There’s something very special about a garden in October. The ever-present glisten of moisture and early afternoon gloom sometimes work with any remaining colour, collaborating to create something both eerie and spectacular, like fireworks against a dark sky. Add to this the heady scent of damp leaves and bonfires, perhaps a cup of tea to warm cold hands and the chance to have the garden almost completely to yourself and it can be a match for any summer’s day.
Outside my window this morning…three flowers, sown by the birds, by the wind and by me (in that order).
In these unplanned shots (as I was setting up my deck chair for breakfast) I wanted to capture the dappled, almost ethereal light on some newly emerging snowball hydrangeas before the heat of the day lit them up with all the stark sunlight of a hot July. Patterns of shade and dancing sunlight brought out the magic of the delicate green-white heads like vintage lace against the deep contrast of a shady corner beneath my tree.
“The Walled Garden”, as I tend to think of it (it has another name), is a privatey owned garden in my nearby village which I first visited about twelve or so years ago when it was open as part of a local garden scheme. A change of owners meant I didn’t get to visit for quite a few years, though (being a lover of walled gardens) it had left an impression on me and I often imagined what lay on the other side as I drove past the red brick exterior on my way home. There is such of feeling of gaining access to “the secret garden” to be allowed beyond such a wall…
When I noticed that it was being opened in aid of the Air Ambulance charity just a few weeks ago, I was able to step beyond the wall once again and took these photos on a bright yet not too sunny afternoon (perfect for balanced shots). This collection is the result; an English garden caught at the height of summer in all its colour and texture along with just a touch of the ethereal magic that I associate with such a place.
Softly emerging pink poppy with its heart clearly revealing. Size 40 x 26cm, availabe as a Giclée print on velvet soft Hahnemühle paper.
Perfectly imperfect. The universal impulse to flower into form, layer by layer, enacted by this rose in my garden. Size 40 x 26cm, availabe as a Giclée print on velvet soft Hahnemühle paper.
Vibrant red oh-so blowsy poppies; extravagant bold and feminine. These blooms from my garden were so lit up at just the right angle by radiant afternoon sunshine. Size 40 x 26cm, availabe as a Giclée print on velvet soft Hahnemühle paper.
A celebration of the Sacred Feminine expressed as the abundant wild flowers growing on the headland close to where Saint Non once lived by the wellhead near the ancient standing stones; birthplace of Saint David. All was movement as the breeze made sure that the grassblades were dancing in a frenzy of activity and yet these floral faces shone out with such steady gazes that conveyed a timeless message of resilience and quiet strength.
