I was a bit of a late arrival to Instagram. Nothing to do with the snobbery directed at the image sharing app over the enthusiasm of its users for displaying photos of their dinner – I’m not averse to doing that myself. I just didn’t quite get it. But there’s something about those little square peepholes into people’s everyday life that drew me in, and now I’m a convert.

I don’t quite know how the poppies got here. They’ve been most decidedly *over there* for the past few years – perhaps they just fancied a change of scene. Perhaps a pepperpot seedhead dropped off the barrow as I wheeled it between
I don’t quite know how the poppies got here. They’ve been most decidedly *over there* for the past few years – perhaps they just fancied a change of scene. Perhaps a pepperpot seedhead dropped off the barrow as I wheeled it between veg beds and out into the woods last summer, or maybe someone picked up the drying stems, an exquisite miniature thurible surmounting each, and proceeded to dance about one long July evening, whirling and swooping and dispensing the tiny seed in all directions. I suppose I could ask if that was how it was. But that would open up the possibility of knowing for sure that it wasn't, and I don’t think I could bear that.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #mystoryoflight #peninpractice #olympusuk #tostandandstare #heitersummer
Hazy view on a blustery day. It's a good job that the open weave of whatever the egg chair is made from allows the wind through, or it would be flying from its mast at forty-five degrees, if not sailing off down the garden. Clarity and focus coming i
Hazy view on a blustery day. It's a good job that the open weave of whatever the egg chair is made from allows the wind through, or it would be flying from its mast at forty-five degrees, if not sailing off down the garden. Clarity and focus coming in short bursts just now, for the rest, blown about by the breeze. ⁣ ⁣ Thank you for all the good wishes for Bill. He's not out of the woods yet, but we're doing our best to keep the vets in business and on our way to a diagnosis, and in the meanwhile, he's getting treatment and relief. Also, quite a natty new haircut for the ultrasound. Thankfully – and, we hear, atypically – the little feller loves going to the vets and being fussed over. ⁣ ⁣ Plant splodge in foreground: rosemary in the window box, and beyond Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophilla 'Eva', Cupressus macrocarpa 'Wilma', and flowers of Heuchera 'Palace Purple'. ⁣ ⁣ #mystoryoflight #peninpractice #olympusuk #tostandandstare #heitersummer
I hope you'll excuse a bit of a latergram. Mainly on the grounds that one large and flouncy paeony flower in the hand is better than two dead, brown, sticky paeony flowers on the bush, which is what I've got in this exact spot right now. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #mysto
I hope you'll excuse a bit of a latergram. Mainly on the grounds that one large and flouncy paeony flower in the hand is better than two dead, brown, sticky paeony flowers on the bush, which is what I've got in this exact spot right now. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #mystoryoflight #peninpractice #olympusuk #tostandandstare #heitersummer
My brain is in a fug. Bill 🐾 is very poorly, and we're not sure why. Vets again this afternoon for bloods, hopefully clarity and a path out will follow in short measure. ⁣ ⁣ In the garden the birds still sing, but it seems quiet without my little bo
My brain is in a fug. Bill 🐾 is very poorly, and we're not sure why. Vets again this afternoon for bloods, hopefully clarity and a path out will follow in short measure. ⁣ ⁣ In the garden the birds still sing, but it seems quiet without my little boy getting up to no good in the borders while I work. He did manage to come out and munch on a rudbeckia yesterday though. He's never shown much of an interest in this rose campion, which survives unmolested. Would settle for a garden full of terrier-munched plants just now.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #mystoryoflight #peninpractice #olympusuk #tostandandstare #heitersummer
Going to be keeping this image in my mind for the next few days, over which it looks as though the temperature might be approaching SCORCHIO levels. I'm considering tying a gazebo to my foot and dragging it around the garden after me as I work, the b
Going to be keeping this image in my mind for the next few days, over which it looks as though the temperature might be approaching SCORCHIO levels. I'm considering tying a gazebo to my foot and dragging it around the garden after me as I work, the better to supply the levels of shade I require in order to function at this time of year. If I can work a beer fridge into this picture, I think I'll have it sorted (the hammock might be a step too far). ⁣ ⁣ So. Committing this image to memory. The rose 'Scepter'd Isle', taking a Diet Coke break. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #mystoryoflight #peninpractice #olympusuk #tostandandstare #heitersummer
Midsummer rocks up a day early this year. Depending where you stand, this marks the beginning of summer, or the start of the drawing back in of the daylight. Of course, it's both of those things – most humpy of hump days. She giveth, and she ta
Midsummer rocks up a day early this year. Depending where you stand, this marks the beginning of summer, or the start of the drawing back in of the daylight. Of course, it's both of those things – most humpy of hump days. She giveth, and she taketh away. ⁣ ⁣ I've been calling it summer since the beginning of June cos I like a nice neat calendar, which seems uncharacteristically bureaucratic of me, though it doesn't mean I appreciate the tipping points any less. Love a solstice, me. ⁣ ⁣ Perspective or no, the mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius) is still filling the air with sweet citrus notes, the jasmine looks like it's about to flower for the first time, and all of this against the constant jabbering and chatting of the birds. I may just let my nose and ears take over running the show this weekend. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #mystoryoflight #peninpractice #olympusuk #tostandandstare #heitersummer
I can never quite describe this plant to someone who's not met it. Its leaves are triangular, no... spear shaped (nerdy description is "hastate", which is spear shaped with lobes at the base, but what does that mean to anyone?). Then there'
