Wow wow wow, where do I start, 2013 was a wonderful year for me.  It started so well winning an award for portfolio of 6 images in the "International Garden Photographer of the Year" competition.

I continued to supply image to Liz Eddison at the Garden Collection and my success rate continues to increase :-)  A big thank you to Liz and Adam for their continued support and encouragement.

In March I went on my annual pilgrimage with fellow Cactus enthusiasts to several Cactus and Succulent Nurseries across Europe.  A great time was had, several new specimens added to my collection and many new images taken.

May became a very busy month for me and started with my Press pass to the Malvern Spring Show.  Despite the wind on the opening day I managed to get some splendid images  of the gardens and plant portraits in the floral Marquee.

RHS Malvern Spring Gardening ShowThursday 9th May 2013. Reposer Vos Roues (Rest your Wheels) Gold Medal winning Garden . Great Malvern, UK.

Set in Southern France, the rustic café depicted in this garden has played host to professional cyclists for more than 100 years. A refreshment stop during training, the café sits on the route of the Tour de France and serves as an important food station for riders and their teams during the event. In the early days, competitors were allowed to dash into the café and grab whatever they wanted, for free, before getting back on their bicycles to continue the Tour.

For the rest of the year, the café garden provides a relaxing space to sit and rest among the trees and haphazard planting.

Later in the month I was at the Chelsea flower show, again with a press pass and captured some wonderful images albeit a 4am start in the morning to get to the show by 5AM.  At this show I took some of my most popular images.  In fact my best selling image is:-

RHS Chelsea Flower Show Tuesday 2013Tuesday 21st May 2013. The interflora display in the floral pavilion. London, UK

More plant and garden shoots and the Tatton Show through the summer followed by a fabulous holiday in Cornwall with wall to wall blue sky and a private swimming pool - bliss.  Some lovely costal shots were taken whilst enjoying the best of British.

Perhaps the highlight of the year was being accepted as a member of the Garden Media Guild and a member of the Professional Garden Photographers Association and attending the awards ceremony in London in November where I had the privilege to meet many of the greats in the Garden world and perhaps more importantly some of the greatest garden photographers who have been so open and free with their advice and guidance.

All in all it was  great year and my fingers are crossed for an even better 2014.