Paris Gardens and David Austin Roses from Garden Photo World

David Austin Roses

2011-09-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

Can never get enough of them! All these were grown in our own garden at Hillhaven.

Kaleidoscope Gardens of Paris

2011-08-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

Late summer city gardens in Paris – painted with an Impressionist's brush of faceted annuals and perennials.

Paris Flower Markets

2011-08-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

Summer in Paris brings an abundance of blooms to the street markets, fleuristas and upscale floral boutiques. We've just returned from our second trip to the city in as many months and it was a delight to photograph so much color and beauty! A collection of our Parisian floral images are now live on our website here.

At Au Nom de la Rose (locations throughout Paris), rose petals strewn on the floor are part of the regular decor.

Hope you enjoyed this little tour of the fabulous floral markets in Paris. Be sure to see the whole collection here!

French Country Summer

2011-07-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

Blue doors. Roses. Ancient stone. We were pretty much in heaven in the French countryside in early June.

Serendipity in the form of a small local guidebook led us to a private garden gem on our way to Mont Saint Michel.

I'm kind of surprised we came home at all!

Our complete collection of hundreds of French country garden images will be online in a few weeks. Until then, we hope you are enjoying summer days in a beautiful garden!

Fields of French Poppies

2011-06-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, they exist, just as in an Impressionist painting! We stopped to photograph these on the road to Giverny from our village in Picardy.

French Garden Symmetry

2011-06-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

We've just returned from touring Picardy and Normandy in France, as well as visiting Paris. Beautiful weather, incredible gardens and wonderful people. Here is a sneak peek of the stunning terraced gardens at Chateau de Brecy.

Elements of French and Italian garden styles create interesting views from every angle.

It was a challenge finding the chateau, even though it is just off the main road to Bayeux. Even locals in the village two miles away hadn't seemed to have heard of it!

The full collection of images will be posted in the library soon. In the meantime, do contact us for more information.

Summer Markets

2011-05-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

It's that time! See our collections of summer market images here and here and here!

Spring Blossoms and Teacups

2011-05-15T21:21:00.000-07:00

There's something delightful about botanical teacups!

All styling and photography © Georgianna Lane for Garden Photo World

Gardens of South Carolina

2011-05-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peak at more of our images from the beautiful gardens of South Carolina!

Open publication

Ranunculus Studies

2011-04-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

I can't seem to get enough of the wayward charm of these wonderfully entertaining flowers! They aren't readily available here in the Northwest so I special order them at this time of year and then go a bit crazy photographing them. See the latest images here!

Charleston

2011-04-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate to visit Charleston in early April, blessed with perfect weather and the city looking its most charming with spring bloom, freshly-washed blue skies and welcoming smiles from everyone.

The city's garden tours were in full swing, with enthusiastic visitors clutching maps and criss-crossing the streets of the historic district – Meeting Street, Church Street, Tradd and Water – all the while dazzled by the colorful and exuberant displays in every garden and under every window.

I'm still processing the many hundreds of photos I took during that week but I was so taken with the marvelous window boxes that I've put together a feature collection just of those images. Here are a few and the full collection is here.

Vintage Roses

2011-03-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

Vintage style is more and more popular in decor, crafting, styling, advertising and publishing. We have an extensive collection of vintage-look images which we'll be making available for licensing over the next few months.

The first collection now online is Vintage Roses, a nostalgic, gently faded series of beautiful cottage and garden rose images. You can see it here!

Spring Color

2011-03-01T22:18:00.000-08:00

Hello! Spring is so very close, isn't it? Here is a peek into what's going on in our studio. The weather hasn't been too inviting, some sunny days but also coolness and gray rain – fortunately the light is reaching further toward the equinox and there is lovely softness coming through the windows.

So scattering some spring color your way.

Narcissus 'White Tete a Tete'

Ranunculus Studies

2011-02-11T22:13:00.000-08:00

New Garden Photo World Online Image Showcase

2011-01-30T21:10:00.000-08:00

Interested in seeing how our images will look as covers, openers and feature stories? We've put together our own online publication showcasing a variety of our image collections and feature photo stories. View here by navigating with the arrows on the left and right above; click for full screen. Links throughout will take you directly to the features at our website!

