London’s blooming
Photographer and flower fan Georgianna Lane takes us on a spectacular sightseeing tour of the capital’s floral-fringed landmarks, fragrant flower markets and Insta-worthy hotspots
Branches of blossom frame St Paul’s Cathedral, one of the City’s most iconic buildings
Author and photographer Georgianna Lane’s captivating images of flowers, gardens and travel locations have been published worldwide in sumptuous coffee-table books, earning her a loyal fanbase (find her on Instagram @georgiannalane and at georgiannalane.com).
When not travelling on assignments she divides her time between Paris, Seattle and London.
Her stunning images from her new book speak for themselves, but she reveals here what makes our capital her must-photograph city…
London captivated me well before I meandered along its ancient alleyways or marvelled at its historic structures. From the air, circling over Heathrow, one long-ago summer I first discerned the breathtakingly grand expanses of the Royal Parks, then a multitude of terraced houses with their tiny multicoloured gardens, all lush and welcoming.
Perhaps not surprisingly, my most memorable London experiences have been inextricably interwoven with gardens. I’ve always been fascinated by the distinctive details that make up its unique visual language: the blacks of taxis, lampposts and chequered tiles; the reds of buses, telephone boxes, postboxes; the yellows of daffodils and mews cottages.
If England is a garden, London has always been, to me, its floral heart: a demi-paradise for flower gardeners, flower sellers and flower lovers. And that passion for gardening is on glorious display everywhere in the city.
My wish is that you too may be inspired, through these pages, to discover this beckoning wonderland.
Left: Spring nudges out winter bleakness as daffodils pop up around the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower. Right: A van filled with fresh flowers for a Jo Malone London fragrance launch in Covent Garden
Left: An installation by Covent Garden’s horticultural manager Kenny Raybould invites market visitors to pause and play. Right: A spectacular canopy of bubblegum-pink cherry blossom in Avenue Gardens, Regent’s Park
Where to get your floral fix
Feeling inspired? Here’s our pick of London’s blooming hotspots
This is an edited extract from,London in Bloom by Georgianna Lane (Abrams Image, £14.99). To order a copy for £10.50 (30 per cent discount) until April 3rd, go to mailshop.co.uk or call 01603 648155. Free delivery on all orders – no minimum spend.
Buy the book with 30% off
This is an edited extract from London in Bloom by Georgianna Lane (Abrams Image, £14.99).To order a copy for £10.50 (30 per cent discount) until April 3rd, go to mailshop.co.uk or call 01603 648155. Free delivery on all orders – no minimum spend.