Both Davin and I regularly document the garden’s progress throughout the year with quick and easy cellphone shots taken from specific vantage points. We’ve been doing this since year one in this house and we both post these updates to our respective social media accounts (links below). He takes photos from the kitchen window at ground level and posts them with the label: Orto Report (Orto is the name we initially gave the garden, although when we adopted our dog Molly in 2012 we unofficially renamed it Molly’s Garden). I take mine from the room directly overhead and add the hashtag #yougrowgirlgarden so I can find them all easily.
I get a lot out of this simple exercise. On a practical level, my overhead shots have allowed me to see the shape and layout of things, most especially in the fall and early spring, that I have used to make planting, pathway, and design tweaks along the way. On a more personal level, these images have helped me to cultivate a greater sense of pride in the work I have done through the years. The consistent view has also allowed me a greater appreciation for the cycles of the garden as it shifts from season-to-season and year-to-year. Looking back on high summer photos in the middle of winter never fails to surprise me with the sheer volume of growth that occurs within such short order. Nature is miraculous.
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My overhead view from January 2016 to January 2017. 50 photos total.
As you can see, I took far fewer photos than Davin this year. I was shooting for about once a week, while Davin took his several days a week. More photos definitely makes for a better time-lapse so my goal going forward is to try and take a quick snap every day through 2018. However, I think I will stick with my usual posting schedule to social media since daily updates could quickly become a dull chore and a bit too repetitive for viewers.
Finally, if you are interested in documenting your own garden similarly and have a copy of my book, Grow Curious: Creative Activities to Cultivate Joy, Wonder, and Discovery in Your Garden (ebook edition), I have split this idea of a consistent view and/or documenting it into two projects that are perfect for beginning during the winter or garden off-season in your region (see pages 160 and 180) with added prompts on things to observe and ways to take the project further. If you do share your photos via social media, please add the hashtag #growcurious so myself and others can follow along.
I enjoyed going “Ooh, that’s looks like it is as peak summer” and then going “Hahah, just kidding!” and there would be more growth.
I really appreciate y’all posting these on IG—it is good to see the seasonal shift in a garden.
I might just have to do my own this year.
through the years I have enjoyed reading and looking at pictures of your garden. I no longer take pictures of my garden, so viewing what other gardeners are doing is a big part of my gardening experience. Have a fruitful garden season for 2018.
I love this idea! Unless I am taking specific before and after shots of a project I rarely have any continuity but I think I’m going to start doing this too, what a great idea!
This is such a great idea. I think I will only have one garden bed this year, but I may try the daily or weekly photo thing. I have your book but to be honest have been in a funk and haven’t read it entirely…I looked at the pages you mentioned though, and I’m feeling inspired. :D Thank you!