The best of the rest at Kew – a miscellany from my latest visit: the Rock Garden, Woodland and Water Lily House

Geraneum phaeum (above) – small, dark, richly colouted flower heads held in a haze above chevron’d foliage. Ideal for shady spots.

Scilla peruviana (above) – last seen in the Alpine House at RHS Wisley – here it is in amongst the peonies at Kew

The Japanese Pagoda Tree (below), well supported –

Wild Garlic (above and below) – ransomes – together with Ajuga, taking over the stretch of border leading up to the Ice House.

The white bracts of Davidia involucrata (above) – the Handkerchief Tree, outside the Water Lily House (below)

…and finally, back in the Woodland Garden, beneath the Temple of Aeolus, a beautiful froth of this creamy-greeny-white flowering plant, with distinctive frills to the blooms. Mixed and matched with Queen Anne’s Lace, Anthriscus sylvestris.