Chelsea Physic Garden

Chelsea’s oasis

/ mikeosbornphoto / 8 Comments

Just a stroll away from the hustle and bustle of the King’s Road is a true botanical oasis which I’ve only just got around to visiting after 13 years in London.

The Chelsea Physic Garden has been in existence since 1673, and is bulging with beautiful plants, many of them medicinal or edible. In this golden summer we’ve been enjoying for a couple of weeks now, the garden is bristling with blossoms and looks wonderful.

Visitors come to study the plants, relax on the lawns, take photographs – and even enjoy a spot of watercolour painting. Our visit will always be memorable for other reasons – we returned home to watch homegrown tennis ace Andy Murray seal a historic Wimbledon title. All in all, the best of summer.

Click first image for the full gallery experience

If you like this, you will like The walled garden

Change of key

/ mikeosbornphoto / 13 Comments

Low key yellowA glorious English summer’s day at the Chelsea Physic Garden in London. Floral shots are everywhere.

This is a case of a single shot and two takes. The first (below) is saturated with bright yellow and green, almost luminescent. I decided to try again, winding down the exposure compensation. The shot above is still bursting with life, colour and summer – but is deeper, richer in tone.

The high key shot has quite an artistic feel to it, with bold brush strokes. I can’t decide between the different qualities of the two photographs. Which do you prefer?

High key yellow

Quenched

/ mikeosbornphoto / 12 Comments

QuenchedSummer has taken hold in London. There are long, very warm sunny days and plants are flourishing. The rain is staying far away for a change.

This little vegetable plant is thriving in Chelsea Physic Garden, a wonderful city oasis bursting to the seams with life. The sprinklers are working overtime, and these leaves drip with moisture which catches the sunlight.

Quenched, delicious and captured on camera.