A new photo spot

It is probably particular to collectors who have most of their plants in pots, but when I'm photographing pots I tend to move them to the same spot for the photo, unless they are too big to move that is. At the last house this was either on the table in the garden, for a more "I'm an actual gardener" feel. I was more trying to convince myself than anyone else.

Or if the photo was for my records then I would get out a bit of black card and put the plant on that in the hope of getting a better photo.  I love the way that I actual believe placing a bit of card behind the plant is going to improve my photographic skills.

So new house, the card seems to have got lost in the move, and I am having to experiment with a new spot. The table has moved with us, but the background is messy. Having built my cold frame it seemed a simple place to use for a start (although I may have to paint the wall one colour instead of the two tone it currently is).

I quite like the effect you get form the polycarb sheeting when taken from above, you can just make out plants in the cold frame.

A better photographer than me could probably produce some very creative shots of plants through the polycarb. I really should invest in a proper camera and maybe even do a course to improve my photography skills.  I am always very jealous when I see the amazing photos on other blogs, one that stood out for me recently was Rhone Street Gardens, post on Wind Dancer gardens. Mind you I could just as easily have selected countless other blogs which regularly feature amazing photos.  In the mean time, maybe I should just be less lazy and dig out the light tent my OH made last year, it definitely helped when trying to photograph this echeveria cante flower.

I guess I will have to continue experimenting until I find somewhere I like.

A break in the rain

We have had a terrible summer in London. What started off with so much promise with the driest start of the year I can remember, all went wrong from June when it started raining and it hasn't really stopped since. It has also been really cold at night.  Normally we eat in the garden 3 or 4 times a week, this year we have managed it 3 or 4 times in 3 months!

So when we had a gap in the rain last night and figuring we wouldn't have many more opportunities, we headed outside for the evening (admittedly with some warm cloths at the ready). It was an opportunity use the use the storm lantern  I posted about back in February.

What you can't see in the photo is all the colour (the photos either showed the colour of the lanterns but nothing else, or as above where you can see the whole area but no colour).

Just a shame we haven't been able to use it more.

A slight change in the weather

Having had a couple of warmer days, we had a change this afternoon with a huge thunder storm.  These are rare in London even more so with serious hail.  My OH happened to be at home at the time to catch it with the camera

The thing about hail is that after it finishes and you have got over the sound and stones, you start to worry about your plants.  A friend had a lot of his prized plants seriously marked in a similar storm last year.  Thankfully I got off easy; there are a few marks on the odd plant, but most are fine and there is no really noticeable damage.

Looking at the photo at first I thought that the blurs were rain on the window, but then realised my OH was standing outside at the time and they were actually the hail stones.  I also like the splash in the bottom right, which is even better blown up:

My OH has a knack for taking good photos.

Semi precious plants

The jade vine has got to one one of the most beautiful flowers.  It is not the most elaborate,  or brightly coloured, just simple elegance. Was at Kew today and their vines are flowering, and was particularly pleased with this photo, even blown up.

The spiky snowflake

It is snowing again and seeing the snowflakes made me think of this photo my OH took at Kew. Sadly apart from being a cactus I have no idea what it is (I will have to find a name on my next visit).

It's all go in the succulent garden

Yesterday it was babies,  today it is flowers, who says succulent gardening isn't high octane fun!  Ok admittedly that may be going a bit far, but the plants are strutting their stuff at the moment with lots of firsts for my garden.

Todays subject is echeveria Cante. A particularly nice variety whos leaves have a fine pink edge. The whole plant is covered in a fine white powder giving it its luminous colour.  While the powder (or bloom) makes for a stunning plant, it is a right pain when it comes to re-potting or even watering.  There is nothing worse than finding a finger print on a leaf which you know is going to spoil the look of the plant for months to come.

And don't get me started on visitors who touch the leaves to see why they are white.....

Anyway returning to the happy times, the flowers on this one have finally opened, having been promising to do so for over a month, and it was worth the wait.  They are strange almost ghost like, being white like the rest of the plant.  Bloom only forms on the outside of the flower so as it opens you get these bright pink stripes. (The colour in this photo is pretty much spot on and this is probably due to using the light tent my OH made recently. Will be testing it out more in future posts).

The red tip is caused by nectar, so the bees are going to love this one. Lets just hope they don't leave muddy little foot prints all over the plant.