At the end of the garden

Today’s trio of images come from Hidcote Manor Garden in the Cotswolds. Hidcote is a National Trust property whose gardens were developed by the American horticulturalist Lawrence Johnston in the early years of the twentieth century. The garden is described as one of the best examples of those developed during the ‘Arts and Crafts’ movement and is divided up into a series of ‘rooms’ each with its own atmosphere and character. It is a beautiful garden to slowly wander around on a summer’s day. Click on any of the links in this paragraph to know more.

One garden view captures everyone’s attention: the view across the garden, down an avenue through a series of gaps in the hedges to the far side of the garden where there is a decorative wrought iron gate. From a distance people at the gate appear to be on the  horizon. And in one sense they are because Hidcote is on a hill, and beyond, stretching out far into the distance is the Vale of Evesham.

Three images of the same view although not all from the same place. The first is the ‘long shot’, the other two are taken from closer points.

The second image did not look right in colour – a little too contrasty and green and I felt it was better suited to a B&W conversion with a subtle sepia tone. The final image has been given a work-over in Photoshop using a combination of Dry Brush and Watercolour filters to create a painterly effect.

Let me know what you think of these. And do click the images to see enlargements – they do look their best when enlarged.