News 2011

November 2011
For over a decade, Louisa Jones has conducted exclusive visits to private gardens in Provence, drawing on a personal network established in connection with her books and articles. These visits include properties otherwise inaccessible and meetings with owners, designers and artists. Excursions are accompanied by Louisa and move out from Avignon as from the hub of a wheel, averaging three visits a day. These tours are like no others, personally designed and with different content every time according to how the gardens evolve and what new work is ripening. Participants sometimes return, bringing spouses and partners. In a part of the world where houses and gardens are inseparable, inside visits are often included. Many participants are themselves owners of fine gardens or professional architects, designers, interior designers. Many people find that their whole sense of what gardens can be has been changed by this trip (see available testimonials).

Former visitors who have been delighted by this experience include Kathryn Bradley Hole (of Country Life) Joanna Fortnam (of the Telegraph) and designers Dan Pearson and Fernando Caruncho.

La Mirande Hotel is a period town house painstakingly restored to its 18th century essence with its own garden just underneath the mighty walls of the Popes' Palace. "Staying at La Mirande is a journey back through two centuries of French decorative art" DEPARTURES MAGAZINE. It is family run; staying there is like visiting friends.
See their website at www.la-mirande.fr .

GARDEN WEEKS IN PROVENCE are held in Avignon always the third week in April and the second week of October.

TOUR DATES FOR 2012: Sunday April 15nd -Saturday 21th AND Sunday October 7th--Saturday October 12th

For current itineraries and further information, contact
Louisa Jones at ljones@orange.fr.

For a full list of Louisa Jones' books, see www.louisajones.fr.

For booking, contact Susan Worner Tours: info@susanwornertours.com www.susanwornertours.com

Tel: +44 1904 651651

November 2011
What could be more fun that a night in Paris ? Thanks to garden writer Louisa Jones, I was able to do just that, staying at and photographing the roof garden at the Holiday Inn on Rue Danton, Notre Dame ( http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/gb/en/paris/parnd/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=mdpr-_-TripAdvisorUK-_-BizListing-_-hi_parnd ). The garden has been brilliantly designed by Eric Ossart and Arnaud Maurieres, two of my favourite French garden designers http://www.maurieres-ossart.com/

The decked roof terrace is a windy but fantastic place to be, with stunning views across to the Eiffel Tower. Hardy cactus and agaves are planted in big zinc containers that do not need watering - amazing !

November 2011
The English Garden magazine http://www.theenglishgarden.co.uk/ have just commissioned me to shoot the garden at Saling Hall, in Essex, in all its autumn glory. The 12 acre garden has been created over some eighty years, by two owners. For the past forty years Hugh and Judy Johnson have been restoring and enlarging the already admired work of Isabel Lady Carlyle, who moved to Saling in 1936. Some of the images are shown here For more information on Saling Hall go to http://www.salinghall.com/homepage.html

November 2011
October is the best time to see the beautiful nerine flowers at the RHS Garden at Wisley in Surrey. It is said that Nerine sarniensis, or Guernsey lilies, were named when a ship was wrecked many years ago on Guernsey (Sarnia is the traditional name for Guernsey). Some Nerine bulbs washed ashore and took root on the island's sandy beaches. Whatever the truth is regarding their arrival on Guernsey, nerines have been grown there ever since. Their real home though is South Africa, where they grow on rock ledges, mountainsides and other well-drained and arid habitats. I like to take macro shots of them to reveal the beautiful curled petals that come in a range of colours.

Probably best known to gardeners in the UK is Nerine bowdenii, the hardiest species (you can see these in the Walled Garden East). But most nerines, including the Nerine sarniensis on display here, are not frost hardy and require a frost free greenhouse or conservatory with a minimum temperature of 4 - 5°C.

If you'd like to learn more about nerines contact the Nerine and Amaryllid Society on http://www.nerineandamaryllidsociety.co.uk or explore the RHS website http://www.rhs.org.uk/

November 2011
Jacky Hobbs is my favourite stylist and I spent a great day with her shooting her dahlia filled house in Kingston. Jacky was up even earlier than me to head off to Covent Garden flower market at dawn. Here are some of the pictures from the shoot.

