Flowers Blog
Hello and welcome to my flowers blog. I will be updating this to share my love of flowers, talk about flowers as they come into season, show you my latest flower photography images and generally get excited about flowers!!
How did it all start? The flowers came first, they came into my life when I rented a little victorian cottage with a garden that was a blank canvas, so I asked my landlord, would he mind if I added some plants, he was of course,happy to oblige and it exploded from there. Many a day I would find myself still in my dressing gown, weeding at lunch time, when I had just popped out to have a look or drink a cup of tea at breakfast!
Then came the camera, or should I say, a camera - they have "progressed" as the amount of user interaction I wanted increased as I have gained confidence behind the camera and also as I demanded more from my images. I have spent so many hours learning how to improve my flower pictures, I am still learning and I am still loving every minute :0)
My taste in garden style has changed over the years but the overall love of flowers has not. I get so excited in the early spring as snowdrops poke their way through the earth, spearing leaves as the go and wonder at how they can pierce the frozen soggy clay that I work with today. I have a garden walk on a daily basis as the year progresses to see what is coming up, what has not made the winter and has succumbed to the soggy wet clay that I have forced it into, knowing that it would be happier in sandy loam...but I loved the plant and wanted it in my garden and I am sure I am not the only person "wasting" money on plants that do not belong in their garden!
I hope you enjoy my flower obsession and I would love to hear from you, please add your comments or send me an email.
Tweet
How did it all start? The flowers came first, they came into my life when I rented a little victorian cottage with a garden that was a blank canvas, so I asked my landlord, would he mind if I added some plants, he was of course,happy to oblige and it exploded from there. Many a day I would find myself still in my dressing gown, weeding at lunch time, when I had just popped out to have a look or drink a cup of tea at breakfast!
Then came the camera, or should I say, a camera - they have "progressed" as the amount of user interaction I wanted increased as I have gained confidence behind the camera and also as I demanded more from my images. I have spent so many hours learning how to improve my flower pictures, I am still learning and I am still loving every minute :0)
My taste in garden style has changed over the years but the overall love of flowers has not. I get so excited in the early spring as snowdrops poke their way through the earth, spearing leaves as the go and wonder at how they can pierce the frozen soggy clay that I work with today. I have a garden walk on a daily basis as the year progresses to see what is coming up, what has not made the winter and has succumbed to the soggy wet clay that I have forced it into, knowing that it would be happier in sandy loam...but I loved the plant and wanted it in my garden and I am sure I am not the only person "wasting" money on plants that do not belong in their garden!
I hope you enjoy my flower obsession and I would love to hear from you, please add your comments or send me an email.
Tweet
Flower Photography Tips
07th February 2012 - 0 comments
07th February 2012 - 0 comments
I have updated and posted my Flower Photography Tips to share some of the key learnings that I have picked up over the years.
If you have any to add, feel free to post them in the comments!
It's good to share :0)
I also would like to introduce you to my wedding stationery website, we specialise in luxury vintage wedding invitations at The Wedding Invitation Boutique. Have a browse and let me know what you think?
If you have any to add, feel free to post them in the comments!
It's good to share :0)
I also would like to introduce you to my wedding stationery website, we specialise in luxury vintage wedding invitations at The Wedding Invitation Boutique. Have a browse and let me know what you think?
Hellebores all year round
05th February 2012 - 0 comments
05th February 2012 - 0 comments
It seems that my Hellebores have been flowering all year, they would have a little rest and then throw a few more flowers up, I wonder whether it will exhaust the plants - I hope not and it certainly hasn't had any immediate effect as there are plenty of blooms right now.
A plant often missed due to the drooping flowers. The centres are most beautiful and are often not visible unless you are laying on your back underneath the plant looking up and that's not something I would suggest considering they generally flower in the wet months!
I have a new'ish plant Helleborus x hybridus 'Walberton's Rosemary' (aka 'Walhero')whose pink flowers face outwards, like the Christmas rose, but which is easy to grow, like the Lenten rose. It's got lot's of flowers at the moment and they are a welcome splash of colour at this time of year, when the only other plant brave enough to push up some flowers are the delicate snow drops.
A plant often missed due to the drooping flowers. The centres are most beautiful and are often not visible unless you are laying on your back underneath the plant looking up and that's not something I would suggest considering they generally flower in the wet months!
I have a new'ish plant Helleborus x hybridus 'Walberton's Rosemary' (aka 'Walhero')whose pink flowers face outwards, like the Christmas rose, but which is easy to grow, like the Lenten rose. It's got lot's of flowers at the moment and they are a welcome splash of colour at this time of year, when the only other plant brave enough to push up some flowers are the delicate snow drops.
What's all this white stuff?
05th February 2012 - 0 comments
05th February 2012 - 0 comments
Hello,
It's been snowing all night and I was very amused to watch Maisie trying to work out what all the white stuff was falling from the sky last night, but even more delighted to go walking over the fields with her today. I was worried that I might lose her, being white, but was quite shocked to see how grubby she looked...hmmm, may have to give her a bath!
Here she is in her favorite position, surveying her domain!
It's been snowing all night and I was very amused to watch Maisie trying to work out what all the white stuff was falling from the sky last night, but even more delighted to go walking over the fields with her today. I was worried that I might lose her, being white, but was quite shocked to see how grubby she looked...hmmm, may have to give her a bath!
Here she is in her favorite position, surveying her domain!
Holly photos
21st January 2012 - 0 comments
21st January 2012 - 0 comments
Hello and welcome back to my Flowers Blog!
