- Breathtaking pictures from the International Garden Photographer of the Year awards revealed to the public
- More than 18,000 entries were made, with a Polish photographer's shot of a climbing hydrangea crowned the winner
- Stunning images came from across the globe, including a number of awe-inspiring photographs taken in Britain
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From delicate flowers to misty forests, stunningly vibrant landscapes and even a spider snaring a lizard in its web, these images are all finalists in the International Garden Photographer of the Year.
The overall champion from 18,000 entries was The Ballerinas, by Polish photographer Magdalena Wasiczek showing a climbing hydrangea.
The amazing colourful yet delicate shot was also the winner of the Beauty of Plants category.
Worthy winner: Magdalena Wasiczek's 'stunning' picture of climbing Hydrangea petiolaris took first prize in the International Garden Photographer of the Year awards
Mark Gray stumbled across this vibrant scene as he ran a photography workshop in Mount Buffalo Park in Victoria, Australia
Andrea Jones, whose inspiring pictures of gardens have been shortlisted for the award in the past, was up early enough to take this snap of a frosty landscape
Breathtaking: The National Trust Thrift flowering on the cliff tops above Hartland Quay at sunset, North Devon, in June 2013
Predator and prey: This chilling image by Peter Battye is entitled Life and Death and shows a spider snaring a lizard in its web
Delicate, pink flowers surround the Levant Mine and Beam Engine in Trewellard, Pendeen, near St Just, in Cornwall
Both these images - a close up shot of a leaf on the Acer Palmatum (left) and a canopy of crowns in Richmond Park (right) - were chosen as winners
This ghostly image of anemones blowing in the wind on a river bank in Holland was highly commended by the judges
Julia Robson shot this picture of a Ranunculus bud in her living room after buying the plant from her local supermarket
This beautiful image of a Cornflower shot in natural light, with the evening sun coming in from the side, was shot by Gillian Hunt
Britain was well represented with a picture of Peacock Gardens in Great Dixter, Sussex winning the Beautiful Gardens category as well as a stunning shot of a poppy field in Pembrokeshire, a garden in Alnwick, a shot in the Olympic Park, Bushy Park in London, a nature reserve in Woking and the coastlines of Norfolk and Devon all winning honours.
All the colours of nature and hues of the seasons were represented in winning entries from India, Australia, Slovenia, Italy, USA, Switzerland, Holland, France, Turkey and South Africa
The twelve categories are The Beauty of Plants, Beautiful Gardens, Wildlife in the Garden, Wildflower Landscapes, The Bountiful Earth, Greening the City, Trees Woods and Forests, Young Garden Photographer of the Year for the under 16s, European Garden Photography Award and a series of portfolios.
The last two categories Changing Coastlines and Breathing Spaces are both sponsored by the National Trust.
This over-worldly image of a Gloxinia flower, from the same family as the African violet, was taken in Winter Gardens, in Wanganui, New Zealand
A snail with an intricate spiral shell crawls along a stick, hovering on the edge as it looks for a way back down to solid ground in Italy
An abstract image of an Astrantia flower head was among the finalists, with the glorious photograph entitled 'Starburst'
All the colours of nature and hues of the seasons were represented in winning entries from India, Australia, Slovenia, Italy, USA, Switzerland, Holland, France, Turkey and South Africa
British floral photographer Jacky Parker's Breeze photograph came in third its category after impressing the judges
Organised in conjunction with the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, the photographers will have their work taken on tour and published in a book
Jocelyn Horsfall said her photograph of a sweep of petals was 'purity and simplicity in a graceful curve of light and shade'
This photograph of an Anemone blanda blue flower - common name Winter windflower - came in a second place in the Macro art section
Award-winner: This close-up of a Growing Agave plant by Minghui Yuan came in first place in its category
Photographer Gillian Plummer was fascinated by this Fatsia japonica seed head and its unique structure
Taken in Makanda, Illinois, the central florets of this bloom of Dahlia named Bodacious give it the illusion of having tongues of fire
This wintry picture of an Anemone by Mandy Disher was a finalist in the monochrome category of the prestigious competition
The last rays of an evening sunset beam down on a poppy field in Prembrokeshire, with Yuliy Vasilev taking this picture at just the right moment to capture the moment's full beauty
Photographers could enter single images or themed portfolios of six.
There are over £13,000 worth of cash prizes and medals from the Royal Photographic Society.
International Garden Photographer of the Year judge Clive Nichols said of the overall winner: 'This stunning image of Hydrangea petiolaris is a worthy winner.
'What I particularly like about the shot is the way the photographer has melted the rich purples and oranges of the hydrangea into the out of focus background, creating a delicious melange of colours.
'The focus on the single delicate hydrangea flower is spot on, creating a striking and unusual winter portrait'.
Organised in conjunction with the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, the photographers will have their work taken on tour and published in a book.
A cyclist whizzes under cherry blossom trees in a park in Washington DC in this long exposure photograph by Amanda Kleinman
This cross section of a bud of the Passion flower (Passiflora cerulae) was captured by mounting it to a microscope and chemically staining it to reveal its structure
Jefflin Ling's photograph of bamboo in Malaysia was converted into a monochrome image by a computer, but still retains a natural feel
Nature at its finest: Unaware of the camera, a spotted ladybird ascends the stem of a buttercup in the height of Spring
This vibrant image of the Van Dusen botanical gardens in Vancouver, Canada, was taken by Penelope Slack on a Canon EOS 50D camera
Professional photographer Beth Buglione captured this awe-inspiring scene as sunlight shone onto a stream
The sun peeks through the trees as water cascades down steps between rows of flowers in a National Trust herb garden
Photographer Robert Canis, from Kent, took this atmospheric photograph on a beach on the English coastline
While it may be less floral than some of the other photographs in its category, this picture of peeling eucalyptus bark in Singleton Botanic Gardens, Swansea, was highly commended by the judges
A sea of colour: A rainbow of flowers mounted on a wall surround a woman in David Thurston's Selfie for a City Girl
The sun shines through the mist over clipped evergreen hedges, topiary and pencil pines over a frosty Les Jardins de Quercy in southern France
Not a soul can be seen for miles in Jon Gibbs' astonishing photograph from the sand dunes at Holkham Bay in Norfolk
Garden Photographer of the Year was set up by five members of the Garden Photographers' Association in 2007.
As a response to entries and enquiries from outside Great Britain, it added 'International' to the title in 2008.
Its first exhibition took place at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in May 2008 and quickly established itself as the world's premier garden and plant photography event specialising in garden, plant, flower and botanical photography.
The competition is open to everyone anywhere in the world.
Images do not have to be taken in a specified year and there is no distinction drawn between professional and amateur photographers.
This year's exhibition will be launched on Saturday at Kew Gardens and runs until April 6.
It will then go on tour, stopping at Cyprus, Sydney, Portugal, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, Sheringham Park Norfolk, Ness Botanic Garden, Wirral and Tintinhull Garden, Somerset.
There is also a book available of the exhibition.
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