Trinity ablaze

See Trinity’s gardens through the eyes of students and staff whose photographs are published here as part of an autumn colour competition.

The winners are:

First prize: Barbara Mindak’s portrait of Duff’s Garden in the Fellows’ Garden. Barbara is in her third year of Architecture.

Second prize: Phoebe Hall’s close-up of the Mahonia leaf. Phoebe is in her third year of History.

Third prize: Danielle Melling’s view of New Court. Danielle is Deputy Director of Development in the Alumni Relations and Development Office.

The judges were Head Gardener Karen Wells and Director of Panos Pictures Adrian Evans.

The competition was inspired by the rich leaf colour evident in Trinity’s gardens this season. Ms Wells explained why leaves change colour in autumn.

‘Chlorophyll, one of the photosynthetic pigments, is responsible for the green colour of leaves. In the autumn, days shorten, temperatures fall, so chlorophyll, and thus green, breaks down revealing other photosynthetic pigments and their magnificent colouration. Carotene persists as red or orange, xanthophyll as yellow, for example.’

For Ms Wells, Barbara Mindak’s photo of Duff’s Garden, nestled within the Fellows’ Garden, stood out. ‘The photographer captured the essence of what we try to create in a garden design.’

Mr Evans said: ‘The photographer has gone for variety. Autumn isn’t only one colour and that is what makes it special.  What attracted me to this shot was the contrast with the evergreen topiary.’

Phoebe Hall’s eye for detail in her photo of a Mahonia leaf caught the judges’ attention.

‘I am a big fan of details,’ said Mr Evans. ‘With this photo we get to the essence of what happens to leaves in the autumn. Nice use of rain on the leaf which almost gives it a three- dimensional feel.’

Danielle Melling drew praise for her sense of composition.

‘The curves of New Court, the bright blue sky and the punch of autumn colour framed by the archway lead the eye toward the Avenue,’ Ms Wells said.

Mr Evans agreed. ‘Good use of sunlit autumn colour through the archway to create a focal point for the whole image.’

Each winner will receive a jar of honey.

Members of College can see a particularly vivid autumn leaf in the Garden of Eden in Whewell’s Court. ‘The yellow-gold autumn hue of the Maidenhair tree – Ginkgo biloba – took my heart,’ Ms Wells said. ‘Species of this prehistoric tree have been found in the fossil record over 290 million years ago. Today, if you sit on a bench in the Garden of Eden you may see its leaves around your feet.’

On 21 April 2024, the Fellows’ Garden will open to the public as part of the National Gardens Scheme, with plant sales, delicious homemade cakes and hot drinks – all proceeds to charity.