Garden Walks 2020
Flowers and Foliage: Photos from 7 December 2020
While shooting photos on December 7, I focused primarily on seeds and seedheads, but I also stopped to take photos of foliage and a few late season flowers. It always surprises me how many plants have produced fresh leaves in the fall: the Husker Red and Dark Tower penstemons, the snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum), the grape hyacinths, the hellebores. And, thank goodness, there are the hundreds of daffodils sending up their leaf spears in November, like periscopes checking out the weather conditions before settling into a long winter. This is one of my favorite times in the garden, no brass band playing, everything so quiet and self-deprecating, the moments of joys typically derived from one's attention to small, intimate scenes easily overlooked. It's a special transition season when we witness both the fulfillment of the summer's promises and the frequent hints of an imminent spring. ~Bob
While shooting photos on December 7, I focused primarily on seeds and seedheads, but I also stopped to take photos of foliage and a few late season flowers. It always surprises me how many plants have produced fresh leaves in the fall: the Husker Red and Dark Tower penstemons, the snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum), the grape hyacinths, the hellebores. And, thank goodness, there are the hundreds of daffodils sending up their leaf spears in November, like periscopes checking out the weather conditions before settling into a long winter. This is one of my favorite times in the garden, no brass band playing, everything so quiet and self-deprecating, the moments of joys typically derived from one's attention to small, intimate scenes easily overlooked. It's a special transition season when we witness both the fulfillment of the summer's promises and the frequent hints of an imminent spring. ~Bob
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Seedheads: Photos from 7 December 2020
On the morning of December 7, I shot about 150 photos--a third of which focused on the seedheads of the garden's flowers and grasses. We leave the seeds in the garden through the winter for their beauty, to provide food for visiting birds, and to allow for some some seeds to germinate and provide us with new plants in the spring. ~Bob |
Garden Walk Photos: Friday Morning, 23 October 2020
In the month of October I was so busy cleaning up my backyard at home and my vegetable garden (located along a creek near Toddville), that I did not spend much time in the Alumni House Garden. Excluding the significant damage to the fence, the garden received relatively minor damage from the August windstorm, and so I trusted the garden to take care of itself. These are the only photos I have from the month. Fortunately, we had not yet experienced a hard freeze, and most of the garden's plants were were doing okay; however, none of the flower beds had received much attention, no new spring bulbs had been planted, and most of the fall cleanup would need to be postponed until the spring. ~Bob
In the month of October I was so busy cleaning up my backyard at home and my vegetable garden (located along a creek near Toddville), that I did not spend much time in the Alumni House Garden. Excluding the significant damage to the fence, the garden received relatively minor damage from the August windstorm, and so I trusted the garden to take care of itself. These are the only photos I have from the month. Fortunately, we had not yet experienced a hard freeze, and most of the garden's plants were were doing okay; however, none of the flower beds had received much attention, no new spring bulbs had been planted, and most of the fall cleanup would need to be postponed until the spring. ~Bob
Garden Photos: Three Mornings in the Middle of September
Because of the August wind storm, many of the taller plants (such as the Joe Pye weeds, perennial sunflowers, hibiscus) or exposed plants (such as the Dahlias) were not in great shape in September, but many of the low-lying and more flexible flowers came through the storm in good shape. This was another good year for the obedient plants (Physostegia virginiana), cranesbill, turtleheads, cleomes, stonecrops, and sedums. Perhaps in response to stress caused by the wind storm, two of the flowering crab trees produced a second season of their white spring-time flowers in September, providing a rare opportunity to photograph both the flowers and the fruit from April's blossoms. We also experienced several aphid invasions, including a white variety that on two separate occasions covered the branches on a standard hawthorn. The high point of the week's photographs, however, was the discovery of two large praying mantis quietly residing in a group of stonecrops in front of the patio. ~Bob
