I don’t know if they were particularly showy that year, or whether I just craved some colour and joy. But over a few intense months, more than 60 people emailed me their photos – with people continuing to tag me on social media even six months later.

I never imagined I would start an online hydrangea-appreciation society. I made a typology featuring some of the most pleasing crowd-sourced images, which was exhibited as part of Amoeba, a group show in Stockport, in November 2024.

I also experimented briefly with cyanotype and also with Riso printing, but found it hard to sustain my own interest long-term. To me, this series represents something far greater than the plants or images however – joy and connection. Thank you to everyone who sent me photos.