November 2011
David Harber ( http://www.davidharber.co.uk/ ) is a busy man - this year
I have been out and about shooting lots of his amazing sundials, sculptures and water features. Here are the results of a recent early shoot in and around south London

24th July 2012 10.15am -4pm
This course begins in the morning with an illustrated lecture which is followed by practical sessions in the garden where students can learn about the techniques honed by Clive over a 20 year career as a professional flower & garden photographer. Clive is a very experienced teacher and will show you how to get the most from your camera no matter what your skill level. Bring your own camera - a digital SLR camera is preferable. Refreshments and lunch are provided.

Hillside Events Centre,
RHS Garden Wisley
Surrey
GU23 6QB

To book contact Suzanne Moss
Adult Learning Co-ordinator
RHS Garden Wisley
Surrey
GU23 6QB

Tel: 01483 479748

www.rhs.org.uk
Reg charity no. 222879/SC038262

Thursday 13th Septmber 10.15am -4pm
1This course begins in the morning with an illustrated lecture which is followed by practical sessions in the garden where students can learn about the techniques honed by Clive over a 20 year career as a professional flower & garden photographer. Clive is a very experienced teacher and will show you how to get the most from your camera no matter what your skill level. Bring your own camera - a digital SLR camera is preferable. Refreshments and lunch are provided.

Hillside Events Centre,
RHS Garden Wisley
Surrey
GU23 6QB

To book contact Suzanne Moss
Adult Learning Co-ordinator
RHS Garden Wisley
Surrey
GU23 6QB

Tel: 01483 479748

www.rhs.org.uk
Reg charity no. 222879/SC038262

October 2011
Apple weekend is one of the biggest events in Waterperry's annual calendar, when visitors have the chance to sample fruit, get advice and information and even have their mystery apple crops identified http://www.waterperrygardens.co.uk/gardens-orchards.php I travelled with stylist Jacky Hobbs to record this fun event. Apple juice is available all year round from Waterperry's Garden Shop and online and from several other retail outlets. These include Gluttons Deli in Jericho, Wells Stores in Abingdon, The Arches at Watlington, the Crazy Bear at Stadhampton, Sandy Land Farm Shop at Tiddington, Rectory Farm at Stanton St John and the Farm Shop at Berwick Salome. Waterperry juice is also served to guests breakfasting at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and at Lassco's coffee shop at Milton Common.

Waterperry apples are grown, harvested and juiced onsite using time-honoured methods, which means the fruit and juices are low on food miles and high on taste. current Orchard manager Chris Lanczak trained under Miss Havergal and has worked at Waterperry for forty years, helped by his 'second in command' Jules Watling. Between them they grow around fifty different varieties of apple - including more unusual types like Ashmead's Kernel, Orleans Reinette and Kidd's Orange. But they also grow old favourites like Cox's Orange Pippin, Bramley and Egremont Russet. From the end of August until the new year, the Garden Shop is bursting with different apples alongside boxes of the good keeping varieties.

October 2011
Autumn has suddenly arrived and with it some great misty, atmospheric mornings. Waterperry Gardens, near Oxford, which are stunning at this time of year.

http://www.waterperrygardens.co.uk/index.php

The classic herbaceous border is 60 metres long and backed by the mellow old brick of the kitchen garden wall. In September there is a dramatic flush of colour from Micaelmas Daisies, goldenrod and Helenium that flower until the first frosts. Some of the images I took are shown here.

September 2011
The trial grounds at the RHS garden, Wisley, in Surrey are looking stunning at the moment. There are beds of dahlias in full bloom enjoying the unusually hot weather. Here are some of the pictures that I took in the late afternoon.

September 2011
I love September with its early morning mists and atmosphere. Last week I drove to Essex for a dawn shoot at Ulting Wick - a colorful 4 acre garden around a 16th century farmhouse and listed black Essex barns. The owner, Philippa Burrough, has recently added a swimming pool on one side of the garden which now unites the whole design. Some of the morning shots are shown opposite.