Because of the August wind storm, many of the taller plants (such as the Joe Pye weeds, perennial sunflowers, hibiscus) or exposed plants (such as the Dahlias) were not in great shape in September, but many of the low-lying and more flexible flowers came through the storm in good shape. This was another good year for the obedient plants (Physostegia virginiana), cranesbill, turtleheads, cleomes, stonecrops, and sedums. Perhaps in response to stress caused by the wind storm, two of the flowering crab trees produced a second season of their white spring-time flowers in September, providing a rare opportunity to photograph both the flowers and the fruit from April's blossoms. We also experienced several aphid invasions, including a white variety that on two separate occasions covered the branches on a standard hawthorn. The high point of the week's photographs, however, was the discovery of two large praying mantis quietly residing in a group of stonecrops in front of the patio. ~Bob
Photos of the Coe Garden: One Week after the August 10 Derecho
These photos were taken on August 16 & 19. Because I had been so absorbed in cleaning up my vegetable garden and the property around my home, I had done very little work at Coe other than to pick up obvious trash--primarily asphalt shingles--that had blown in. Given the devastation that other areas of the campus suffered, the garden escaped with relatively minor damage. The 10' cedar fence on the north and south sides of the garden received some significant damage and was destroyed in the area next to the SW gate. A few of the taller perennials--such as the Joe Pye Weeds--were badly damaged, but most of the perennial flowers lie relatively close to the grounds and many proved to be quite flexible in dealing with 140 mph winds. One flowering crab tree had several roots partially pulled up, but all the trees remained in place. I had just finished pruning these trees at the end of July, and they didn't even lose any branches. Remarkably none of the sculptures or art work in the garden experienced noticeable injury. Perhaps most remarkably, the large Tom Nelson mobile in front of the patio sailed through the wind storm and remained perfectly balanced on its slim pedestal. ~Bob
These photos were taken on August 16 & 19. Because I had been so absorbed in cleaning up my vegetable garden and the property around my home, I had done very little work at Coe other than to pick up obvious trash--primarily asphalt shingles--that had blown in. Given the devastation that other areas of the campus suffered, the garden escaped with relatively minor damage. The 10' cedar fence on the north and south sides of the garden received some significant damage and was destroyed in the area next to the SW gate. A few of the taller perennials--such as the Joe Pye Weeds--were badly damaged, but most of the perennial flowers lie relatively close to the grounds and many proved to be quite flexible in dealing with 140 mph winds. One flowering crab tree had several roots partially pulled up, but all the trees remained in place. I had just finished pruning these trees at the end of July, and they didn't even lose any branches. Remarkably none of the sculptures or art work in the garden experienced noticeable injury. Perhaps most remarkably, the large Tom Nelson mobile in front of the patio sailed through the wind storm and remained perfectly balanced on its slim pedestal. ~Bob
The End of July, 2020: The Last Garden Photos before the August 10 Derecho
When I took these photos on the morning of July 20, I certainly did not realize this would be the last time I would be taking any photos before eastern Iowa was blasted with the August 10 windstorm. I regret that all my photos that morning focused on individual flowers and insects (most notably several bees and a swallowtail butterfly), and I did not create any portraits of the overall garden landscape. While nearly all the taller flowers were badly beaten up by the storm, there was minimal long-term damage to these perennials, and most should be in good shape for their return next summer. ~Bob
When I took these photos on the morning of July 20, I certainly did not realize this would be the last time I would be taking any photos before eastern Iowa was blasted with the August 10 windstorm. I regret that all my photos that morning focused on individual flowers and insects (most notably several bees and a swallowtail butterfly), and I did not create any portraits of the overall garden landscape. While nearly all the taller flowers were badly beaten up by the storm, there was minimal long-term damage to these perennials, and most should be in good shape for their return next summer. ~Bob
Garden Photos: The Morning of Wednesday, July 15
