Candelabra’s, Auricula’s and David Bowie…..
I had a gorgeous day out yesterday with a good friend (and very talented photographer) Charlotte Boothman of LottieDesigns at the RHS garden, Harlow Carr, Yorkshire. I took my inherited camera (which I am informed is a Cannon Rebel – love that name!- It made me sing David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” out loud and imagine I was a cutting edge photography student of the 70′s!) Charlotte very generously gave me hints and tips on working in manual plus lent me her (very expensive) lens. Here are the results…..
Primula Auricula – These are the ‘Marmite’ of the horticultural world, love them or hate them? Personally I love them, they look too perfect for some people, but I adore the simplicity of them, its as if a child has been asked to draw ‘a flower’ for an art class, then proceeds to colour it in with their best, and brightest felt tip pens.
An evergreen, spring-blooming primrose. At only 25cm tall, they are best displayed on mass at eye level, so create your own Auricular Theatre, pot them in terracotta pots and stand them in up cycled painted second-hand bookcase, nailed to a wall, with a mini roof to keep off persistent rain….and enjoy their delicate painted faces.
Further through the garden by the woodland stream, in dappled sunlight we saw the candelabra primroses - Primula pulverulenta - a deep cerise or bubble gum pink flower growing to 90cm tall
In this country the candelabra primula enjoys moist, neutral to acid soil in partial shade. Beautiful by a garden pond but it will tolerate full sun if the soil is moist enough.
The day was amazing as was the weather and the Betty’s Macaroons (sorry not images of the macaroons as they were too delicious, but its now gives me a great excuse to return soon!) After seeing the results of my attempts at photography, with great guidance from Charlotte and an amazing lens, I was so happy with the results, I even admitted that my lifetime desire of a pair of Jimmy Choo’s was now surpassed by the desire for a new lens to recreate the shallow depth of field of the Auricula shots. So as we drove away from Harlow Carr my inner singer began to duet with David Bowie again….. “ch, ch, ch, changes”……
If you’d like to know more about the lovely Charlotte Boothman of LottieDesigns you can visit her on Facebook or her website.
kind regards
kat x
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{image credits – all images taken at Harlow Carr RHS Garden by moi!}
I especially love that first photo of the Primula Auricula!
So beautiful and inspiring!
Wishing you all the best,
Mary (from BYW 2.0)
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