These images I’ve used in my cards this year – taken at Petersham Nurseries last January and, conscious of giving away all of my photographic secrets, had me holding said blooms in one outstretched hand against the painted backdrop of the cupboard that houses all of the electric fuses – and a wobbly camera in the other – trying to keep both still and achieve some focus…. Magical eh?
And so I send these same photographs out into the world as my virtual cards for the festive season with All Good Wishes for you and your horticultural adventures in the coming year.
I wrote out the Gardener’s Prayer in my cards and here it is again –
O Lord, grant that in some way
it may rain every day,
Say from about midnight until three o’clock
in the morning,
But, You see, it must be gentle and warm
so that it can soak in;
Grant that at the same time it would not rain on
campion, alyssum, helianthus, lavendar, and others which
You in Your infinite wisdom know
are drought-loving plants-
I will write their names on a bit of paper
if you like-
And grant that the sun may shine
the whole day long,
But not everywhere (not, for instance, on the
gentian, plantain lily, and rhododendron)
and not too much;
That there may be plenty of dew and little wind,
enough worms, no lice and snails, or mildew,
and that once a week thin liquid manure and guano
may fall from heaven.
Amen.
The Teddington Gardener 
Yes, the photos are magical! Even if their logistics were not.