside before heading to the lake

seem to have taken this "on the wonk" again Kim....

pausing with Henry's on way to the lake

it was good to get shots between the holes 

some nice shadows around

I was nearby the acer beds so went to check some colour I could see

the changing colours change the way the Henry's appear

I was trying to avoid getting another visitor in shot (the trouble with 10 am opening)

I like that you can see the other Henrys from a distance

near the lake, the Lockerbie air crash memorial bench

I joined Kim and sat down and just missed with the camera, the heron flying in to join us...timing is everything!!

it's a juvenile one 

but he was happy enough

the female of the swans came along too

the heron was walking around quite a lot, the angle of the sun was playing havoc with the shots 

splashdown!  Canada geese coming to join the party

I was still only carrying the one lens so no long zoom still 

love how the beak disappears when they look at you front on!

we'd been joined by Peter and another couple of visitors who were entranced by the heron

the cross-breed goose called Bowie

I got up for a different angle

and Kim and I took our leave and across the lake

not much sun so the reflections weren't great today

there are some trees turning colour  from autumn not just drought-stress

looking along the crossing

we carried along the other side of the lake - the giant redwood was magnificently red today

more shadows

up towards the pine trees

we headed for the Pavilion cafe for a drink before it got too busy 

passing rowan trees some of which looked very sad from the drought

but this one was full of berries

tree colour 

sat in our usual outside position

I went for hot chocolate even though it wasn't cold enough,  the cup seems to have got smaller and the price has gone up.... more shrink-flation

it was nice though - tons of froth on top, more froth than milk...

I brought a cake from home.. 

at the cafe 

the crow seemed to have been waiting for us to come back by..

more berries

hydrangea near the small pond 

it's been a bad year for them, in the drought but there were some still gamely blooming 

this was a pretty one, pink on the top, green inside

at this juncture Kim and I parted ways as I wanted to head to the alpine house and home and she was staying on

along the grassy path (currently being re-seeded) between Temperate House and Palm House 

lots of visitors to keep out of my shot!

gorgeous colour of the liquidamber trees

Henry  - Hill Arches

the man moved at the wrong time and got in the way!

I crouched down a bit to get the tree over the top of the Henry.  It definitely seems to have been placed here to mirror the shape of the tree

back at the pond at Palm house

salvias in the bed at top of Broad Walk

outside the Princess of Wales conservatory

quick walk through the POW -  giant waterlily

passionflower near the far exit

outside alpine house, the mountain agave still growing and not yet flowering .  wonder how long they'll tease us that it is close to flowering for!!

edit.  just after publishing the blog I saw a clip on FB about the agave, saying growth has slowed down and they expect it to go dormant over winter and flower in spring.... keep watching!!  

alpine house, 

nerine

salvia border along the rock garden - I debated going along this way 

but settled for the evolution garden and the physalis (Phyllis as we nickname her) 

the tiny aster like daisies 

one clump of rudbeckia hanging on

the kardoons - look fluffy  but they are spiky

and past the pond and Palm House to the exit.

I walked through the shop on my way to the exit which is stocked with Christmas goods (nearly bought a bar of sticky toffee pudding flavour chocolate but left it for another day...)

Thanks for looking - see you next week.  I may try and carry another lens next week, will see how the wrist goes - need to keep doing my exercises the physio gave me on Monday.

It's definitely not as sore this week and I've been back at work full time - it aches at the end of the day from not bending well to use the computer, but by Friday was a lot less painful.

thanks!