Garden Share Bristol

Big Horn Medicine Wheel, Wyoming USA

Those of us  who are avid gardeners and living in the Northern Hemisphere can't wait for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Then the days will begin to lengthen and we can look forward to the gardening season once again. Whoo-hoo!  This year the solstice occurs on December 21st, and to celebrate I'm posting a photo-a-day countdown with some of my favorite photographs of 2012.  Enjoy!

Geranium sanguinem

Those of us  who are avid gardeners and living in the Northern Hemisphere can't wait for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Then the days will begin to lengthen and we can look forward to the gardening season once again. Whoo-hoo!  This year the solstice occurs on December 21st, and to celebrate I'm posting a photo-a-day countdown with some of my favorite photographs of 2012.  Enjoy!

Anethum graveolins

Those of us  who are avid gardeners and living in the Northern Hemisphere can't wait for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Then the days will begin to lengthen and we can look forward to the gardening season once again. Whoo-hoo!  This year the solstice occurs on December 21st, and to celebrate I'm posting a photo-a-day countdown with some of my favorite photographs of 2012.  Enjoy!

Begonia spp

Those of us  who are avid gardeners and living in the Northern Hemisphere can't wait for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Then the days will begin to lengthen and we can look forward to the gardening season once again. Whoo-hoo!  This year the solstice occurs on December 21st, and to celebrate I'm posting a photo-a-day countdown with some of my favorite photographs of 2012.  Enjoy!

Asclepius tuberosa

Those of us  who are avid gardeners and living in the Northern Hemisphere can't wait for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Then the days will begin to lengthen and we can look forward to the gardening season once again. Whoo-hoo!  This year the solstice occurs on December 21st, and to celebrate I'm posting a photo-a-day countdown with some of my favorite photographs of 2012.  Enjoy!

Iris germanica

Those of us  who are avid gardeners and living in the Northern Hemisphere can't wait for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Then the days will begin to lengthen and we can look forward to the gardening season once again. Whoo-hoo!  This year the solstice occurs on December 21st, and to celebrate I'm posting a photo-a-day countdown with some of my favorite photographs of 2012.  Enjoy!

Acer saccharinum

Those of us  who are avid gardeners and living in the Northern Hemisphere can't wait for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Then the days will begin to lengthen and we can look forward to the gardening season once again. Whoo-hoo!  This year the solstice occurs on December 21st, and to celebrate I'm posting a photo-a-day countdown with some of my favorite photographs of 2012.  Enjoy!

Bergenia cordifolia

Those of us  who are avid gardeners and living in the Northern Hemisphere can't wait for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Then the days will begin to lengthen and we can look forward to the gardening season once again. Whoo-hoo!  This year the solstice occurs on December 21st, and to celebrate I'm posting a photo-a-day countdown with some of my favorite photographs of 2012.  Enjoy!

Narcissus spp

Those of us  who are avid gardeners and living in the Northern Hemisphere can't wait for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Then the days will begin to lengthen and we can look forward to the gardening season once again. Whoo-hoo!  This year the solstice occurs on December 21st, and to celebrate I'm posting a photo-a-day countdown with some of my favorite photographs of 2012.  Enjoy!

Scillia spp

Those of us  who are avid gardeners and living in the Northern Hemisphere can't wait for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Then the days will begin to lengthen and we can look forward to the gardening season once again. Whoo-hoo!  This year the solstice occurs on December 21st, and to celebrate I'm posting a photo-a-day countdown with some of my favorite photographs of 2012.  Enjoy!

I recently took a class at Denver Botanic Gardens with their official photographer, Scott Dressel-Martin, that focused (heh) on capturing images of their Blossoms of Light holiday landscape lighting presentation. I have very little experience with low-light or night-time photography, so I was open to any and all ideas that I could glean in a 3 hour, hands-on setting.  My goal was to learn a few tricks that would let me take the best photos possible without making fiddly adjustments to my camera.  In other words, stick with my usual grab-and-go, mode settings.  Scott was a fun and informative teacher and was able to emphasize the main points that apply universally while also including some more detailed specifics for the advanced photographers in the group (not me!).
Note: The photos you see here have not been photo-shopped, other than to reduce their size a bit for use here on the blog...

