HDR Photography in the Garden

'Kay's Arbour'

One of Al's Costco Dahlias!

Since our recent Swiss invasion, I have been trying my hand at some HDR photography.  As well as being utterly addictive, some of the results are very interesting.  HDR is High Dynamic Range and several shots taken on differing settings are merged together by very clever software.  I couldn't have chosen worse weather for my photographic experiments as we've been having gale force winds and ferocious squalls in August!  I ask you!  It looks like autumn out on the lawns!  It was a little more sheltered up in the top lawn border where the Dahlias were not waving madly in the gales!  The winds did have quite an effect on cloud formations and the ghosting effects on the rose hips as they were swaying violently almost looks like an impressionist painting.  Anyway, do have a look and see what you think - bearing in mind these are novice attempts in difficult conditions!  HDR Garden Photos  The strange thing is that when you view these photos,all appears serene and still!!  Oh well, maybe the camera really does lie after all.

Martley Hillside from the terrace

Five Free Fowls go Foraging

Five go out on slug patrol and find a whole new world to explore.  As well as any slugs, they enjoyed some time grazing in the orchard.  The more greens they have; the more yellow their egg yokes.   Some times they have a few grass clippings to scratch around and peck at or an old lettuce, cabbage leaves, carrot tops, pea pods - they love them all.  The new three have really settled in and have just started laying.  Fiona Fenton (on the 2nd lowest step) lays a lovely bluey grey egg.   Each one lays a different coloured agg, that way, we know who's laying and who isn't!

It's curtains for the Wisteria!

Who needs 'em?  This is better than the real thing.  The dining room is filled with a fresh green filtered/dappled light. This second flush of  flowers isn't being decimated by the sparrows.

Miracle Avocado

This is the avocado that spent an entire English winter in a compost heap in the coldest part of the garden.  It came to light last spring when the compost was being used to top dress borders. It just proves just how much warmth is generated during the decomposition process. I know it can never grow to anywhere near its full size but we'll see how we go.  It's main trouble has been constant attacks by woolly aphids and lots of them!  It's just been potted up and sprayed and future winters will be spent in the conservatory!

Herb Harvesting!

This year, I decided to dry some herbs under the verandah.  Hopefully, they won't get wet or blown away!  I know in an ideal world it should be cool, dark and dry but hey, what have I got to lose?  I'm drying bunches of Bay (no surprise there), Lavender, Sage, Rosemary, Marjoram and just to pretty things up a bit; I picked some mop head Hydrangeas and some Achellias.  These are the common dull  off white Achillias which I always spray in some brighter and livelier colours.  Lavender is used in shortbread as it's a bit of a favourite  here at PTC and I can't make soups, stews or casseroles without Bay.   It's also nice to have herbs ready to give to friends and they both practical and pretty bottled in those little jars with hand written labels.  Bay is nice tied in small bunches using raffia, jute twine or even coloured   ribbon.  I only hope they don't rained on or blown....... ...away!

More Mess Making!

At the top of the ladder(I did say BIG Bay Tree!)

Bay cuttings

All neat & tidy!

Our big Bay tree needed a sever haircut so it was out with the ladder and the polecutter and Chris got 'up' to business!  Bay leaves were everywhere!  Bunches were picked up and tied ready for drying and later use, the rest were blown into a heap and, for the first time ever at PTC vaccumed up.  Yes vacuumed! Chris went out and came back with a garden vacuum cleaner (and 3 ice creams!) of giant proportions.  Having blown up the cuttings into the middle of the Creosote Yard, he sucked up the lot!  He even hoovered out the barn which was ankle deep in dead leaves and cobwebs!  Further more, it sucked up, the Berberis, Yew and Rose cuttings was well as all the Pyracantha leaves and terrace debris.  Were we impressed?  Absolutely!! 

As a matter of interest - have you ever wonder why those little lolly pop Bay trees one sees for sale in garden centres are so expensive?  They grow like weeds and are simplicity itself to propagate.  The words, boosting profit margins spring to mind!

Garden vacuum clea

A TREE WITH EVERYTHING!

How many glossy leaved evergreen trees do you know which have perfumed flowers, produce heavy crops of usable fruit, and flower and fruit at the same time?   A lemon tree really does tick every single box (and I just HATE that expression!) Right now our little lemon tree which cost £2.50 at 8" high about 8 years ago has flourished despite numerous attacks from battalions of red spider mites.  Most years, it's pruned and last year it was severely pruned as it really did have ideas above its station! The year before, I picked the fruit in November and made 11 lbs of lemon marmalade.  There were still plenty left for gins and tonics throughout the winter! As I type, it's a mass of flowers and the terrace is awash with the zesty perfume in the warm summer sunshine.  It is also bearing fruit which are slowly ripening in the sun. In winter it retains its glossy green leaves and all it asks is to be fed with citrus summer food and winter food in winter.  These citrus foods keep the leaves from going yellow and ensures a healthy green. What could be nicer to quench a thirsty gardener on a hot summer's day than  an ice cool homemade lemonade? Oh, and as if that was enough plus points for this amazing tree - just for good measure; the bees absolutely love it!  Now, unless you're into bonsai, this is a tree that really has the lot!

A word about the planter in which it sits (and which was lovingly made made by 'Himself'.)  This style was originally a Victorian design for which we make no apologies for stealing.  We had the metal straps made by James at J.W. Lanes - our local agricultural engineers and it's so simple as, with a couple of stout poles hooked under the straps (and some muscles), it's dead easy for two people to move around and inside for winter.  It works exactly like a Sedan chair.   The Victorians didn't get many things wrong!

Tip: Remember not to water just prior to moving.  It's quite heavy enough!!