Photographing Flowers

I've been known to blow through numerous hobbies throughout my adult life.  That's somewhat of an understatement!  But photography and flower gardening have stood the test of time, and it's fortunate that they work well together.

Here are a few tips for photographing flowers if you are so inclined.  First, any time you are going to shoot a close up of flowers (or anything for that matter), it's wise to use a tripod.  The closer you get to the subject the smaller aperture you will want to use. This will allow you to increase your depth of field.  In photography, a small aperture means a larger number (i.e. F16, 22, etc.)  Because you are using a small aperture, you will also be using a slow shutter speed.  So that can lead to camera shake and blurry images.  So, if possible, use a tripod.  A macro lens can also be a big advantage as it helps you get really close and still keep the subject in focus.  I prefer to shoot fixed focal length macro lenses for close ups. As most of you know, all photography is about light.  I don't care how good you are, if you take a photo in full sun at high noon, you will be disappointed.  The colors wash out and the image looks dull.  The low light of early morning and late afternoon is always best.  When I shoot nature photography, I typically put my camera away in late morning and then don't make any attempts again until late afternoon.  Sidelight and backlighting almost always help make great images.  One last tip, the placement of the image in your finder is also a key.  Ideally the "rule of thirds" is best in any photography unless you are shooting close-ups. The image above of the "butterfly bush" bloom is a good example as the bloom is not dead center, but about 1/3 of the way into the image.  Also note the placement of the bumblebee below on the purple coneflower.  There are a few other close-up examples from our garden shown below.  So, this year when you are admiring the "fruits of your labor" in the garden, grab your camera and take some great shots!

Dogs and the Garden

Dogs in the Landscape?  Grrr! Ha, it's definitely more difficult, but if you (or your family members) happen to be pet-lovers, you need to find a way to make it work!  Of course, the age and temperament of the pet makes a big difference.  An adult dog like the one above (Beau, now in doggie heaven) makes it much easier as they are much more willing to just hang out and take it easy on the landscape.  A puppy like we have now is a whole different story!  The wear and tear on the turf and shrubs can be brutal. We've tried all the recipes (hot sauce, cayenne pepper, garlic dog solutions, you name it! ) Our dogs like it hot!  So that was a wasted effort!  As a young pup, our golden retriever pictured above actually licked the cayenne pepper solution all the way along the cable TV wire as it was awaiting burial.  He would lick it up as quick as we could paint it on there!  So, we finally resolved that you just have to try to teach them as much as you can, and just live with the damage until they get older.  Of course, fencing like you see above also can be a valuable part of the landscape.

You will also want to make sure the plants that are within their reach aren't toxic to dogs.  For example, Foxgloves (digitalis; a heart medicine) would be a poor choice as well as "lily of the valley" among others. I also refrain from using any pesticides on the lawn unless I have an existing bug problem.  It's been years since I've needed to use grub control on the lawn, and I'm convinced that you're better off to just treat problem areas.  The same goes for weed control.  I only spot treat weeds, and don't go the crabgrass (Halts) or (Plus 2) method.  A good one gallon sprayer with a mix of "Spectracide for Lawns" does just fine.  Truth is that if you keep your lawn thick and healthy, you will not need to do much treating for weeds.

So, what have I learned?  I've learned that pets are a part of the family and I need to just figure out the best way for the dogs and the landscape to co-exist as much as possible.  Good luck with the pets in your own garden!

The Garden Path

Ok, here is my attempt at designing a unique garden path that draws your eye into the scene and encourages one to investigate further.  Note the path curves to an unknown destination which creates mystery.  This path actually turned out pretty well.  I had a local saw mill cut a tree into 4" thick planks.  I modeled this after paths used by the National Park Service in Rocky Mtn National Park.  They've aged well to a nice gray and we've been fortunate to get moss to accumulate on the planks located in the deep shade of the pines.  As you can see, we have a favorable location as we call this part of our yard "the woods" as it is full of numerous pines and shrubs.  Perennials and bulbs also surround the path.  I always find it more appealing to have a path that curves.  It's more appealing to the eye, and as I said it creates some mystery as to what lies ahead.  We originally had a flagstone path here, but the wooden material makes a more natural look based on the surroundings.  The photo below shows the other end of the path where it meets the flagstone walkway through the lawn.  I know it may take a unique situation for a path such as this to work in your garden, but if you have the spot, give it a try!

Must Have - The English Rose

These photos don't do them justice, so just take my word for it.  Go get a few "David Austin English Roses!!!" With almost 100 of these bushes here in our yard, I can attest to the fact that these deserve a spot in your garden.  Developed to take the best of the old fashioned roses your grandparents used to grow, and adding in the continuous blooming of the modern rose, you get the best of both worlds.  They make a more casual bush than the tea rose, and the blooms are outstanding.  Some of my favorites are: Abraham Darby (pictured above), Heritage, Pat Austin, Eglantyne, Evelyn, Mary Rose, Graham Thomas, and Golden Celebration.  They mix well with old-fashioned perennials such as delphiniums, foxgloves, veronica, cranesbills, and penstemon just to mention a few.  They grow well in full sun, and partial shade.  Plenty of good compost or a good organic rose fertilizer in the spring and another after the first flush of blooms will make them happy in your garden.  This is by far my favorite garden flower, and the scent of any of the roses mentioned above is like nothing else.  Like I always tell people before I start the garden tour..."grab some kleenex, because these babies are going to make you weep!"  Do yourself a favor, go get at least one this spring, (although I tend to like to plant them in groups of 3), plant them in a special spot in your garden, and you'll be going back for more next year.   You can thank me later for this free advice.  Now get out to the nursery and get at least one David Austin rose!  

See below as I share a picture of one of our beds with around 9 different varieties (27 bushes) of these great English roses.  (No tea roses allowed here!)

I leave you with just two words GORRR-JUSSSS!

Garden Structure

The ideal in any garden is to make it interesting enough to make you pause and investigate.  Here we see an early summer bed that has some good structure and enough variety to hold your interest.  If you take the time to look, you will see many forms in this bed.  The spikes of Foxglove and Lupines add to the rounded structure of Roses and Peonies.  The shorter spikes of Veronica always mix well with Roses.  Placing trees in the flower garden work very well to draw your eyes into the scene.  Also included here is Sedum for fall, Cranesbill,  and Sweet Woodruff for ground cover.  The fading foliage of spring Daffodils will soon be replaced with mums and other mixed annuals.  So when you are planning your bed this year, mix it up a bit to bring some visual interest to your garden.  




Here is a close up of the Lupine, Peony, Cranesbills.  It makes a good combination.

HERE WE GO!

Well... my daughter has helped me set up my very own blog! If you have an interest in flower gardening, then stay tuned!

In this first post, I'll give you some good advice on a great species of Dahlia that you can order now for planting in the next few weeks. 


You need to go find "Karma" dahlias. They are superior due to their strong stems that eliminate the need for staking. They bloom profusely from mid-summer to late fall, and the iridescent colors are spectacular. The bloom shown here is "Karma Fuchsiana."  I took this shot in our garden in 2008. 
(You can order these online from Van Bourgondien at www.dutchbulbs.com) 


Planting instructions are included. Plant them shallow, only a few inches deep. They will appreciate good rich soil and some bone meal in the planting hole. Then sit back and wait. You'll get continuous long-blooming flowers that will be sure to get admired by your fellow gardeners! Lift the bulbs in the fall and store for planting again the following spring. 


Good Luck!