Photo 101

I've been taking a Photo 101 class at Nicole's Classes and have finally been learning to use the manual settings on my camera.  I still have a lot to learn but wanted to show you my progression.  Here are a couple of my first shots.  Hopefully we'll see some improvement over the next couple of weeks!

Happy Halloween

A beautiful fall evening for trick-or-treating...

Zinnias

I know, I know...these are such a common plant, but I really do love them.  I adore cut flowers and these always perform rain or shine.  Every spring my husband just sprinkles a few seeds in the garden and wa-la! How can I resist all these delicate differences in shape and color?

Retro Landscape Paintings

What a pleasant surprise when I found these lovely paintings by Leah Giberson.  They showcase all the cool retro landscape elements I love...hedges, bright metal lawn chairs and those silly pruned mid-century modern topiary-like shrubs.  To top it off, Leah also loves gardening.  You gotta like that.  Please take a peak at her other paintings here.

A Plant Binge

How many times have you entered a nursery center with looking as your only goal, but leaving with handfuls of plants?  The worst case is at the end of the planting season when everything is marked down to pennies.  How could you not purchase a few more goodies for the garden?  I fall into this category often, but I do follow a few personal rules.

1. Try to buy at least three (or more) of one plant.  Though you may not have a destination in mind yet, at least there will be a nice grouping for the final design (and it will look like you planned it).

2. Try something new.  If you're only paying 99 cents, why not try a new plant?  If it doesn't do well, no biggie.  My garden is filled with sale (and even free) plants that no one else wanted or recognized.  I now have some amazing plants that I would have never dreamed up on my own.

3. Is there a season you're lacking great color?  Late summer or fall perhaps?  Try to find plants that fill those gaps.  Don't let the lack of bloom in the nursery distract you - just because it's not blooming at that moment, doesn't mean it's not fabulous.  Read the tags and grab the beauties others missed.

4. Pick up those small, special plants (less than 12" tall).  These itty bitty plants are perfect for the front of your border or tucked in small spaces.  Buy as many as you can.  It's so much fun spreading these out along the front of a planting bed to pull it all together (what? a sale item creating a a cohesive design?).

What other hints do you have?

A Miracle...Eating Broccoli

I still can't believe it.  My 13-year-old son, the one that is Mr. Picky Vegetable Eater, suddenly likes broccoli.  I'm not sure what happened.  Last year he wouldn't touch the tiny tree greenies from our garden and now he can't get enough of it.  My daughter and him even snack on broccoli at night now.  My husband brings it in, they throw it in a steaming pot and wa-la, it's gone! What is going on?! I am so thrilled I'm about to burst.

Speaking of eating veggies from the garden...I was honored to be a guest writer at Stay At Home Foodie last week.  Another thrill!  Thanks Deena!  You can read that post here.

A Maze of Garden Links

I've been on a search for some great garden blogs...ones that have a slightly different landscape perspective. These are quirky, tough, imaginative, and have a touch of style, plus still have lots of great information.

This is a short list I've pulled together for you to enjoy:

Garden Rant
Heavy Petal
Miss Rumphius' Rules
The Germinatrix
You Grow Girl

The Florida Keys

My mom, daughter and I visited the Florida Keys over the weekend for my brother's wedding.  It was so beautiful that I had to share some images...from a garden perspective.

We experienced Islamorada (that's where we stayed), plus Key Largo and Key West.   Everything was lush and spilling over with flowers and southern hospitality (see that pineapple?). I didn't know that roosters roamed the streets of Key West (and even sneak inside the shops)!

Being someone that loves formal gardens, I was thrilled with all the perfectly trimmed hedges.  I also loved the bright colors, stucco walls, fancy gates, and just general quaintness.  We even got up bright and early the first day to see the sun rise...look at that.  Just imagine a soft, warm breeze.  

Many parts of the keys still have that 1950s-1960s aura...adding more mystic.  It's just an amazing place surrounded with great history, expanses of ocean and lots of sun. 

Farm House Arbor

This rustic, yet quaint arbor is located at the Farm House Museum on the Iowa State University campus.  It was reconstructed from old photographs several years ago and is such a nice addition to the site.  I walk past it often and suddenly felt compelled to share it.  I love the combination of the perfectly constructed bird gates paired with the natural wood structure.