I can never quite describe this plant to someone who's not met it. Its leaves are triangular, no... spear shaped (nerdy description is "hastate", which is spear shaped with lobes at the base, but what does that mean to anyone?). Then there's the leaf colouring. Bright green with a plum coloured chevron doesn't seem to do it justice, because there's also a pale chevron between that seems to reflect the light like someone's drawn around the purple bit with Touche Éclat. My most recent effort? "It's like a plant with a smokey eye and shimmery highlighter combo". Good grief. ⁣ ⁣ It's Persicaria 'Purple Fantasy'. Please get yourself some, so I never have to try to describe it again. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #mystoryoflight #peninpractice #olympusuk #tostandandstare
What would you call this – a jumble? A melange? A splat?! It's a newly planted rose 'Ballerina' trying to put on a bit of a show while concentrating on getting her feet down into the soil, as self seeded nigella gambol about. Fairly typical of
What would you call this – a jumble? A melange? A splat?! It's a newly planted rose 'Ballerina' trying to put on a bit of a show while concentrating on getting her feet down into the soil, as self seeded nigella gambol about. Fairly typical of the merry chaos that is my garden, which is presently receiving a long-overdue refreshing drink courtesy of the sky. ⁣ ⁣ Jumbly melange seems to be the key planting style here. I'm sure there was a plan, once. But where's the fun in that? ⁣ ⁣ Gaps are starting to open up where plants have done their thing, making room for seed raised stock to be dropped in. And still time to sow more. I'm revelling in my boxes full of (mostly quite old) seed packets, with more choice only a click away. ⁣ ⁣ The @lemontreetrust have been running the Gardener to Gardener Seed Appeal to help displaced folk grow gardens in refugee and IDP camps in Kurdistan. Such a small thing that can make an immense difference – a garden, a sense of home. Do help out if you're able. For food. For flowers. For the future. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #mystoryoflight #peninpractice #olympusuk #tostandandstare
Moments spent marvelling at how such a huge, blousy flower can emerge from a bud no larger than a golf ball. I suppose a paeony has big buds as buds go, but nature's skill in packing all this into such a small space is something to be admired. I'm ju
Moments spent marvelling at how such a huge, blousy flower can emerge from a bud no larger than a golf ball. I suppose a paeony has big buds as buds go, but nature's skill in packing all this into such a small space is something to be admired. I'm just thankful I don't have to try to stuff it all back in, can you imagine?⁣ ⁣ Ah, the quality content (vague ramblings). That's what keeps 'em coming back. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #mystoryoflight #peninpractice #olympusuk #tostandandstare #peonyperfection #thepinkstagram
I'm not sure of the wisdom of sneaking up on a pelargonium from behind. Perhaps they're fierce when startled. But I couldn't resist getting a shot of this one in the evening sunshine. ⁣ ⁣ No filters here, but I think a dirty lens helped. And please d
I'm not sure of the wisdom of sneaking up on a pelargonium from behind. Perhaps they're fierce when startled. But I couldn't resist getting a shot of this one in the evening sunshine. ⁣ ⁣ No filters here, but I think a dirty lens helped. And please don't ask me quite what variety this ivy leaved pellie is, I nabbed a few cuttings from an unidentified plant last year! ⁣ ⁣ #mystoryoflight #peninpractice #olympusuk #tostandandstare
I don’t quite know how the poppies got here. They’ve been most decidedly *over there* for the past few years – perhaps they just fancied a change of scene. Perhaps a pepperpot seedhead dropped off the barrow as I wheeled it between Hazy view on a blustery day. It's a good job that the open weave of whatever the egg chair is made from allows the wind through, or it would be flying from its mast at forty-five degrees, if not sailing off down the garden. Clarity and focus coming i I hope you'll excuse a bit of a latergram. Mainly on the grounds that one large and flouncy paeony flower in the hand is better than two dead, brown, sticky paeony flowers on the bush, which is what I've got in this exact spot right now. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #mysto My brain is in a fug. Bill 🐾 is very poorly, and we're not sure why. Vets again this afternoon for bloods, hopefully clarity and a path out will follow in short measure. ⁣ ⁣ In the garden the birds still sing, but it seems quiet without my little bo Going to be keeping this image in my mind for the next few days, over which it looks as though the temperature might be approaching SCORCHIO levels. I'm considering tying a gazebo to my foot and dragging it around the garden after me as I work, the b Midsummer rocks up a day early this year. Depending where you stand, this marks the beginning of summer, or the start of the drawing back in of the daylight. Of course, it's both of those things – most humpy of hump days. She giveth, and she ta I can never quite describe this plant to someone who's not met it. Its leaves are triangular, no... spear shaped (nerdy description is "hastate", which is spear shaped with lobes at the base, but what does that mean to anyone?). Then there' What would you call this – a jumble? A melange? A splat?! It's a newly planted rose 'Ballerina' trying to put on a bit of a show while concentrating on getting her feet down into the soil, as self seeded nigella gambol about. Fairly typical of Moments spent marvelling at how such a huge, blousy flower can emerge from a bud no larger than a golf ball. I suppose a paeony has big buds as buds go, but nature's skill in packing all this into such a small space is something to be admired. I'm ju I'm not sure of the wisdom of sneaking up on a pelargonium from behind. Perhaps they're fierce when startled. But I couldn't resist getting a shot of this one in the evening sunshine. ⁣ ⁣ No filters here, but I think a dirty lens helped. And please d

This is just a taster featuring my most recent photographs – there are many more. If you click on an image and go to the actual Instagram site, you get to see the picture without the caption super-imposed over it, which is vastly preferable. If you haven’t already, do consider downloading the app to your phone and having a go yourself – it’s really great fun, and a warm, supportive community!