September 2011
Have just spent an enjoyable day at the RHS Garden at Wisley, in Surrey, with 16 students. With temperatures soaring all day, much of the day was spent photographing the beautiful dahlias in the trials field - but the glasshouses also proved to be a rich source of photographic material when the wind started to pick up.

September 2011
A new range of prints is now available from NEXT - see links below to buy:

http://www.next.co.uk/homeware/wallart/6

http://www.next.co.uk/x481030s2

http://www.next.co.uk/x481030s1

http://www.next.co.uk/g92186s3

August 2011
15 students attended my photographic workshop at the beautiful RHS Gardens at Wisley in Surrey, on the 27th July. We were blessed with gorgeous weather and everyone enjoyed themselves - we took load of pictures of the big herbaceous borders and shot some great close ups of cacti and succulent plants in the glasshouse. Here are some pictures from the day shot by Carl Maniglia www.carlmaniglia.com

July 2011
Clive Nichols and Creatively Different Roller Blinds have teamed up to make available around 170 of Clive's flower and garden images for use on roller blinds. Creatively Different Blinds offers an array of contemporary blinds, photo blinds and designer blinds to make your blinds individual and creative. To order a blind with a Clive Nichols image on it click here www.creativelydifferentblinds.com/PhotographersCliveNicholsPhotography/

Clive's superb photographs are now also available to buy as wall murals and wallpaper, so, if you'd like to find out more, please call us on 0800 085 2055

July 2011
This June has been pretty bad for garden photographers - too much wind and rain and not enough high pressure to create still, sunny conditions. With weather like this you have to be patient and wait for a good morning and that is what I did when I was lucky enough to shoot the romantic garden at Asthall Manor just after 5am one morning. Some of the shots are shown here. To read more about Asthall and its sculpture exhibition click here - http://www.onformsculpture.co.uk/house_and_garden/

July 2011
I have been shooting a lot of interiors recently for the London Evening Standard Homes & Property supplement. The latest shoot was at the home of the master Pâtissier Eric Landard. Eric is twice winner of the prestigious Continental Pâtissier of the Year at the British Baking Awards and has changed the face of British Patisserie. Through his bespoke cake making brand, Savoir Design, he has earned himself an international reputation for superlative cakes with an A-list clientele including Madonna, Sir Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Claudia Schiffer and George Michael. This 40 year old Frenchman is now becoming something of a celebrity himself with his new series - Baking Mad - currently showing on Channel Four. His previous 10 part series, Glamour Puds, appeared on the Discovery Travel & Living Channel, and saw Eric take the viewer on a journey of his awe-inspiring work as well as his favourite locations that inspire his craft, from his own café, the renowned Cake Boy boutique in south west London, to the illustrious patisseries of Paris. In May this year Eric was commissioned to write a beautiful book and share his vision and expertise for patisserie and cake making. Glamour Cakes, published by Hamlyn Books, is available now. Go to http://www.cake-boy.co.uk/ericlanlard.php to read more about Eric.

To view the article by Pattie Barron and with my photos in the Evening Standard and the Independent click here

June 2011
I spent a pleasant day in London with Richard Horsley and Pattie Barron photographing Isabelle Palmer, owner of The Balcony Gardener http://www.thebalconygardener.com/ at her home for the London Evening Standard. After years of successfully growing flowers, herbs and vegetables in tiny urban spaces, Isabelle recognized that there weren't many resources geared toward young, urbanites who craved a little green oasis but only had limited space, so she founded The Balcony Gardener to help people easily bring a little green into their lives. Isabelle has two balconies in her Hampstead home - a beautiful old church that was converted into flats

May 2011
The Chelsea Flower Show came round a bit too quickly this year ! I was only able to visit on the Press day, Monday, and I spent most of it shooting images for the London Evening Standard. My brief was to get shots of some of the stars of the Show - shown opposite are the presenter Rachel De Thame and top designers Bunny Guinness http://www.bunnyguinness.com/introduction.html and Luciano Giubbilei http://www.lucianogiubbilei.com/