Bright Spots Today

As I was walking through campus yesterday I noticed many of the shrub roses blooming. The top rose is "All the Rage", the middle photo is "Yellow Submarine" and the last is still unknown to me (any thoughts?). All are about three feet tall...and growing in zone 5a. A big thanks to campus staff for helping me identify them.

The Garden Bench

It would be nice to have a garden bench in our yard.  Nothing too fancy, just simple wood. My one rule about benches though...please place them where you'll actually use them. Don't locate them in an obscure flower bed, at the end of a long driveway or on top of a hill that can't be accessed.  Use them to actually sit on, relax for a moment, take a peak around your beautiful garden, then you can get back to weeding. If you want a bench to be multi-functional, also use it as a focal point. 

Image courtesy of Oh Pretty Shiny

Image courtesy of J2 Studios Photography

Image courtesy of Dragonfly Photography

Children and the Landscape

I've talked quite a bit about how I became enamored with the landscape, but I often look at my children and wonder if they'll make their own special connections.

My 10-year-old daughter and three-year-old son seem to have that initial spark.  They enjoy being outside playing ball, chasing butterflies and climbing trees.  My 13-year-old son never seemed to ignite that spark.  If given the choice, he'll choose inside.  His outside choices revolve around group activities like camping or sports - all good, but he's not usually the initiator.  Are these connections genetic, environmental...a little bit of both?

Image courtesy of Jonas Peterson

Geums are Jems

I discovered this flower only a couple of years ago and now cannot imagine living without it.  In early spring it pops out like orange polka-dots all over my zone 5 sunny perennial border.  The foliage is wide and round giving much needed coarse texture to the garden.  The flowers balance above about 12-18". There are many different cultivars, so I may be creating my own sweet little geum collection soon.

Daffodil Shine

A special flower that has popped up a month early this year.  Can spring really be here (or is this just a trick)?

Image courtesy of The Jonathan Galleries

Apple Love

I've become fond of apples.  One day I realized it was better to munch on an apple for fifteen to twenty minutes, rather than a bunch of sugary snacks.  I like that one apple can keep me preoccupied for so long. It's also quite nice that there are so many different kinds.  Each time we visit the store or orchard we can try a new color and flavor.  We are are very excited about planting our first apple trees this spring.  I'll let you know the final choices in a couple of months. Woo-hoo!

Photo courtesy of Marianne LoMonaco Photography

Photo courtesy of Terra Vision Photography

A Winter without Snow

Okay, we have had some snow, but not much.  If it's going to be cold, we might as well enjoy some white sparkle, but alas, only a sprinkle here and there.  What's left...freezing temperatures and a barren landscape devoid of the pretty, fluffy stuff.  Oh hum. The image below is only a dream.

Image courtesy of photography by bomobob

Garden Terms: Pergola

A lovely way to create shade in your garden...

Pergola :: An arbor or shaded walk, formed either of trellis, brick piers, stone pillars or wooden posts, on which rest beams or joists, with vines often trained over them.

Image courtesy of feliciano

Image courtesy of Around the Island Photography

Image courtesy of Sherri Conley Fine Art Photography

Time to Redirect

Christmas is over and family has left.  Though the quiet is nice once again, we sorely miss everyone.  You work so hard planning meals, decorating the house, buying gifts...then it all comes and goes in an instant. 

Now I need to sit down and redirect my focus. I have several projects in my head, but where do I start? Book outlines, garden cards, video editing...

This isn't about resolutions, but about how to create a plan, then move forward.  Just one thing at a time (but maybe I should put the Christmas decorations away first).

Great Adventures

There is nothing better than taking your kids to cut down a Christmas tree at a local farm. We run up and down the rows in search of the perfect tree, pulling a sled behind us. The kids' excitement overshadows the cold and the hot chocolate that follows puts the icing on the cake.

This year everyone was thinking the same as us...as my husband pulled into the parking lot of our usual tree farm and they informed him they ran out (can that really happen at a farm?!!).  The good news...a truck pulled up with freshly cut firs from another location. Not the usual adventure, but we did get a beautiful tree none-the-less...and my three-year-old son still loved every minute.

I wish you many great adventures this holiday season!

Photo courtesy of Beauty is in the i

A Little Bit of Sparkle

I'm getting caught up in these holiday images...I just can't help myself.  Trees and wreaths covered in lights just make me giddy.  I'm not sure if it's the sparkle or the idea of a simple green living thing getting dressed up for the evening.

I couldn't resist the ultra-glitter of these photos by Pixamatic.