At the world’s biggest garden show, art came in many forms, all created to enhance the floral landscape.
When one thinks of RHS shows, what first comes to mind are the fabulous gardens and the show-stopping flowers and plants. But these events also include an array of other exhibitors and of these those showing hand-crafted art are the ones I’m especially drawn to.
And this year, following 2020’s cancellation due to Covid, it was perhaps no surprise that it was some familiar names, artists whose work I’ve admired in the past, that got my attention.
The first of those was…
For one week each year a piece of West Sussex transforms into a purple patch of Provence
When one thinks of lavender, for many what comes to mind are images of picturesque Provencal landscapes. It certainly does for me, having holidayed in that beautiful part of the south of France numerous times over the years. Indeed, nothing more defines the essence of Provence than swathes of purple lavender and its heady scent in the air.
What’s less well known is that here in England, a handful of lavender producers have transformed their rural landscape to replicate that of Provence. …
After a Covid-induced absence, the RHS was finally back with a flower show that focused on sustainable gardens, naturalistic planting and the power of gardening to improve wellbeing.
Just days before it was confirmed that pretty much all Covid restrictions would be lifted on July 19th, the RHS put on its first flower show after all its 2020 shows were victims of the pandemic.
While the more prestigious Chelsea Flower Show has been delayed from the third week in May to the third week in September, Hampton kept its usual July slot, meaning it took place two and a half months ahead of Chelsea, rather than six weeks after it. …
Making a fashionably late appearance after a year of hibernation, Arundel’s alliums gave the castle gardens a purple pom-pom pizzazz.
With their striking spherical silhouette and multitude of shades, alliums are one of my favourite flowers to photograph. And just like tulips which preceed them, they only look their very best for a short time, often as brief as two weeks.
Unless it’s at the Chelsea Flower Show, judging the optimum time to shoot alliums can be a hit and miss affair. Too early and all you’ll see are the closed flower heads, too late and they’ve gone over. …
Enchanting and iconic, bluebells are a favourite with the fairies and a sure sign that spring is in full swing.
Interesting fact: Almost half the world’s bluebells are found in the UK. And there are few better places to find them than in the ancient woods of West Sussex. Most years I pay a visit the Duke of Norfolk’s Angmering Park Estate to photograph them. Like tulips, they look best en masse, when they’re at their best is very weather dependent and they don’t last long. That means timing is everything.
Usually it’s around the end of April or beginning of May, though some will flower earlier or later depending on their location and local climate. …
Suave and sophisticated, Robert Palmer is known as much for his well-tailored image and stylish videos as he is for his songs. I’ve admired his music ever since he released his first solo album back in 1974 and followed his career which spanned fourteen solo records, plus various greatest hits compilations, live albums and his supergroup project with members of Duran Duran.
I also got to see Robert Palmer live, once at the beginning of his career when he was singing with Elkie Brooks in Vinegar Joe and then some year later at the Hammersmith Odeon at the height of…
Following a year shuttered by the pandemic, one of England’s most magical gardens finally burst back into life with a kaleidoscope of colourful blooms.
Originally hailing from Turkey, ever since the Tulipmania of the 17th century elevated them to collector status, tulips have created a special place among the world’s species of flowers.
Not only do tulips come in almost every colour, but in many different shapes, sizes and styles. In fact there are now some 3,000 registered varieties, so many that when different varieties are seen side by side, it’s often hard to believe that any two are the same specie.
Indeed, tulips can be divided into no less than 15 different groups or categories. The most rudimentary being the classic six-petaled single…
A few years ago I was asked by the Littlehampton Heritage Group to look into the history of two Littlehampton streets: Pier Road and Bayford Road.
Over several weeks, I did a lot of research and began to compile my findings. However, as often happens, other things took over and it looked like the work would never see the light of day.
With time on my hands, lockdown has allowed me to reassess so much of what I’ve done, from the tens of thousands of live music, automotive and floral photos I’ve either never shared or those that I’m giving…
The first song David Bowie wrote for another artist, and one of the best he’s ever written, is now regarded as one of glam rock’s all-time classics. Recorded in the dead of night, in complete secrecy, it took just a couple of hours to record. This is the story behind the song.
Almost 50 years after it was recorded, All The Young Dudes Bowie’s anthem for displaced kids, still sounds fresh today and continues to be covered by artists of every genre.
To this day, many claim it’s the best song he ever wrote. But why did Bowie write it, what’s it all about, what makes it such a special song and why did he give it away? Let’s take a deep dive and find out.
The background: 1972 was the year that Britain officially joined the European Union, year the Watergate scandal broke and the year when terrorists killed nine Israeli…
Soaking up the sights in Britain’s most photogenic city
I’ve been to Bath once before, many years ago, so a return trip was long on the agenda. With lockdown easing, it was one of the first places I wanted to visit. It’s such a photogenic city, there are photo opportunities quite literally around every corner. Indeed, one has to be sparing on what to shoot in order to focus on the most interesting and most deserving subject matter.
While this is a photographic impression of what I got to see, I only spent an afternoon there in July at a time where much of the city’s attractions were either…
Gary Marlowe
Creator of images that are out of the ordinary, reviewer of live music and live events and interviewer of interesting people
