International Garden Photographer of the Year.

       Mateusz Liberra, 'Evening Lupin Fields'.

Having hurried past the exhibition in Hyde Hall's little barn day after day, I am so pleased to have finally opened the door and taken a look at the fabulous images from the International Garden Photographer of the Year Competition.

It would rather be stating the obvious to say how good the pictures are, having already been judged as finalists or indeed winners, but I just had to share the one above. Photographed by Pole Mateusz Liberra, this mesmerising lupin meadow belongs to the landscape of Skaftafell National Park, in South-East Iceland.
I will not say much about it - such a view seems to compel silent admiration, rather than my usual long sentences! I had not the faintest notion that wild lupins grew in such a way. Were it not for the mountains in the background, it would be hard to suppose where the blue would cease.

(All credit to Mr Liberra and the International Garden Photographer of the Year Competition, which is well worth a look.)