Although the garden's plants had to endure an unforgiving dry spell in July, the garden also experienced one of its prime bloom periods in the middle of the month. Nearly all the daylilies were flowering, accompanied by a wide range of other perennials: crocosima, coneflowers, rudbeckia, lilies, kniphofia, sunflowers, coreopsis, balloon flowers, allium, phlox, cranesbill, stonecrops, hydrangea, honeysuckle, roses, salvia, hostas, Joe Pye weed, Lychnis 'Lipstick,' and a glorious collection of gayfeathers in front of the patio. It was a moment when one realizes, "no place better than here, no time better than now." ~Bob
Although the garden's plants had to endure an unforgiving dry spell in July, the garden also experienced one of its prime bloom periods in the middle of the month. Nearly all the daylilies were flowering, accompanied by a wide range of other perennials: crocosima, coneflowers, rudbeckia, lilies, kniphofia, sunflowers, coreopsis, balloon flowers, allium, phlox, cranesbill, stonecrops, hydrangea, honeysuckle, roses, salvia, hostas, Joe Pye weed, Lychnis 'Lipstick,' and a glorious collection of gayfeathers in front of the patio. It was a moment when one realizes, "no place better than here, no time better than now." ~Bob
Alumni House Garden: Evening of July 7, 2020
When I first started taking care of the Alumni House Garden in the summer of 2014, I felt like the garden's basic design was fundamentally strong and appealing, but the garden was dominated by plants that did not fit well with the space and the plants around them. As it turned out, it has taken longer than I expected to restrain or eliminate several of those plants (e.g., New England Asters, Canada Goldenrod, Tansy, Swamp Milkweed, Thistles, Bindweed, Horsetail, Fleabane, Queen Anne's Lace, Foxtail, Sorrel) and introduce new plant communities that would effectively blend together, creating more appealing mosaics of foliage and flowers, colors and textures. Much of the delay in the evolution of the garden derives from my inexperience in knowing how to select and nurture the right plants in the right spaces. But as I walked around the garden on this July evening, I began to feel that the pieces were coming together. We still have a lot to learn and a long way to go, but at least for this one evening I enjoyed the sensation that we were making progress. It was beginning to feel like a coherent garden. ~Bob
When I first started taking care of the Alumni House Garden in the summer of 2014, I felt like the garden's basic design was fundamentally strong and appealing, but the garden was dominated by plants that did not fit well with the space and the plants around them. As it turned out, it has taken longer than I expected to restrain or eliminate several of those plants (e.g., New England Asters, Canada Goldenrod, Tansy, Swamp Milkweed, Thistles, Bindweed, Horsetail, Fleabane, Queen Anne's Lace, Foxtail, Sorrel) and introduce new plant communities that would effectively blend together, creating more appealing mosaics of foliage and flowers, colors and textures. Much of the delay in the evolution of the garden derives from my inexperience in knowing how to select and nurture the right plants in the right spaces. But as I walked around the garden on this July evening, I began to feel that the pieces were coming together. We still have a lot to learn and a long way to go, but at least for this one evening I enjoyed the sensation that we were making progress. It was beginning to feel like a coherent garden. ~Bob
Photos from June 2020
This garden walk posting is a series of three separate slideshows, rendering photos from June 3, 18, and 29. My primary focus was on the flowers that seemed most prominent in each of those weeks. We had some excellent spring weather conditions, and the garden was at its exuberant best during these weeks before entering into a long, hot dry spell. For these photos I have not provided captions (with one exception: a picture of the poison ivy that appeared in the middle of June), but if you do have questions about the garden or any flowers featured in these photos, don't hesitate to contact me in person or via email ([email protected]). ~Bob
This garden walk posting is a series of three separate slideshows, rendering photos from June 3, 18, and 29. My primary focus was on the flowers that seemed most prominent in each of those weeks. We had some excellent spring weather conditions, and the garden was at its exuberant best during these weeks before entering into a long, hot dry spell. For these photos I have not provided captions (with one exception: a picture of the poison ivy that appeared in the middle of June), but if you do have questions about the garden or any flowers featured in these photos, don't hesitate to contact me in person or via email ([email protected]). ~Bob
