Blog

Posted on

Nature Photo Challenge: Ferns

Fern

Once, my sweetheart and I were coatless in the middle of Sunnyhurst Wood when a sudden downpour threatened to drench us. A young girl and boy appeared out of nowhere, shyly offering each of us the largest bracken frond they could find to pick, gesturing that that we should use them as makeshift umbrellas.

We accepted, thanked the children (who, satisfied, ran off to their parents) and carried the fronds over our heads as if they offered a magical form of protection, which they did – the kindness of young strangers.

I suppose drippier umbrellas have been used by smilier people, but we had a good try for the world record. Continue reading “Nature Photo Challenge: Ferns”

Posted on

May Vidacovich’s Garden, Louisiana

May Vidacovich's garden with trees, potted plants and shed

Earlier this year we seized the opportunity to visit plantswoman May Vidacovich’s fascinating and beautifully cared for private garden in Louisiana. The garden is a heady mix of plants I know well with others I’d never seen before, or only ever at flower shows.

Normally I’d avoid being out in hot sun and I was tempted to describe it as a fleeting visit. In truth I lingered for longer than it felt at the time and pretty much had to be dragged away in a sorry state of heat exposure and reluctance to leave this piece of paradise.

I’m sharing these pictures with hardly any commentary other than to note that they only skim the surface of what was flourishing there. Continue reading “May Vidacovich’s Garden, Louisiana”

Posted on

The Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Fragments

Garden drainage sump with pipes and tiles
Garden drainage feature

Brian has kindly been hosting this week’s Lens-Artists’ challenge from his home in the Australian bush and I’ve enjoyed seeing the submissions. His topic is inspired by, in his words, the ‘fragmentation around the world, a disconnect. But we have always been made of pieces’.

I’m (largely) sharing fragments put back together in different forms, starting with a detail from a decorative drainage sump in last year’s ingenious Wilde Weelde exhibit at Floriade ’22. Continue reading “The Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Fragments”