I took this photo on vacation last month, I was trying to use the stairs to give a lead in to the eye, which I don't think worked.

I think the shot is wonderful, keep posting ! :confused:

Honestly I find my eye being led away from the flowers by the stairs - they lead me down and away so to speak. I think the opposite angle of looking up at the flowers would have a better effect. Of course, other factors like the sun, the angle of the plants, etc might not make it pan out too well from that angle, but...

Or, just try the flower by itself?

I think it's actually a pretty nice shot. The railings do not, as you surmised, really lead your eye into the subject per se... but they add a nice element to the photograph. I think the reason the railings can't work in the way you intended is because the plants are overhanging them. In order for your eye to be lead somewhere like that, the subject you're being lead to generally needs to be on another plane / not right on top of the thing that's "leading".

It's still a pretty nice shot though. Probably a tad out of focus / may need more DOF.