Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Around the Garden 05/17/11


Well the first Balloon flower of the season has opened and I was happy to see it. Last year seed was dropped all over the ground and by next summer there will be a nice big patch of them. I can’t wait to see them in bloom! This one is called ‘Sentimental Blue’. I’ve been shooting my photos with manual settings lately and so far I’ve been very pleased with the results. When I purchased the camera I used for these shots at the time I was under the assumption that I had purchased this VERY nice camera. And, it is indeed very nice, but the more I learn about photography the more I am beginning to realize how limited I am by the settings. Looks like a new camera will be in the picture sooner or later. While I’m having fun with the new information I’m learning, I really can justify buying a new camera just yet.

Sentimental Blue



‘Daring Deception’

Daring Deception


Photography can become a reallllllllly expensive hobby when you get to buying new lenses and cameras. If I win the lottery though, the first place I am headed it to a camera shop!

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‘Stella Supreme’

Stella Supreme


The KnockOut roses have been really pretty this year. I admire something so resilient! I trim these babies any time of the year I feel like it. The rose hedge, while absolutely loaded with blooms this year, had gotten too tall. So after the burst of blooms were gone I pruned it down to about two and a half feet and its getting ready for its second flush of flowers now.

Radtko



Radtkl



‘Tequila Sunrise’ Coreopsis

Tequila Sunrise


As I was walking around taking photos I realized the garden is going to need some re-designing done soon. So Many plants were lost last year as a result of negligence and the weather. The poor ‘Crimson Queen’ maple in the far corner appears to have died about half way down from the top. I hate that, it was such a gorgeous tree. It’s starting to come back now, I’m not going to cut the top out of it until I know for sure it has no life left in it.

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The garden suffered a lot of stress last year and it’s not as perfect as it usually is, but it’s bouncing back and in the meanwhile I’m planning the changes to be made to it. At this point I’m not replacing the items that have died. I’m just going to let the things that are living continue to grow. I want to decrease the number of plants in the garden yet let the volume of the ones there increase. Instead of having lots of little plants I want large drifts in few amounts. A garden is always evolving… Hope you enjoy the photos

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With a bit of luck the new blog will be restored soon. I’m really excited to get it up and running again! I’ve been going out of town a lot and I’m trying to get in the habit of always having my cameras with me when I leave. I need a place to share my other photos that aren’t garden related. Gosh, I have so much to learn. But, maybe we can learn some new things together as the posts get rolling out?
Blessings~ Randy

Milk and Wine

7 comments:

scottweberpdx said...

Beautiful blooms...especially love that Asclepias! You are so right, photography can get so expensive so fast! It almost killed me when I realized how expensive lenses are...more than the camera itself, sometimes!

Becca's Dirt said...

Such beautiful day lilies. Stunning actually.

Darla said...

If your photography gets any better we will be paying to see your photos!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Gorgeous blooms and so well represented. Good job.

F Cameron said...

Your photography is providing stunning visuals for your readers!

I love balloon flower, too. Mine aren't yet blooming. I gathered and sowed seeds last year and have started a patch of it outside the fence to test it for deer resistance.

Randy said...

Thanks for the comments everyone!And also thanks for the encouragement!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Randy, I've been thinking about you ---so decided to stop by and say HI. WOW--your garden this year is fabulous... Ours is just beginning...

I read back and found out that you had back surgery. My hubby may have to have back surgery sometime. He has a degenerative disc disease... What was your problem?

Come and visit me sometime.

Have a great weekend.
Betsy