blooms

Colours of Spring

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It’s safe to say that winter is over, even here in the north of England.

Spring has burst out with tree blossoms, seasonal flowers and green shoots.

I paid a Spring visit to RHS Bridgewater, a public garden on the outskirts of Salford. The sun was shining and the tulip beds were a riot of colour. Dandelions had taken over the meadows.

What’s not to like?!

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Pink blossoms at Castlefield in Manchester.

In my Manchester neighbourhood of Castlefield, there is one tree which gives a sumptuous show of pink blossoms every year – and 2023 is no exception

White tree blossom catching the sunlight at Angel Meadow in Manchester.

The trees are putting on a show around Manchester city centre, including this one at Angel Meadow catching the full force of some Spring sunshine

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Yellow hot

/ mikeosbornphoto / 10 Comments

I’m a lucky Londoner, enjoying a commute to work that is a mere 15-minute walk. It takes me through an area of the White City estate, a housing area that has seen better days. I have the space for observation on my walk, and noticed a waste area has been landscaped and planted out.

At the moment it’s bursting with a patch of yellow Kniphofia – striking flowers also known as Red Hot Pokers. I had to stop off and capture this sight using my 60mm macro lens – a natural flash of inner city colour.

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Waterlillies

/ mikeosbornphoto / 13 Comments

I decided to defy the abysmal weather and make a trip to Kew Gardens, a real urban oasis and home of some amazing plant life in south-west London.

Even if it’s a chilly, sunless day, you can take refuge in the hot houses and be transported to the tropics. There is a relatively small glasshouse which houses a pond and beautiful collection of waterlillies. Cue a photographic indulgence in colour, form and reflections.

Click on the first image to launch the full-size gallery.

But staying true to the spirit of previous posts about floral captures, a monchrome version of the darkest lily was created. I think it brings out the contrast between the dark water and the brilliance of the bloom.

What do you think?