Tulips

After four days of a vicious (but 'common') cold, I am feeling much better as the day has gone on; I no longer have a head full of cotton wool and nails.  Hooray!
I began to get bored.... so what better to do than a bit of photo manipulation.  I'm keen to learn how to use textures.  I'm not entirely sure of my ground thus far - it becomes more like painting than photography - but I like the effects.  Still, a bit of soft grunge has improved this rather ordinary bunch of tulips.  (And I assure you my kitchen wall is not as dirty as that!)
I like most flowers but perhaps tulips are my favourite to cut and display.  I enjoy the way they look interesting at every stage, from buds to overblown blooms, and the way the stems sometimes twist into graceful shapes.  These could have done with being a bit floppier, really.  I have had to throw the actual flowers away now, as they died - but it's nice that they can live on in this image.