Reflections on Beauty

2011-01-11T21:20:00.000-08:00

A curious time of year, isn't it – mid-January? A sort of vague limbo between the festivity of the holidays and the exuberance of spring. A lull, and a seemingly dull lull at that. The bleakness of winter, the sad browns and tans and grays, feel settled in. Skies of ashen pallor refuse admittance to precious extra moments of light.

Perhaps our least beautiful month, here in the Northern Hemisphere. The search for beauty costs more effort with less reward. Or at least it seems.

But a few days ago, as I looked out on Camellia sasanqua in bloom and the very first shoots of the early narcissus peeking up in the woodland garden, snow began to fall, and in a few hours all was soft and white and puffy and pristine, reflecting light along all the garden paths and into each window in the house.

Perhaps January could be our most beautiful month after all.

Country Wonderland

2010-12-15T19:02:00.000-08:00

We hope you are enjoying a fun and joyful week of holiday preparations. And to get us all in the festive, wintery mood, some images from our library of the Skagit Valley in snow.

This fertile valley and picturesque farmlands lie an hour north of our home. On this day, after a sudden snowfall, the barns lay serene and still and a cool, clear sky sent twinkling lights dancing across the hushed purity of the fields.

We felt transported by the views to a country wonderland, a real-life vintage postcard, nostalgic scenes of a timeless way of life. We hope they do the same for you.

See more scenes of winter beauty here.

Autumn Foliage in Bruges

2010-11-20T19:03:00.000-08:00

Hello and warm greetings! Our balmy, sunny autumn has flown with the leaves on strong winds – winds that cleared the skies for a magical view of a glorious, almost-full moon last night. Did you see it? At midnight, looking out from the upper windows, our property appeared as if in near daylight with deep shadows cast by the trees and all else silvered with gleaming light. And the day dawned with ice on the bird baths and a faint threat of snow.

A day to stay in and delight in armchair travel! Join me on a little surprise tour. David recently returned from a wonderful trip to Belgium, including the magnificent medieval city of Bruges with the famous Flemish light, loved by painters for centuries:

Canals, marvelous architecture, autumn color, and a sweet pup napping in the sun.

In Bruges, two prominent features are chocolate and lace.

As well as beautiful views that haven't changed in hundreds of years.

Jewelled Tones

2010-11-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

As the richness and glitter of winter days approaches, an unplanned but common motif emerges from recent shoots – hues of garnet, ruby and tourmaline, shades of alexandrite, topaz, amethyst and sapphire, jewelled tones to welcome the coming festive season.

The last of the roses from Mom's garden – Rosa 'Mr. Lincoln', photographed in a simple blue bottle on her antique Welsh sideboard.

A serendipitous mid-autumn flower market find – armfuls of rainbow-hued ranunculus!

Perfect buds in mesmerizing colors, faceted and sparkling like costly gems.

Outshining a silk damask pillow in our living room.

Saturated pinks and purples of handmade candles purchased in Cusco, Peru, regal in a silver candelabra – a wedding gift to my parents that now sits on a shelf in our office.

Vivid colors in our entry hall – hand bags and textiles from Peru, and more ranunculus.

My thoughts turn to velvets and satins, exotic wrappings and treasures from distant lands, gifts to be given with a grateful heart and joy to be shared with loved ones far and near.

Forest Pansy

2010-11-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

Autumn can make be moody and melancholy. The dark, the damp, the dreary.

But this week such gloom and glum has been banished by Seattle's record-breaking warm and sunny weather – 74 degrees today! November! Not an occasion to squander.

So, the last two days have found me on a frantic and frenetic frenzy of photographing fall foliage!

Yesterday's first stop was magic, no doubt. Lured by a liquid light swishing through multi-colored leaves in a park I've driven past hundreds of times, I was enchanted to discover sweet trees festooned with golden hearts!