It has been such a mild winter so far, but the rain has come at last. I was thinking I was going to have to start watering some pots soon, which would be a little bizarre!
Whilst out walking Maisie the other day I passed a holly bush that was totally laden with berries and I snipped a bit off ( always keep a foldaway pair of seceteurs in my pocket!) and had some fun taking photos.
What do you think, different to the other photos I have of holly? Maybe a little formal?
Then I tweaked it in photoshop and quite liked it in black and white, do you?
It has been such a mild winter so far, but the rain has come at last. I was thinking I was going to have to start watering some pots soon, which would be a little bizarre!
Whilst out walking Maisie the other day I passed a holly bush that was totally laden with berries and I snipped a bit off ( always keep a foldaway pair of seceteurs in my pocket!) and had some fun taking photos.
What do you think, different to the other photos I have of holly? Maybe a little formal?
Then I tweaked it in photoshop and quite liked it in black and white, do you?
Some photos of Anemones to cheer up January
06th January 2012 - 0 comments
06th January 2012 - 0 comments
I have lots of favorite flowers and I would struggle to single out one, but if I had to, Anemones may be it! They are such gorgeous rich jewel colours and the markings are so beautiful!
Strangely for this time of year I still have a few confused plants trying to flower, including an evergreen agapanthus that has a bud poking it's way through, I am sure it will regret it and will not manage to flower, but it will be interesting to see. But despite this, I decide to treat myself to a few flowers to take some photographs and these Anemones caught my eye.
As Anemones open to show off the inner frill of deep black anthers, they are inviting you to take a closer look and that's just what it tempted me to do. I got up close and personal with my macro lens and this is the result....
Should you want to know a bit more about Anemones, this is what I discovered...
Anemones, according to florigraphy (the meaning of flowers) signifies - Abandonment, Anticipation, Lust,Forsaken, dainty.
Anemones also appear in Greek mythology - From the Greek word anemos, meaning wind. In Greek mythology the Anemone sprang form Aphrodite's tears as she mourned the death of Adonis. Other legend has it that when the Anemone closes it's petals, it indicates that rain is on it's way and is also thought to bring luck and protect against evil. Spring or Autumn flowering, dependent on type. Originating from temperate regions , mainly in the Northern hemisphere.
I am sure that by now you are also half way in love with Anemones!!
Strangely for this time of year I still have a few confused plants trying to flower, including an evergreen agapanthus that has a bud poking it's way through, I am sure it will regret it and will not manage to flower, but it will be interesting to see. But despite this, I decide to treat myself to a few flowers to take some photographs and these Anemones caught my eye.
As Anemones open to show off the inner frill of deep black anthers, they are inviting you to take a closer look and that's just what it tempted me to do. I got up close and personal with my macro lens and this is the result....
Should you want to know a bit more about Anemones, this is what I discovered...
Anemones, according to florigraphy (the meaning of flowers) signifies - Abandonment, Anticipation, Lust,Forsaken, dainty.
Anemones also appear in Greek mythology - From the Greek word anemos, meaning wind. In Greek mythology the Anemone sprang form Aphrodite's tears as she mourned the death of Adonis. Other legend has it that when the Anemone closes it's petals, it indicates that rain is on it's way and is also thought to bring luck and protect against evil. Spring or Autumn flowering, dependent on type. Originating from temperate regions , mainly in the Northern hemisphere.
I am sure that by now you are also half way in love with Anemones!!
Meet Maisie
06th January 2012 - 1 comment
06th January 2012 - 1 comment
I would like to introduce Maisie my puppy, who has been keeping me company and very busy during the last few months. I haven't really done much gardening since she joined me and I look forward to seeing how we will share the garden....I know terriers are great diggers and I will, of course, be very protective over all my plants and bulbs - watch this space!
Happy New Year from the Flower Blog
03rd January 2012 - 0 comments
03rd January 2012 - 0 comments
Hello and thanks for dropping by. The holiday season is well and truly behind us now and as we creep into the new year, I get quite excited at the thought of what 2012 may have in store - I always have a very positive outlook at the start of a brand new year!!
I wanted to start the new year by looking back at my favorite flowers from last years flower photos.....
This gorgeous orange rose is from David Austin's Roses and is called Pat Austin and I bought this in memory of my Mum, Pat Covey who loved this colour! Luckily roses do very well in my garden, it being heavy clay. Theses roses have quite droopy heads, but I think that lends something to this image.
I adore Calla Lilies and this beautiful cream colour with a dusky pink edging is exceptionally lovely. I wanted to be able to show off the shape of the flower to it's best advantage - I love the curl of the petal as it unfurls.
I wanted to start the new year by looking back at my favorite flowers from last years flower photos.....
This gorgeous orange rose is from David Austin's Roses and is called Pat Austin and I bought this in memory of my Mum, Pat Covey who loved this colour! Luckily roses do very well in my garden, it being heavy clay. Theses roses have quite droopy heads, but I think that lends something to this image.
I adore Calla Lilies and this beautiful cream colour with a dusky pink edging is exceptionally lovely. I wanted to be able to show off the shape of the flower to it's best advantage - I love the curl of the petal as it unfurls.
See my Flower Photography on board P&O cruises' latest Superliner
10th September 2009 - 0 comments
10th September 2009 - 0 comments
Azura, P&O Cruises latest 14 deck superliner, will display my photographs along her cabin corridor when she sets off on her maiden cruise to the Mediterranean in April 2010.