Here are a few pointers that I gleaned from the class:
#1 You must use a tripod. In low light situations the shutter speed is very slow, and it's impossible to hold a camera completely still.  Although I've owned a nice tripod for many years, I never use it (just too darn lazy).  This was the most awkward thing for me to adjust to, but it does make a huge difference in the clarity of the photos.  A hands-off shutter release is also helpful (make mine a remote, please, Santa?) in preventing wobbles.

#2 The best light is during deep dusk — after sunset but before it's totally dark. At this time of year that's between 4:45 and 5:30 (with only about 10 minutes of perfection!).  At this point there is still color in the sky. That color and light create depth of field — a foreground, middle ground, and background —  for a much more engaging image.  Interestingly, the sky looks dark to our eyes much sooner than it does to the camera lens.  Scott had us set up our cameras at 4:45 PM and continue taking the same shot (looking north-northeast) every few minutes to monitor how the light looked via the camera's screen:

4:50 PM MST

5:00 PM MST

5:07 PM MST

The lesson here is to stake out and compose your "perfect" shot a bit early, then take multiple images as the light changes until you see the perfect amount of contrast between the lights, the landscape, and the sky.

5:40 PM MST, looking west

By 5:40 PM the color was gone from the sky, but there was still enough light to distinguish the trees in the background.  Ten minutes later it was full-on dark, and the landscape — particularly without any snow — was transformed into pinpoints of colored lights. (Scott gave us some tips on controlling colors and light via ISOs and white balancing, but that's something I'll have to practice more on my own time.)

5:51 PM MST

#3 Reflective elements such as snow, water, or even wet pavement can really improve the WOW! power of your photograph.

5:15 PM MST looking south

5:17 PM MST looking north

#4 Have fun.  Even a blurry photo may have use as a background image...

original image

super cropped image

I hope my wing-it results will inspire you to get outdoors with your camera this winter to capture the beauty of the lights.

Perky pansies in my patio pots.  Yes, today!

Today, the Garden Designers Roundtable will explore the power of plants and memory. Plants have a way of triggering memories and emotions that run through our lives like a stream of film clips — memories of a special time, a favorite place, or a beloved person; it could be the plant itself, its color, fragrance, or even its form.  Sometimes your "trigger" plants are not your favorite plants at all; the thoughts they evoke may not be pleasant ones, but they are part of your history and your reality.

flowering crab, Malus spp

For me, flowering crab apples are a touchstone in time. Their flowery splendor in mid-April coincides with my peak business season (and my birthday!).  I see them everywhere as I bustle around the city, and the over-the-top opulence of flowers (for whatever reason) reminds me to slow down. To enjoy. To be grateful.

tree peony, Paeonia spp

This tree peony is the only one I own. It was given to me many years ago by a gardening friend. Though we rarely connect these days, I think of my dramatic, clever, and generous friend whenever I see it.

rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus nauseosus

I associate rabbitbrush with the West, and my memories of many wonderful vacations exploring the high, dry foothills of New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. This shrub is ubiquitous throughout the region — probably considered a weed by some.  Its cheery yellow, late summer blooms herald the end of summer and  the beautiful fall weather to come.  This dwarf rabbitbrush in my garden reminds me of the places I love every time I look out my window (and I'm seein' you, Taos!).

common lilac, Syringa vulgaris

When I meet with a new design client I always ask them if they have a favorite plant that I could try and incorporate into the design.  One of the most frequent requests — a hands-down favorite — is lilac. The fragrance from these flowers, which last a mere ten days or so in mid-spring, is something that people associate with childhood and wherever they call "home". (And perhaps the delicious anticipation of summer vacation on the near horizon!)  It really doesn't matter that lilacs are so blah the rest of the year; for those who love the fragrance and the memories it brings, it's worth it.

