Flower Power

I've been involved in many facets of photography through my career and enjoyed almost all of them. One perhaps more surprising and unplanned area that I have recently encountered is that of gardens and flowers. The wealth of colour and abundance of natural beauty means all the ingredients are present when it comes to creating stunning images in this domain, and captured my interest.

Since I've matured and acquired a garden of my own, my interest in nature and the skills involved in growing plants has increased considerably. Perhaps the stars aligned when I was contacted recently by floral designer Nikki Wright from Darlington. She commissioned me to capture some images of her silver medal-winning creation which appeared at this year's Chelsea Flower Show.

Nikki Wright and her ‘Floral Evolution: Seedling to Symphony’ piece which won her a silver medal at the Chelsea Flower Show.

My other brushes with beds and petals came through my former employers, The Northern Echo. A charity open garden event held in Whorlton nr Barnard Castle allowed visitors including myself to browse a variety of magnificent green plots belonging to the residents of this pretty rural village.

Finally, I was given the opportunity to meet a third generation professional grower of flowers for a Living magazine feature. Rowes at Priory Gardens in Guisborough specialise in this field (quite literally) and James Rowe provided me with a guided tour of the grounds which, in addition to cultivating a wide selection of floral fineness, makes use of the traditional dovecote building on site for flower air-drying and workshops.

James Rowe of flower growing business Rowes at Priory Gardens, Guisborough.

There is always something new to learn through my job and with luck, my recent dalliances with the gardeners' world can lead to me developing my own green-fingered skills.

@TheNorthernEcho @show_chelsea