Well there was a real autumnal nip in the air this morning as I set off shortly after sunrise to the station.
as I got to the end of the road I could capture the image I'd seen briefly from the window as I came downstairs...
beautiful!
gates opened promptly at 8... only another month of this treat for this year ...
click to see the spiders web
sunshine through the canna leaves
you know I can't resist raindrops... left from last night, I hasten to add
the alchemilla mollis always looks fabulous
and on the end of an agapanthas flower
and daisies (think these are Michaelmas daisies)
love this end of the Broad Walk, huge swathes of yellow and purple
and raindrops on the Hive. well, the safety perspex!
outside the Princess of Wales glasshouse is a huge Agave. complete with spiders web
more raindrops (it rained a lot last evening/overnight!)
raindrops on dahlias...
I am really proud of this shot, when I downloaded it I saw the reflection of the dahlias in the raindrop on the bud! Love this one...
the light this morning was glorious
it was also warming up a little too (thankfully)
including this for Elizabeth as I know she likes the alpine house
the squashes and pumpkins (either/or I am no expert) are looking colourful
more raindrops.....
bit of a theme today
this is called brillantasia nyanzarum.... in case you wondered!
they make quite a display en masse!
this seems to be getting pinker - could be the blue sky backdrop!
can't resist a teasel either!
fading echinacea, still beautiful
back on the Broad Walk now, heading for coffee and cake.. breakfast time again!
I was criss crossing the path, as I took this one, I saw on the other side,
the drift of small alliums glinting in the sun..
magnificent sight
raindrops again, on the planting map of the Broad Walk
light through branches, love it.
(family joke!)
the canna again
yes, Elizabeth, they're still planted
blue sky behind the Palm House
after breakfast I cut through the Rose Garden
hips on one bush
there were a surprising number of blooms still
although it is still August I suppose...
raindrops on roses, as promised!
I loved how the light was shining on and through these petals
dappled shade,
the shrub that is always full of bees was again.
although I don't think they can all be bees as they looked so different...
sat outside the Temperate House for a few minutes till 10 when they unlock...
love cloud watching!
love the shape of these leaves, they have grown so far up their supporting pillar
I headed for the lake, walking round the furthest end for some great reflections in the sunshine...
sadly the shot I went for before this, of the geese coming in to land on the lake, is too out of focus to include...
I love these... not sure what they are.... purple loosestrife possibly or am I making that up (I know the plant exists, just not sure if this is it...)
about a year - or maybe two... ago I followed a group of people round the lake who were looking at this tree and discussing something... at the time I hadn't been able to see why they were so fascinated.... today I saw the hole right through the piece of trunk...
only the one swan to be seen today...
more gorgeous clouds
holly hedge
a slightly misted lens view of the waterlily pads!
oh-oh, signs of autumn in the woodland walk bit,
colchicums (naked ladies!)
cyclamen
something called white baneberry...
and a red baneberry!
inside the Princess of Wales glasshouse now..
lizard hunting again!
love the red edges to these lily pads
lotus flower (and seed pod)
yay!!
found one
back to the Broad Walk off to find Gnomus in the Temperate House now!
big cloud... luckily it sped on by
next to the giant gunnera, back of the Palm House pond,
Hello Gnomus!
it's the final two weekends of Gnomus's appearances and also Cirque Bijou,
I hung around for 15 minutes till the first performance of the day of Cirque Bijou.
to my surprise, the girl who is usually the rigger (counterweight) was performing today.
to my fury, when I got home and checked them, the photos are all over exposed, because I had stood at the other side of the performance area, and the sun was coming through in front of me.
I have adjusted them as best I can so I can include a few.
but most are not salvageable.
such a shame, as she was working as you can see, with two straps, not the bar that the man uses.
some of them in the air, were ok-ish...
I hadn't noticed whilst I was there, as I was watching/photographing,
not that I could have done anything as I couldn't have moved to the other side
back outside I sat on a bench and cloud watched again whilst eating a snack..
love the clouds reflecting in the glass
Gnomus came back for the guide to the other half of the temperate house
one of the puppeteers
Duck!! there's a low doorway...
and he was off again...
Decided to watch the Cirque Bijou again, from up the top of the walkway, so at least these pictures are a bit better!
but I hadn't taken as many photos second time round!
shame, because she was very good, and making some great shapes!
although this is possibly not the most flattering shot I could have used!
needs must though
I decided to head for home as it was 2pm now... long visit today!
more cloud watching
walking past this huge shrub, it was highly perfumed, a bit like jasmine (obviously not jasmine though) couldn't get far enough under it to find a label!
and through the Rose Garden and out...
thanks for joining me, let's do it again next week!