And with such a sweet name – 'Forest Pansy', of the Redbud family. (Cersis canadensis)

Nature's garlands, buntings and banners.

I left exhilarated, elated and extra-appreciative of living in such a gorgeous city.

Berries and Cream and Whirling Butterflies

2010-09-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

Somehow, these roses remind me of frothy, whipped, double cream – rich and thick and perfect with freshly-picked wild blackberries.

Blackberries are hugely abundant here in late summer and it's common to see happy pickers on the roadsides with buckets and bowls, eating as much as they put in their containers. As I pass them in their anonymity, I like to imagine what scrumptious delights they are going to treat their families to that night – pie or cobbler or jam from their grandmother's recipe.

I really do use this gate post in our garden quite often to rest jars and pitchers on while I'm tending to the roses. Sometimes I hang my camera from it, too. This is the fence that divides the upper front lawn (seen above) with the upper back garden. We have many bird baths, but the one you can just make out here is by far the most popular. None of the birds would touch it when it was first purchased but now they jostle and spar with one another to get in first.

Tremendous bird activity in the garden this morning – robins and tohees and jays and crows and chickadees. A hummer is resting on the wire outside my window as I write this, which reminds me to freshen up their feeders. We don't leave food for the other birds – plenty of worms and berries for them – but the hummers we take care of throughout the winter when nothing is blooming.

Canning jars are so nostalgic, aren't they? I have begun my own collection in recent years but most that I use in photos are borrowed from Mom, who has dozens in all sizes dating from the early 1900s. My parents had an antique shop on our property when we were growing up and Sundays were spent on country drives to go "antiquing". I remember their thrill of expectation and discovery exploring condemned old houses.

These are all David Austin roses – 'The Shepherdess', left and 'A Shropshire Lad', right.

'Lady Emma Hamilton' and 'The Shepherdess'. The Shepherdess so very much resembles scoops of vanilla ice cream. Mmm, perhaps I'll get some sugar cones...

One of my favorite flowering plants is Gaura lindheimeri, known as Whirling Butterflies or Beeblossom or Indian Feather. Aren't those the most wonderful names? To me, they are such magical and sweet plants. This one is 'Pink Cloud', with beautiful burgundy and green stems.

Delightful Dahlias

2010-09-10T21:57:00.000-07:00

Ah, the amazing forms and colors of dahlias!

We've nearly doubled the size of our Dahlia Collection with our recent shoots around the Pacific Northwest.

See them all here!

Multi-Hued Hydrangeas

2010-08-26T21:58:00.000-07:00

A random sampling of hydrangea blooms from our garden revealed a gorgeous spectrum when gathered together!

And arranged with some of the abundant roses created a fantasy garden hat.

See these and many more images here!

New David Austin English Rose Images

2010-08-12T21:58:00.000-07:00

Newly added to our English Roses Collection!

A Lavender Dream

2010-07-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

A girl, a purple bike and a field of lavender.

• • • •

Production notes:
Location: Purple Haze Lavender Farm, Olympic Peninsula, Washington. The Peninsula is home to the largest Lavender Festival in the US.
Model: Winifrede Walbaum
Date: July 6, 2010

See more images from our Lavender collection here!

Peonies and Roses

2010-07-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

"...and smell'st so sweet." – Shakespeare

Othello. Act IV, Scene 2

Inspired by one of my three new David Austin roses, 'Othello', a Venetian-themed essay of roses and peonies.

• • • •

Rosa 'Othello'

• • • •

Rosa 'Mary Rose'

• • • •

Rosa 'Eglantyne'

• • • •

Set against one of our oil paintings of Venice...

and a harlequin from my collection of Venetian masks.

Paeon to the Peony

2010-06-14T21:15:00.000-07:00

'Christmas Velvet'

Commanding attention, amid fanfare and adoration, Madame Peony arrives, with a swish of her flouncy skirts and frothy petticoats and her almost-too-strong perfume.

