Sunday In The Gardens

There is a little botanical garden near Santa Barbara called Seaside Gardens and it's a source of endless inspiration for me. We had never been to the gardens on a Sunday before but on this particular day G had just bought me a new canvas and I was hungry for a subject so off we went! It was a beautiful California day and the gardens were busy with visitors (which is why we don't usually go on weekends!) but we were headed towards a quieter corner when we came across this amazing scene; flowers stretched out as far as the eye could see in every colour imaginable, reds and yellows, purples and oranges, and in the centre the glorious coral tree with its scarlet flowers stretched out like wings above this breathtaking paradise. What a joy to paint!