Night Never Comes

We waited until 11:30 pm before we could start to take photos. As we are so far north it doesn't get dark until really late.. Spring is also about 4 weeks behind Cornwall. Nice to see the spring blooms once again. At first the ornamental garden looks as if there is nothing much there, but the structures to guide the plants were so surreal I couldn't resist. The poppies were bursting, a winged wonder was poised for flight and even a dead tulip intrigued me. The hardest part is staying awake......

From South to North

Leaving Eden was quite difficult but once we hit the road and started to see the beautiful hills of the North we felt better. We are heading up to Alnwick Garden (prononced Anick)right on the Scottish border. I will be artist in residence for one week, giving lectures and photo workshops. It is a very different garden created by the Duchess of Northumberland. Some people hate it and say it is nothing more than a theme park and others love it as it is different and refreshing. Full of fountains, waterworks and a poison garden. A different place to explore, different landscapes to look at and wonderful skies.....

All Good Things Come to an End...but

Well, it is hard to believe but my residency is over. We have packed our bags, stuffed the car and are travelling up to Northumberland for a one week visit to Alnwick Garden as artist in residence. It is sad for me to leave this special place as it has given me the opportunity to learn, see and produce so much without interruption. I felt like I was cocooned here, growing and evolving and honing my eye. It has been very special and much more than I could have imagined. My challenge will be to continue this when I get home...and I will.

The Most Famous Flower Show in the World

When one mentions the Chelsea Flower show to a garden person, they sigh. Either because they have been there and it conjures up vivid memories or because they have not been there yet. As it happens, it is taking place this week. Not only that but Tim Smit, director of Eden requested that I photograph it at night because Eden had the largest garden ever created at the show.. Incredible!


We arrived in the afternoon to greet thousands of people, viewing models gardens created by the best landscape architects in the UK, many booths filled with everything from garden ornaments, gardening gloves and incredible sculpture to cream teas in the gardens It was a garden fantasy..
We surveyed all that we could but returned later that night, and had the bastion of garden heaven all to ourselves..almost. There were tons of security guards and dogs watching our every move... A real special priviledge nonetheless....

Time is Closing In

It is hard to believe that my time at Eden is almost over. Suddenly every night seems precious. I have been trying to find a perfectly still night to be able to photograph outside the biomes. There always seems to be a breeze.The other night it was misty but quiet, so I insisted we go out and dragged Roger with me into the garden. I found these amazing tulips and a fantastic evil looking
meconopsis.. then the wind picked up.....Well worth the effort....

Anthropomorphising

To be or not to be . It seems that everything I am photographing these last few days is being transformed into something else..They are playful, frivolous and chatty..The Eden circus of which I am the ringmaster..

I am loving my lenses and will have to figure out how to get these from Nikon. They allow me to enter a photographic plane that moves away from reality.

Linda is hung

Hanging a show is a full time job.. there are so many details that have to be worked busy. This is the first time I have printed such large prints and I have spent many Sundays and evenings getting everything prepared. It is always a bit unnerving having a show. Your soul and energy are up on display for all to see. I always feel alittle insecure, not certain as to whether there isn't something that could be improved upon.... I guess it is stage fright of sorts..

Finally, the opening took place last night, and I have to say that I am really pleased with how it looks........ and it seems that everyone else who came feels the same way.