Colorado blue spruce, Picea pungens

On a few occasions I've been asked to include a "Christmas tree" in the planting plan. Many people love the holiday season and want that visual reminder year-round.
"What kind of tree would that be?" I ask. "A fir or a spruce?  A pine?"
"You know!" they respond,  "The one like this!"   ::hands and arms forming a triangle::
I feel like Linus to their Lucy in  A Charlie Brown Christmas:



The heart wants what the heart wants.

Please join my fellow members of the Garden Designers' Roundtable for more on memory and plants:

That's a darn big name for a sweet little sedum!  The common name, Chinese mountain stonecrop, is just as long, but not quite such a mouth full.  This low growing evergreen is fairly new to my garden; I planted it in a tough spot between the street and driveway just a few years ago.  It's flourished on neglect, crummy lean soil, and little water.

The color show is spectacular in late spring when red stems emerge from the rich green foliage and explode with bright, yellow flowers and red bracts.  The overall effect is a multi-colored WOW!

The succulent foliage hangs tough during the summer, looking fresh and green.  Don't you love those cute serrated edges?

And if you leave the flowers / bracts to ripen, you'll be rewarded in the fall with this beautiful star-like texture.

Sedum middendorffianum is hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and needs full sun to thrive.  Plant it in a well draining, infertile soil.  Mature size is 4" tall by 12-18" wide.  The plants I've chosen to partner with this sedum include Penstemon pinifolius 'Mersea Yellow', Helictotrichon sempervirens (blue oat grass), and 'Hidcote' English lavender (not shown).

Yucca, Hesperaloe, Russian sage, and blue mist spirea would also work well with this sedum.  I hope you'll give it a try!

Sedum 'Dragon's Blood'

I couldn't resist sharing a couple more photos of spectacular fall foliage color.  This is Geranium sanguineum (bloody cranesbill) in my front garden today.  I wanted to capture the color before the snow arrives tomorrow...

Have a great weekend!

Happy Halloween!

You can keep your burning bush pink and your orangey-red Autumn Blaze maple (the "it" tree for fall color around here these days); I'll take the dark, luxurious reds of fragrant sumac, Rhus aromatica, any time.

The glossy foliage catches the low autumn light and adds depth and complexity — plus a touch of glamour — to this Rocky Mountain native.

Hands down, the best shrub for full sun, poor soils, and dry conditions when your goal is super red fall foliage.

Geranium spp.

The last few days I've been seeing orange everywhere!  From soft, pale coral to intense, almost red (and I'm not even talking pumpkins!). . .

'Autumn Brilliance' serviceberry. This Amelanchear may morph into red.

Engleman ivy.  Parthenocissus may run rampant, but fall color never disappoints.

St. Johnswort.  Hypericum is not known for its fall color, but it's always showy.

The plumes get the press with maiden grass, but Miscanthus foliage color is terrific.

An unknown hawthorn, Crataegus spp., gets orange right.

Orange sand cherry, Prunus besseyi, plays well with the blue berries of Oregon grape holly, Mahonia.

Wind delivered beauty: leaves from a neighbor's 'Autumn Blaze maple, Acer x freemanii 'Jeffersred'.

Little bluestem grass, Schizachyrium scoparium, has luscious color that will hold well into winter.

Orange you glad it's October?

Well, that's it for our fabulous fall weather, and now the garden clean up begins, including unplugging a clogged drain!!

Plenty of green still in the garden, including calabrese sprouting broccoli, radishes and corn salad


Garlic was planted, Susan Delafield is a beauty

Last of the fall harvest, including Painted Lady runner beans and tomatillos
"The Crew" braving the weather
So that just about wraps up our garden report for 2012, with perhaps a few more visits to check on our fall planted crops