Spring seems to be arriving late this year, but my favourite spot in London for spring colours, the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park, is defying the cold weather and starting to look fabulous.  Whoever planted the azaleas here was a genius of gardening. This year the shades of pink seem to be even more vivid than usual – could it be because of the long winter?

Within the plantation is a truly gorgeous spot known as the Still Pond, where I took this rather Impressionisty photo of a mandarin duck posing on a tree-stump in the water.

The Still Pond is well named because, although lots of people gather up there to admire the azaleas, they usually keep quiet and just look. What can you say really?