God is in the details

That is a quote by the architect Mies van der Rohe and, of course, refers to buildings and other architectural design. However, this photography lark has got me looking at many things in much greater detail.

Today I went down town and decided to take some photos in the small garden at the side of my church. It is a United Reformed Church building and we'll be celebrating its 200th anniversary next year.

Over the past 18 months or so a couple from church have worked tremendously hard to turn it into an attractive space. They have taken out many large and overgrown shrubs and replaced them with perennials and herbaceous plants such as this salvia called 'Hot Lips'.

It was the hydrangea which took my eye today. A beautiful colour and form. But look at the detail. It's like little bead decorations on a dress or wedding cake. Of course, the flower is actually that tiny little part right in the middle.

Intelligent design or evolution? Does it actually matter when such beauty is ours to see every day.