Late Winter/Spring We begin the journey, appropriately, as the old season finishes and a new one begins, shrugging off old winter's dusty mantle for a fresher, cleaner light and the excitement of new life everywhere.

Spring Perhaps the most exciting time of year in the garden, when rate of change reaches a maximum and the first alfresco meals are indulged with a bottle of wine.

Early Summer Spring slips rapidly and effortlessly into summer. One day, the garden seems poised, just on the brink of expressing its potential, the next, it seems, all heaven has broken loose and colour takes centre-stage.

High Summer If we're lucky, this time can be a crowning glory in the garden, if not, a disappointing damp squib. This year, it's been the former: absolutely classic summer weather, showing off the hot colours to their best.

Late Summer After a brief interim known to gardeners as 'the July gap', the garden may now build towards its final peak. The hope remains that it shall turn out, after all, to be a plateau...

Early Autumn Once again, the shift from late Summer to early Autumn has been almost imperceptible: the latter has been teasing since almost late July, yet the weather has continued, on the whole, to be kind.

Late Autumn A lack of severe weather has provided a long and gentle descent towards Winter, tricking some plants into spring behaviour. But there's no mistaking the quality of the light: not the freshness of Spring, but suffused with a restful ease.

Winter The final chapter in what has been a most enjoyable project. As well as recording the changing seasons, it has also necessitated my learning the basics of decent photography. All aspects of the season are here: a late, late Autumn of magical light; deep Winter with heavy frosts and some snow; and finally, the first hints of the new season to come.