Essex in bloom

July 6, 2014March 16, 2020 / mikeosbornphoto / 15 Comments

It was time to take a break from London and see my mother who lives in Essex, a two-hour jaunt east from my part of the city.

This turned into two glorious days spent in her garden, newly landscaped with gravel, paving stones and raised beds of flowers fashioned from reclaimed railway sleepers. It’s bursting with roses, dahlias, marigolds, lavender and a host of garden favourites.

My trusty camera came with me, and working in the garden was restful and a pleasure, punctuated with numerous breaks from the strong summer sunshine. I found abstract, floral and architectural shots in this well-structured space – rich, rewarding and relaxing in equal measure.

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And to finish off, a candid photograph of this garden’s proud owner, my Mum, resting in her swing seat, probably enjoying a crossword puzzle or reading her Kindle. The fruits you deserve to savour at a mature stage in life…

Heart of orange

June 25, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 6 Comments

The French Marigold is a sturdy stalwart of British gardens, bright, breezy and very cheerful. Some would say they’re ordinary. Even a bit common.

But take some close-up photographs of a very healthy display (in my mother’s Essex garden) and you may change your view of these little flowers.

Their structure is intricate and complex with some rich variegations in colour, with splashes of crimson and yellow. A marigold in bloom is reminiscent of a crumbly chocolate bar’s delicate swirls.

Bold and ubiquitous they may be, but this flower remains a natural wonder.

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Hope and decay

June 8, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 6 Comments

A final selection from what was a very fruitful and enjoyable photographic trip to Osterley Park in west London.

These shots seem to sum up two extremes. There is the early summer joy of woodland growth and meadowland flowers. But the grounds also revealed weariness and decay, including the defiant but jagged remains of trees and their gnarled bark.

The one human capture encapsulates both these aspects – a mature couple rest at the stump of a tree, while there is a sense that they are looking forward to the rest of their walk with energy and vigour.

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Dandelion green

June 5, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 9 Comments

The humble yet wonderful dandelion clock. Irresistible to us all, and something that just has to be photographed.

This was found on the grounds of Osterley Park, a rural oasis close to Heathrow Airport. Nature’s tick-tock can be awash with colour or a dramatic monochrome.

At least two good reasons for crouching in the grass to capture this delight…

Golden oldies

May 28, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 10 Comments

The British crawl into summer is a tentative one as usual, with Atlantic weather systems bringing heavy cloud and rain sweeping across our island.

But there has been – and will be – sunshine and long days. With it comes carpets of wild flowers, golden favourites that are humble, plentiful and beautiful.

Cascades of buttercups, plump pillows of dandelions lead the pack. Can they really tell if you’re a fan of butter? Do they make you wet the bed? I doubt it. But well worth lying in the grass to photograph.

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