Tulips from Amsterdam (or somewhere)

We had lunch at the intimidating sounding International Anthony Burgess Foundation which just happens to have a splendid (if rather hot in the glaring sun) cafe.  There were some beautiful tulips on the table which were calling out to be photographed.  The actual red background was much more saturated and intense than in my finished photo, but impressive as it was, it just didn't work in the photo.  I find too much solid, flat red difficult to work with and it somehow always looks very odd.

Tabletop Tulips - by Sarah Franklin

I have loved flowers that fade

We're now in the full flood of early autumn here, the trees are turning golden and the sky is blue and in honour of the start of my favourite season I've been trying something new. I've added the first verse of the poem I Have Loved Flowers that Fade by the English poet Robert Bridges (1844 - 1930). I have a bit of a love hate relationship with poetry. Mostly hate I am embarrassed to confess. I still have a soft spot for the poets I studied a million years ago at school, Coleridge, Larkin, Frost and others, but I find it extremely hard to understand classical poetry which I find disappointing. I hope that this new series of images might re-ignite my (very little, admittedly) flame of interest in poetry!

I Have Loved Flowers that Fade by Eyeshoot

Flowers after the rain

I popped out to explore some localish gardens for the first time this afternoon. It had been raining all day and the tulips were sodden and sparkling with raindrops in the sunshine.