First off, some “near misses” from the month:

[Evening Foxglove was a close contender for Day #162, taken near Ardleigh Reservoir]

[Red Symmetry was taken in the formal gardens at Danbury Park on Day #167]

[Table Shadows was a strong scene found in Docklands on Day #160]

I also enjoyed a trip to look around the gardens at Hylands House. There was a wedding reception going on in the main house, a very grand affair. The main house is a wonderfully restored example of classic Georgian architecture. Plus the sun was out with fluffy clouds scudding about in the sky.

The wedding party was spilling out into the grounds around the house, first for photos out the front, and later enjoying cocktails with jazz on the terrace and lawn behind. All terribly civilised. Heaven knows how much it all cost!

Whilst all that was playing out at the house, I took a good look around the formal gardens. I’ve been to the park before, but not actually looked at the gardens until now.

The formally laid out beds were great for macro shots – and I found these two lovely bees buzzing gently around some of the flowers [right].

I also enjoyed the new display garden which was built to commemmorate the 2007 World Scout Jamboree which was held in the park last summer. It was in this garden’s entrance gazebo that I found my picture of the day for Day #166.

The first was after the recent @media conference, when I had the pleasure of spending some time with some of the other delegates and a couple of the speakers on the Friday evening. We enjoyed some noodles by the water, and then wandered about round Hungerford Bridge for a while as the dusk settled and the lights came on along the Thames.

[Right - Westminster Illuminations - as the light fades, the shape of the Palace of Westminster is outlined by spotlights]

I managed some other good shots along the river bank – and it was a warm, balmy evening. A great pleasure to be out and about enjoying the sights.

A week or so later, and I was back again, this time after a rather nice lunch with friends in Borough Market. Having had a generous three courses, I felt I needed a walk! So I meandered from London Bridge along to Southwark for a few more shots. The riverbank was very busy with folks out on a Sunday stroll, and the water was busy with boats of all shapes and sizes.

[Left, you can see one of the speedboats zipping about on the water near St. Paul's Cathedral]

I took the Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf for a look around on the way back. I haven’t been there for photography for a good while, and was surprised to see how it has changed in a couple of years.

The Jubilee Line station is quite interesting in itself – I love the canopy over the escalator hall, and with the right lighting, it makes an excellent silhouette image [right].

Making my way over to West India Quay, I noticed some attractive boats moored by the dockside. Together with the old cranes, they contrasted well with the modern glass and steel architecture of the new buildings surrounding them [left].