May 2011
In Limoges I met up with Jacky Hobbs and we set off north to Gien to the iris fields of the Cayeux nursery. I have long been an admirer of the Cayeux irises having seen their stand for many years at the Chelsea Flower Show. We arrived just before sunset and spent the next two days photographing the irises in the fields as well as shooting some lovely cut flower images inside the home of the nursery owner, Richard Cayeux. The Cayeux family has over 100 years of experience in breeding irises culminating in 2009 when the American Iris Society awarded Richard Cayeux the Warburton medal for his contributions to the genus Iris. Their catalogue features, among the 570 iris varieties, some 120 iris hybrids created by four generations of the Cayeux family.

http://www.iris-cayeux.com/index?lang=EN&SID=78161cca5473b70eec31fc11851617a8

May 2011
Leaving Provence I headed west and then north to the beautiful valley of the Dordogne.The town of Vézac in the Dordogne region of France is home to one of the world's most magnificent topiary gardens - the famed Gardens of Marqueyssac. - http://www.marqueyssac.com/ These stunningly sculptured landscapes wrap around a 17th century chateau that sits perched above the picturesque Dordogne valley. The bubbly, rounded forms of the garden are carefully manicured by active attendants, maintaining a design that was first developed over 300 years ago.

The Gardens of Marqueyssac are now available for public strolls, having been restored to their original glory for a public opening in 1996. The Château de Marqueyssac stretches across a large plot that includes 5 km of walking trails, a Belvedere pavilion high above the river below, a chapel and these famed overhanging gardens. While Vézac may be out-of-the-way for most travelers, it's roughly half-way between the Bourdeaux and Rhone wine regions, placing it directly in the path of French wine travelers.

May 2011
Dominique Lafourcade is a genius who makes gardens in Provence for very up market clients. Her very best garden though may well be her own - Les Confines - in the Alpilles. The garden suffered some neglect recently but is now coming back to life - and it is spectacular as you can see from some of the photos that I took there. In stark contrast is her new garden - a contemporary creation in metal and stone

May 2011
Leaving Italy I drove straight to Les Alpilles in Provence . The range is an extension of the much larger Luberon range. Although it is not high - some 387 m (1,270 ft) at its highest point - the Alpilles range stands out disproportionately, as it rises apparently sheer from the plain of the Rhône valley. The range is about 25 km long by about 8 to 10 km wide, running in an east-west direction between the Rhône and Durance rivers.

The landscape of the Alpilles is one of arid limestone peaks separated by dry valleys.

Les Alpilles is now my favourite place and is a hotbed for gardens which are now starting to become well known, thanks mostly to the writing of Louisa Jones, author of books such as 'New Gardens in Provence' http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Gardens-Provence-Contemporary-Creations/dp/158479545X

Marco Nucera has worked in almost every garden in this area and I have photographed a lot of his work. I returned to his workshop in Noves to see his latest work and to photograph him 'in action' - some of the shots are shown opposite

May 2011
Paolo Pejrone is Italy's most distinguished landscape architect - but in England he is little known. Hopefully that will change - Last summer I photographed a stunning modern garden that he made by the sea which will appear in the new Thames & Hudson book by Louisa Jones that will be published next year and in May I visited and had the pleasure of staying at his cliffside garden nestled high above the village of Revello, near Turin.

April 2011
What a fabulous spring it's been. The magnolia and cherry blossom in England has been as good as I can ever remember and I was lucky to be able to visit Cerney House Garden, in Gloucestershire - http://www.cerneygardens.com - just as the cherry trees were at their best. The pictures opposite show just how stunning they looked and the garden will be featured in The English Garden magazine next spring.

April 2011
When Kally Ellis set up McQueens (http://www.mcqueens.co.uk/about/kally.php) in 1991, she had one aim in mind.

"I wanted to sell simple, stylish flowers, beautifully presented, to the London market. And I knew people would love it."

Kally drew on her business experience working in the Marketing Team of a large international French merchant bank. Combined with a strong sense of colour and design, and a genuine passion for flowers, it has proved to be a winning combination, establishing McQueens as the premier name in the UK flower market - and beyond.