'Bartzella'

And well she knows, though she may grace humble gardens, and sumptuous bouquets, she rightfully belongs at the court of an emperor, esteemed beyond value, graced with songs of praise.

'Charlie's White'

But, though filled with spectacle, her visit is tinged with sadness, for she knows, as do her admirers, that her time is brief, all too brief.

Those who adore her re-order their lives, shunning other distractions to remain by her side.

And once she is gone, no traces will linger – no straggling blooms, no fragrant reminder.

'White Sands'

But she leaves us a lesson, taught in dazzling fashion, to cherish each moment and to not waste a day.

'Adonis'

Though Beauty is fleeting and flamboyance will fade...

there is wonder to be found in the simplest of ways.

Antique Rose Farm

2010-06-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

Antique. Rose. Farm.

Three words we love.

And together forming the name of a place of vintage beauty and charm that we visited on Saturday, the first sunny day after a dreary succession of decidedly un-summery days.

Roses and barns and cows and antiques and garden delights aplenty.

And a sunny field brimming with old garden roses, scampering on trellises and clambering over arbors.

Displays to inspire...

And, of course, lots of farm-style homes for the birds!

A delightful day out in the country!

Syringa: New Lilac Collection!

2010-05-23T05:59:00.000-07:00

We're proud to launch our collection of hundreds of all new images of Syringa, suitable for editorial, advertising, packaging, calendars and more!

Left to right: Syringa vulgaris 'Mme Lemoine', Syringa vulgaris 'Firmament', Syringa vulgaris 'Glory', Syringa vulgaris 'Adelaide Dunbar', Syringa vulgaris 'Primrose', Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'Pocohontas', Syringa x chinensis 'Lilac Sunday', Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation', Syringa vulgaris 'Mme Charles Souchet', Syringa vulgaris 'President Lincoln', Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'Maiden's Blush', Syringa vulgaris 'Alice Christianson', Syringa 'Fritz Klager', Syringa 'Pink Ruth', Syringa vulgaris 'Peacock'

(The above collection images and the Victorian garden and house below, Hulda Klager Lilac Garden, Woodland, Washington. All other images taken at Hillhaven Garden.)

Apple Blossom (Malus)

2010-05-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

Apple blossoms and bird song, a perfect combination!

(Songbirds recorded in our garden)

Cornus florida rubra – Pink Flowering Dogwood

2010-04-23T05:54:00.000-07:00

Ranunculus

2010-04-10T05:49:00.000-07:00

Can one ever have enough of ranunculus? We don't think so, and have just added over 200 new images to our library!

Fields of Gold (and Pink)

2010-03-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

We are fortunate to live less than an hour south of the lush Skagit Valley, with its charming farms, rural atmosphere and, oh yes, a daffodil or tulip or two!

The world famous Skagit Valley Tulip Festival runs from April 1 - 30 but the early spring has caused the tulip growers to open their fields and display gardens a week early. As they say on the Festival website "Bloom Dates According to Mother Nature", and she is certainly in a hurry this year.

I went up there this morning, to avoid the crowds and take advantage of a sunny day. The daffodil fields were at their peak, glowing in golden waves across the valley.

Only one tulip field at Roozengaarde was in bloom but the rest are not far behind. If you plan to go, I recommend the earlier part of April, instead of the later part, which was the time to go for the two previous years.

If you can't make it, you can still tiptoe through the tulips in our extensive image gallery!

Cherry Blossom Time!

2010-03-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

Sakura Sakura

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,

On Meadow-hills and mountains

As far as you can see.

Is it a mist, or clouds?

Fragrant in the morning sun.

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,

Flowers in full bloom.

Traditional Japanese Song

One of the most spectacular spring sights in Seattle is the University of Washington Quad, with its famous Yoshino cherry trees in bloom, which perfectly compliment the pink stone and brick Gothic architecture of the campus buildings.

We shoot there several times during the blossom season. This year, it has come early but lasted for weeks, due to the warm days and cool nights.

