This was an unexpected bonus of a Sunday afternoon visit to Tatton Park, a Cheshire stately home and grounds. One of its buildings was crammed with the delicious fragrance and stunning colours of orchids. These flowers came in all beguilingly delicate varieties, almost overwhelming the space. I swiftly shifted to my 60mm macro and tried to make the best of a tricky subdued light…
Manchester is a sturdy, handsome city packed with great buildings and urban power. But it’s relatively quick and easy to escape to the country and find green fields, hills and more.
Dunham Massey is a modest stately pile within the boundaries of Greater Manchester. We made a beeline for the formal gardens, which in Spring are bursting with colour. The tulips and rhododendron are out in force, while it’s that special moment of the year when the native bluebells carpet the woods. It’s soothing for the soul and easy to get snap-happy surrounded by these flowers…
This is a magnificent garden tucked between the suburban sprawl of London and one of the world’s busiest airports, Heathrow. It is Syon Park, part of the Duke of Northumberland’s estate, also consisting of a sturdy and impressive stately pile – not to mention a fantastic ‘greenhouse’.
It was a partially sunny day drilled by a cold wind with the threat of rain. But these are beautiful grounds to capture, from the magnificence of the Giant Rhubarb at the water’s edge, to a whole host of flowering plants and natural details. Apart from the older couple seated and enjoying the peace and quiet, I had the run of this London gem.
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.
Across the street here in west London there is a community garden. An oasis in a built-up area and a precious resource for the many people without their own outdoor space. There are swings and slides for the children, a pond, and a wealth of plants.
It’s also a place for me to come and do some macro photography. Walking through the other day, I noticed a clutch of allium bursting into life. These little lilac pom-poms – members of the onion family – are a delight to capture at close quarters. The lens revealed that these ones were still coming into their own. Enjoy a taste of nature and flowers in the city…
