Star Britney's nips in the bud

YOU hiding something, petal? BRITNEY SPEARS poses topless in a pal’s garden with only buds to cover her, er, buds.

The singer — wearing a hat, huge shades, denim shorts and cowboy boots — shedded her linen blouse and quickly picked flowers for the saucy snap.

She appeared to be blooming with health after quitting rehab. The 25-year-old mother of two had sought help after splitting from husband KEVIN FEDERLINE, repeatedly painting the town red and even shaving her head.

A friend said: “Britney was in a good mood at the ocean-view house in Malibu. She seems to be back to her old self again.”

But her bid to launch a comeback is still far from rosy. On Wednesday she lasted just 12 minutes on stage, chewing gum as she mimed.

Fans in Anaheim, California, were shocked when she put a finger to her nose as she sang, “I need a hit, baby give me it” from her song Toxic.

Others who paid £100 for a ticket demanded their money back.

Alison Raymond, 24, from Los Angeles, fumed: “What a total rip off.

“She might look better than she has done in a long time — but she really needs to polish up her act in a big way.”

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,4-2007200607,00.html