I wanted to photograph the garden early in the morning, shooting into the autumn sun if possible, to capture the vibrantly illuminated grasses and the silhouettes of seedheads, particularly of plants such as Phlomis russeliana. My aim was to illustrate how a garden, such as Trentham, which is brilliantly colourful in summer, has as much to offer in the autumn. I was photographing the borders when I noticed a hot air balloon rising from beyond the trees to the right of the picture. I felt that the balloon, hovering in the mists over the nearby lake, not only added interest to the sky but also a sense of narrative.

Finalist - Beautiful Gardens