In the Garden #15

River of Flowers and Light

In the Garden: Orchid Blossoms (phalaenopsis) River of Flowers and Light. Mamiya M645 1000S, Mamiya-Sekor 80mm f/2.8, +2 close-up filter, #8 (K2) yellow filter. Fomapan 400 developed in Diafine.

 

I want to look at another orchid photo before moving on. This is from the winter garden. Some of the strip lights there have allowed interesting geometric shapes to be placed in the background. The orchids are now all out in the greenhouse and a couple of them look like they need some attention. I wanted to keep that at top of mind going into the weekend.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #14

First to Live

In the Garden: White Orchid Blossoms (phalaenopsis) First to Live. Nikon N80, Sigma 105mm F/2.8 MACRO, #8 (K2) yellow filter. Kentmere Pan 400 developed in D-76 1+1.

 

A half-dozen orchids live here. Four of them moved from Erin’s office last winter and another recently came as a gift. For the seven years previous to that this was the only one to live here. It wasn’t the first to arrive but it was the first to survive.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #13

Winter Garden Blooms

 

In the Garden: Garden Geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum) Winter Garden Blooms. Nikon N80, Sigma 105mm F/2.8 MACRO, #8 (K2) yellow filter. Fomapan 200 developed in Diafine.

 

The “Winter Garden” lives in the basement under banks and lanterns of artificial light. It is flat light to photograph with and there isn't a lot of room but I like to set a camera up and see what compositions are there to be found.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #12

Window to Winter

In the Garden: Inside Out Window to Winter. Mamiya M645, Mamiya-Sekor 210mm f/4, +1 close-up filter, #8 (K2) yellow filter. Fomapan 400 developed in Diafine.

 

We are in the middle of the “Winter Garden” season. The summer garden is under a couple feet of snow and the perennials are dormant. The potted plants are inside at windows or under lights. The window boxes are filled with cut evergreens and dried berries.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #11

The Struggle

 

In the Garden: Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) The Struggle. Nikon N80, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 MACRO, #8 (K2) yellow filter. Fomapan 100 developed in Pyrocat HD.

In the garden, there are dramas like this going on every day. Life is not easy for every flower.

 

-Troy

In the garden #10

Season’s End

In the Garden: Dahlia Bouquet (various Dahlia) Season’s End. Canon A-1, Canon FDn 50mm f/1.8, #8 (K2) yellow filter. Kentmere Pan 400 developed in D-76 1+1.

 

The garden is, finally, put to bed for the season. The last of the potted plants came in from the unheated greenhouse today. Very cold weather is coming and coming soon. It is actually pretty late in arriving this year. For a few mornings two weeks ago we had frost and then mild weather settled in and allowed us to keep a few things going outside and in the greenhouse. The night before the frost, Erin cut this last dahlia bouquet.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #9

Three from Spring

In the Garden: Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata) Three from Spring. Mamiya M645 1000S, Mamiya-Sekor 150mm f/3.5 N, +2 close-up filter, #8 (K2) yellow filter. Bergger Pancro 400 developed in D-76 1+1.

 

The last of the fall-blooming perennials are fading. It is a busy time for gardeners, getting the garden ready for the first frost. I have been thinking about all that has happened here over the season. This little Columbine enjoyed its first full year in the garden, next to a bird bath, blooming like mad all spring.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #8

The First of the Herd

In the Garden: Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta) The First of the Herd. Nikon N80, Nikon Nikkor 45mm f/2.8 P, X0 yellow/green filter. Fomapan 100 developed in Pyrocat HD.

 

Given by a neighbor last year, this is the first Elephant Ear to come to the garden. It has been very productive and produced a herd of offspring which are planted all around, some in the ground, some in pots. In a couple of weeks we will start digging them up for their winter indoors.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #7

A Festival of Balloons

 

In the Garden: Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) A Festival of Balloons. Mamiya M645 1000S, Mamiya-Sekor 150mm f/3.5 N, +2 close-up filter, #11 Green filter. Ilford HP5+ ei 1,000 developed in Diafine.

 

This plant is one of those I find difficult to photograph.  I think it is a combination of the habit of the Balloon Flower and its position in the garden. The flowers are generally at the very top of the plant, which towers over nearby plants, and they are never in great light. One day this week I saw a group of buds and blossoms lower on the plant, in morning light.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #6

Blooming Volunteer

 

In the Garden: Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Blooming Volunteer. Nikon N80, Sigma 150mm f/2.8 MACRO, #8 (K2) yellow filter. Kodak Tri-X Pan 400 developed in D-76 1+1.

 

This is one of those plants that came to the garden through it's own means. We generally let the common milkweed grow whenever and wherever it shows up.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #5

Like Water, Like Light

 

In the Garden: Canna Lily (Canna) Like Water, Like Light. Nikon N80, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 MACRO, #8 (K2) yellow filter. Fomapan 200 developed in Diafine.

 

Sunlight and rain coming through the garden, and the plants interacting with those, is a major theme for the photography. It is what the photography is seeking.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #4

After the Morning Rain

 

 

 

In the Garden: Ligularia “Othello” (Ligularia dentata) After the Morning Rain. Nikon N80, Sigma 150mm f/2.8 MACRO, #11 (X1) light green filter. Fomapan 200 developed in Diafine.

 

I am thinking about plants that have a beautiful habit with lush leaves, good color and fantastic flowers. I am thinking about Ligularia. Last year we found a few seedlings near a patch of Othello in the back garden and overwintered them downstairs with the potted plants. This year they have had to struggle through unexpected heat and sun but now appear to have some roots down in the front garden and are starting to thrive.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #3

By a Thread

 

 

In the Garden: Black Swallowtail Chrysalis (Papilio polyxenes) By a Thread. Nikon N80, Sigma 150mm f/2.8 MACRO, #8 (K2) yellow filter. Fomapan 200 developed in Diafine.

 

Erin and I watched a Black Swallowtail lay her eggs in a patch of rue. A short time later there were many caterpillars eating that rue. We watched them grow until one morning when we discovered they had all vanished. A search found one across the garden, on an Asiatic lily, transforming into this chrysalis.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #2

Above the Tangle

 

 

 

In the Garden: Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena) Above the Tangle. Nikon F80, Sigma 150mm f/2.8 MACRO, #8 (K2) yellow filter. Fomapan 100 developed in Pyrocat HD.

 

One small packet of seeds years ago has produced a few of these plants every summer. Always in the same area. They self-seed but do not wander.

 

-Troy

In the Garden #1

Blossom Trio in Morning Light

 

In the Garden: Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Blossom Trio in Morning Light. Nikon F80, Sigma 150mm f/2.8 MACRO, #8 (K2) yellow filter. Kentmere Pan 400 developed in D-76 1+1.

 

Purple Coneflowers have been in the garden from the start. They self-seed and have roamed through most of the sunnier spots, here for a couple of years and then over there for the next couple. 

 

-Troy