"It never fails to surprise me when I receive calls about our flowers from Hollywood and Japan," says Kally. "It's amazing to think that from a small shop in Clerkenwell, we've built a reputation for quality and innovation that's known the world over. Yes, I'm very proud of what we've achieved."

Kally's own house in Muswell Hill is featured in the Evening Standard Homes & Property magazine - to view a pdf of the story by Pattie Barron click here for page 1 and click here for page 2.

April 2011
March saw me shooting more of David Harbers' http://www.davidharbersundials.co.uk/sculpture.htm fabulous work. This time at dawn in a garden in Oxfordshire and at David's studio and workshop. The main subject of the shoot was a stunning new piece of sculpture called the 'Mantle' - a verdigris bronze sphere, consisting of dozens of individual bronze petals welded together to represent the broken nature of the Earth's crust. Lined internally with 23¾ carat gold leaf to mimic the Earth's molten core, the gold leaf constantly shimmers and glows, flooding the centre of the piece with light - soft and subtle light when the sky is overcast; bright and intense when the sun's rays hit the piece.

The Mantle is a stunning outdoor sculpture that draws the eye and creates continual interest, equally at home on the lawn of a listed property, amongst the lavenders in an unruly cottage garden or the focal point on the terrace of a contemporary urban garden.

March 2011
In March I made a trip down to Cornwall with stylist Jacky Hobbs to photograph the beautiful woodland garden at Tregothnan - home to the Boscawen family since 1335 . The Tregothnan Estate (http://tregothnan.co.uk/) is internationally known for producing the only tea grown in England. Some of the images are shown opposite

March 2011
Check out our new online brochure by downloading the pdf by clicking here

Monday 11th April 2011
The Steyning Centre, Fletchers Croft, Steyning, BN44 3XZ

Steyning Camera Club is pleased to welcome Clive Nichols for our next key lecture on 11th April 2011, with his presentation entitled "The Art of Flower and Garden Photography". Tickets are £8 (including refreshments) and are available from The Steyning Bookshop, 106 High Street, Steyning or from Mike Warren on 01903 81877.

Doors open at 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start

www.steyninggcc.org.uk

Thurs 14th April 2011
10.15am - 4.30pm Hillside Events Room

RHS Members £110 Non-members £130

This course begins in the morning with an illustrated lecture which is followed by practical sessions in the garden where students can learn about the techniques honed by Clive over a 20 year career as a professional flower & garden photographer. Clive is a very experienced teacher and will show you how to get the most from your camera no matter what your skill level

Ticket price includes tea and coffee from 10am and lunch.

The ticketing system will go live from 31st Jan and the booking number to ring is 08456121253.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Courses/Leisure-learning/Leisure-learning-at-RHS-Garden-Wisley

Saturday 30 April 2011 10am - 4.30pm
Tutor: Clive Nichols Venue: Wakehurst Place

This is a course devoted to outdoor practical photography amidst the spring delights of Wakehurst Place with the guidance of one of the world's most successful flower and garden photographers. After an introductory lecture, the day will be spent in and around the ornamental gardens near the Mansion which present a wide variety of photographic challenges. The tutor will be drawing your attention to the trees, plants and views making up the spring picture at Wakehurst and sharing his hints and tips for the best ways of capturing them digitally or on film. Suitable for pro-active improvers.

Course Fee: £70 (£60 Concessions, Premier Friends)
(maximum capacity 15 places)

Contact

Miss Sarah Oldridge
Adult Education Co-ordinator
Public Engagement & Learning
Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew
Richmond
Surrey TW9 3AB

Tel: 0208 332 5626 or 01444 894310

Wed 27th July 2011
10.15am - 4.30pm Hillside Events Room

RHS Members £110 Non-members £130

This course begins in the morning with an illustrated lecture which is followed by practical sessions in the garden where students can learn about the techniques honed by Clive over a 20 year career as a professional flower & garden photographer. Clive is a very experienced teacher and will show you how to get the most from your camera no matter what your skill level

Ticket price includes tea and coffee from 10am and lunch.

The ticketing system will go live from 31st Jan and the booking number to ring is 08456121253.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Courses/Leisure-learning/Leisure-learning-at-RHS-Garden-Wisley