As April 2026 bid a magical "Spring Farewell" of Colour, Arts and a Delightful Light.

"April 2026, might have been and gone. But it really for me at least has been one of the most spectacular months of 2026 and one of the most beautiful months of Spring that I have within my mind. Looking back at previous photos that I have taken during Spring, yes they have been beautiful and colourful, but Spring of 2026 and April of 2026 - well it really has been something else, sheer bliss and opulence in which nature really has created and curated beautiful works of art within the landscape."

And it was on April the 30th 2026, that under a delightful Blue Sky, with a delightful warmth that I was visiting a location that I had visited a couple of years ago before, a location situated between Crich and Matlock, called Lea Gardens, a unique and beautiful gardens that is designed in the Himalayan Garden style that contains some 300+ varieties of Rhododendron's and Azalea's, and well needless to say that it is nothing short of artwork, the art of colour and nature combining to create a visual feast for the eyes, and below are the photographs that I managed to capture.

"The Garden, The Pathway, The Portrait in Delightful Colour does Glow."

"The Pathway to Art."

"The Portrait of Layers."

"Spring and Vibrant Layers."

"As Artwork Grows."

"Pinks and Purple."

"Walls of Colour, Arts of Spring."

"Rhododendron City, Towering Over Me."

"Under Green and Woodland Light, April Delights."

"Dappled and Shades, where the Rhododendron's Glow."

"The Shining Light under Woodland Green."

"A Pathway through the Arts of Colour."

"Pink and Red Devine."

"Beneath the Rhododendron Kingdom."

"When Green and Vibrant Purple Glow."

"Purple Forms."

"The Rainbow of Spring, Under Seeping Blue."

"Rhodo and Azalea Wall."

"Within the Portrait of Art and Spring."

"Spring and Colour Delights."

"Colour, Woodland Glow."

"Within a Frame, Lea Gardens."

"Floral Arts of the Garden, Shine."

"Staring into Colour."

"A Painting Under Blue."

Having had a delightful lunch at Lea Gardens and of course visit it was time to head to Peak Village, this time for a short and brief visit, Peak Village is a Shopping outlet that is smaller than many other bigger shopping outlets, and it is located between Matlock and Bakewell in the village of Rowsley - but come the Spring and Summer, well the various planters within the shopping outlet, they are works of art as well, and I just had to capture those as well. 

"Ferns, Light and Shadows."

"Retro Colour, Tulips Glow."

"Silk White Tulips and Green Layers."

But after a short and brief stop off at Peak Village, it was then time to head down the A6, this time to the town of Belper with its delightful River Gardens, and of course imposing old Mill that stands proud above the skyline of the town, and it was here in which the late afternoon/early evening light was just magical, again delightful, and this was the last location and visit for the day. But hold on April 2026, you really were a magical month of delightful opulent colours and light, arts as well created and crafted by nature and these are the final photos that I managed to capture, for April 2026 to me at least is one that will be in my memory for the longest time - as for me at least it seemed to be the most beautiful Spring months that I can remember, especially compared to previous years, for there really was something else about the colours of April 2026, but what are your thoughts? Do let me know. 

"Spring and the afternoon Bandstand Glow."

"Mill and Gardens, the Early Evening Glow."

"Spring and River Garden Reflecting."

"A Portrait of a River Gardens Spring."

"Spring Time Evening Art it Glows."