The trees are nearly at the end of their life span, but are such beloved icons that replacement trees are already being grown in a nursery in northern Washington.
When I was growing up, we spent several years living in a small coastal village in Japan. We loved participating in the many wonderful annual festivals there, and Hanami, the Cherry Blossom Festival, was always a highlight.

My favorite image of this year's shoots is this one, taken by David on March 6th:

Enjoy spring, wherever you are!

Camellias

2010-02-26T20:19:00.000-08:00

Spring has come about a month early to the Pacific Northwest, with glorious warm weather and blooms bursting out well ahead of schedule!
Among the many early risers to spring's call are camellias, whose ephemeral beauty inspires poetic thoughts and rapid photo shoots!
See more spring beauty in our image library!

New Publication!

2010-02-10T15:10:00.000-08:00

We're delighted to have some of our images featured in Joseph Provey's latest, hot-off-the-press book Successful Container Gardening: 75 Easy-to-Grow Flower and Vegetable "Gardens" from Creative Homeowner!

This is a really terrific publication. I was particularly impressed with how much detail went into each chapter and all the truly excellent tips that appear abundantly throughout the text. And lots of beautiful photos.

We have a severe lack of good container plantings on our property, mostly because I haven't managed to keep them flourishing, but I'm so inspired by Joe's book, I aim to head out to the nursery today.

Successful Container Gardening: 75 Easy-to-Grow Flower and Vegetable "Gardens" is available from Amazon and other online and retail outlets. Congratulations, Joe!

(Our images appear on the front and back covers, and on pages 80, 81, 82, 106 and 125.)

The Winter Garden

2010-02-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

Rhododendron mucronulatum

Our Northwest winters are usually quite mild, and this year has been more so than normal, although we've had our share of rain. The gorgeous weather today lured me out to the Arboretum and the Winter Garden where I was astounded to see a number of early bloomers – a full two or three weeks ahead of schedule. What a delightful surprise!

Cyclamen coum

Look for these images and many more in our Winter Gallery!

The Witt Winter Garden at the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle provides a visual feast of dramatic colors, textures, fragrances and structure. Hamamelis, Helleborus, Rhododendron, Calluna vulgaris, Camellia sasanqua, Daphne odora, Mahonia and Viburnum are among the many stars of this celebration of winter blooming plants. From our experience over the last three or four years, late January through March is a great time to visit to enjoy these treasures.

Fritillaria imperalis

2010-02-05T20:48:00.000-08:00

Shakespeare's "Crown Imperial" – now in our Bulb Gallery!

Spring Still Lifes

2010-01-21T09:13:00.000-08:00

See these and many more now in our Spring Collection!

Late Winter Bloomers – Heathers and Pieris

2010-01-15T20:28:00.000-08:00

Erica carnea 'King George'

Erica carnea

Erica darleyensis 'Jenny Porter'

Erica carnea 'Vivelli'

Pieris japonica 'Valley Valentine'
Visit our library for more winter image inspiration!

Happy Holidays From Garden Photo World!

2009-12-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

Holiday Lights, downtown Seattle

Wishing you the joys of the season!

For a fairyland holiday garden tour, see the post below with images from the Bellevue Botanical Garden's "Garden d'Lights"!
– David and Georgianna

A Magical Garden of Lights

2009-12-01T13:49:00.000-08:00

Every holiday season, the Bellevue Botanical Garden is transformed into an enchanted fantasy garden of flora and fauna during the Garden d'Lights festival. Inspired by plants found in Northwest gardens, over 500,000 tiny twinkle lights are fashioned into three dimensional flowers, shrubs, vines, arbors and critters.

Garden Photo World has an extensive collection of images from this spectacular event in our stock library. Visit it here for many more views.

And if you are in the Seattle area during December, make a point of visiting Garden d'Lights! – Georgianna

Festive and Frosty!

2009-11-28T13:45:00.000-08:00

Share the spirit of the season with a tour through our winter gallery! Brrr!

Autumn Glory

2009-11-05T12:29:00.000-08:00

We didn't stop to catch our breaths upon our return from Chile and Peru – although it's spring there, autumn is at its peak here! We managed some terrific days of shooting in beautiful weather before the drenching rains hit at the end of October. Here's just a small selection – see more gorgeous autumn beauty at our website!

