Grab the Camera

​I have been taking pictures of my gardens all season long so I can reference them in the off-season.  My camera is an essential garden tool to record successes and failures, to document what needs to be done next year, and to steal ideas from other gardeners.  

​I am not known as photographer.  Before digital cameras I was lucky to take a dozen pictures a year, the smallest number on a roll of film.  Then it would take months for me to rewind and get the roll developed.  In fact, there may still be a roll in my old film camera.  Fast forward to today and I take hundreds of pictures each year.  Digital cameras and phones have made it so much easier.  In my photo organizer I now have over 3,000 garden photos taken over the last decade.  It serves as my digital garden notebook. 
How do I use garden pictures?

• I make sure to have the date stamp correct in my camera set-up.  The meta data helps when I’m taking pictures of when a disease shows up or when certain plants are flowering.  That tells me when to be on the lookout for that area in future growing seasons. 
• When the catalogs arrive in January my pictures help me determine what might be good replacements or fillers for empty spots.
• I also take pictures of plants that need dividing come spring.  Pictures do a better job than notes to identify the plants, their location, and plants are easier to pass along to friends when they can see a picture of the mature plant.  I just gave away about 200 Spellbinder Daffodil bulbs easily because I had a picture and the cultivar name.   
• Photos of trees and shrubs assist in making pruning decisions in another season.
• My camera (and now my smart phone) capture great ideas from other gardens.  Much easier than trying to write down a plant name.  I make sure to take a picture of the tag and a separate one of the plant so I can identify the plant correctly. 
• I use pictures for the web, for garden classes, to make greeting cards, and to add to my garden notebook for reference. 

 
How to take a great picture?
The basic photography principles apply to garden pictures.  Of course, if all you are doing is recording a plant tag or a date when the red aphids show up on the Heliopsis (False Sunflower) then the goal is to just get a good image.  But if the goal is to also have a great picture check out these tips:

• Take the picture either early or late in the day or on a cloudy day when the sunlight is not harsh. 
• Capture flowers when they are in their prime for the best shot.  I take pictures of the same plant in various phases sometimes.  For example, my Annabelle Hydrangea changes color from mid-summer to late season so complimentary plants may change during its long bloom period.
• A spray bottle of water can add some interest to create droplets on the plants.
• Get as close to the specimen as possible.
• Check the background to make sure there isn’t an errant weed or a drying, bug infested leaf.

 
So, grab the camera and start recording those spots in your garden that need some attention during the off season.