Back from South America!

2009-10-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

We've returned from three phenomenal weeks in Chile and Peru! We're still processing the thousands of photos we took of Chilean and Peruvian flora and fauna but here is a sneak peek of some.

We had a photo request from a US publisher for images of llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanaco (all of the llama family) so traveled to a farm outside of Cusco. Not only did we photograph so many of them in their native habitat, we also got an extensive collection of images of traditional Peruvian dyeing and weaving techniques, including a detailed demonstration of the various natural plants used to dye the spun yarn and create the incredible colors of Peruvian handicrafts. (See full photo story)

And, a dream come true, we spent two days at Machu Picchu! We splurged and spent the night at the Machu Picchu Santuary Lodge – expensive but worth every penny – and were up and at the ruins in time for the most glorious, clear sunrise! Absolutely breathtaking and a once in a lifetime experience.

The gardens at the Sanctuary Lodge are lush with exotic native orchids, hummingbirds and other birds, none of which we'd ever seen before.

Here are two VERY happy photographers!

We'll be posting more images from the trip on our travel blog and will post a link here when we do!

Next Stop – South America!

2009-09-07T20:23:00.000-07:00

Our next major location shoots will be in South America! We have a variety of image requests, from llamas to Chilean vineyards to native Chilean plants. Our itinerary includes Santiago, Viña del Mar and Valparaiso, Chile; Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu, Peru and hopefully a trip to the wildflower fields in central Chile if the winter has had enough rain for them to bloom.

If you are in need or desire of images of the amazing flora of Chile and Peru, be sure to contact us asap with your lists so we can include them in our travels.

Next update upon our return, or depending on wifi connections, from the road!

– Georgianna

Our Latest VIdeo Production – Colette's

2009-09-06T15:43:00.000-07:00

We were delighted and honored recently to be hired to produce a new promotional video for Colette's Bed and Breakfast, in Port Angeles, Washington. Colette's is a luxurious and highly rated B&B on a 10 acre oceanfront estate located between the majestic Olympic Range and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The fabulously appointed lodgings are nestled in a spectacular outdoor sanctuary including enchanting gardens and towering evergreens.

If you are traveling to the Pacific Northwest, this is the ultimate getaway!

Thank you again to Georgette, Cindy and Chip for the opportunity to create the video for your beautiful and romantic retreat!

Late Summer Update

2009-09-05T18:59:00.001-07:00

We've had a gloriously beautiful summer in the Pacific Northwest, which we've taken advantage by expanding our scheduled shoot locations, resulting in literally thousands of new images added to the library!

These include: luscious Summer Fruits; a cute photo story on whimsical Handmade Bird Houses; a new collection of our Hellebore images – just in time for upcoming winter features; fresh and modern still lifes of always heavenly Hydrangeas; and, since it's never too early to plan for spring, we've put together a new collection of our best of Skagit Valley Tulips!

Newly shot and upcoming: A Medicinal Herb Garden, Seaside Perennial Garden, Seattle's Famous "P-Patch" Allotment Gardens, and more.

But these are just a few highlights – check out other collections and photo/feature stories listed on the sidebar and on our website!
• • • •
Summer Fruits

Handmade Bird Houses

Hellebores

Hydrangea Still Lifes

Skagit Valley Tulips

Lavender Daze

2009-07-16T08:11:00.001-07:00

Tuesday we traveled to Sequim (pronounced Squim) as we'd decided to photograph the lavender fields and farms before the official Sequim Lavender Festival starts this weekend. It was a wise decision. The roads were empty, as were the parking lots, farm shops and the fields themselves.

While we visited several farms, we spent the most time at the one that became our favorite: Purple Haze Lavender. The owner, Mike Reichner, was fabulously generous in sharing the workings of the farm and we were even able to shoot and produce an HD video for him of the harvest (see end of this post). Here's a sample of the images but click the links at right to view the full photo story and image collection!