Photos from the Last Two Weeks in May 2020
When I view these photos from two mornings in May, what initially impresses me is the rich and diverse foliage (the many different shades of green complemented by the dark burgundies of the penstemon, coral bells, and loosestrife) framing the spectrum of flowers. The predominant white Ox-eye Daisies are accompanied by blooms from over 35 different plants: Allium (3 varieties), Brunnera, Buttercups, Camassia, Catmint, Centaurea montana, Chives, Clematis, Clustered Bellflower, Columbines (2 varieties), Cranesbill (4 varieties), Cupflower, Cushion Spurge, Dianthus, Herman's Pride Lamiastrum, Hubricht's Amsonia, Ice Plant (Delosperma), Lilac, Lupine, Moss Phlox (3 varieties), Prairie Smoke, Red Twig Dogwood, Salvia (2 varieties), Siberian Iris, Snow-in-Summer, Solomon's Seal, Creeping Speedwell, Summer Snowflake (Leucojum), and lovely yellow blooms on a weed whose name escapes me at the moment. The slideshow begins with a dozen landscape views of the garden, followed by 80 photos of flowers, either individual blooms or small-group ensembles. ~Bob
Photos from First Two Weeks in May, 2020
These photos were taken on the mornings of May 6 & 11 but are not being posted until the first week in September. Given the destruction of the August Derecho, compounded with a two-month drought, it is hard to believe that the May garden was so rich with fresh flowers and foliage. It feels like all this must have occurred in a previous lifetime. ~Bob
Early April 2020 in the Alumni House Garden
These photos were taken on the mornings of April 7 (shortly after it had rained) and April 10, a space of time in the spring season when the yellows of the daffodils and forsythia dominate the visual landscape. Several photos record the presence of small insects and flies, busy pollinating these early April blooms. There are also dozens of flowers with emerging buds, some later in the month producing beautiful flowers that will also be quite fragrant (such as the viburnum and hyacinths).
These photos were taken on the mornings of April 7 (shortly after it had rained) and April 10, a space of time in the spring season when the yellows of the daffodils and forsythia dominate the visual landscape. Several photos record the presence of small insects and flies, busy pollinating these early April blooms. There are also dozens of flowers with emerging buds, some later in the month producing beautiful flowers that will also be quite fragrant (such as the viburnum and hyacinths).
Four Garden Walks in March 2020
This slideshow is a combination of four garden walks on March 2, 9, 13, and 30. The photos are arranged so most of the photos are sequenced in their chronological order. Perhaps the photos will suggest how quickly and dramatically some areas of the garden are transformed in a short period of time--while other areas apparently remained unchanged, at least as they appear above ground. An early spring flower garden can give the impression that the rooms of the house have been opened up and a series of rugs are thrown on various parts of the floor, providing patches of color while most of the house retains its winter trappings.
This slideshow is a combination of four garden walks on March 2, 9, 13, and 30. The photos are arranged so most of the photos are sequenced in their chronological order. Perhaps the photos will suggest how quickly and dramatically some areas of the garden are transformed in a short period of time--while other areas apparently remained unchanged, at least as they appear above ground. An early spring flower garden can give the impression that the rooms of the house have been opened up and a series of rugs are thrown on various parts of the floor, providing patches of color while most of the house retains its winter trappings.
Garden Photos: 21 January 2020
The photographs in this slideshow were shot on the morning of 21 January. The garden was covered with fresh, undisturbed snow--except for the evidence left by a rabbit that had visited the garden in the past 24 hours. Most of these photos feature the shadows on the snow's canvas, concentrating on patterns created several plants and an assortment of human-made objects: several benches, the gazebo, the garden's cedar wall, and steel sculptures (a water fountain, two sun dials, two mobiles, various plant supports, and two large metal spheres--fondly known as Sisyphus and Ringo). ~Bob
The photographs in this slideshow were shot on the morning of 21 January. The garden was covered with fresh, undisturbed snow--except for the evidence left by a rabbit that had visited the garden in the past 24 hours. Most of these photos feature the shadows on the snow's canvas, concentrating on patterns created several plants and an assortment of human-made objects: several benches, the gazebo, the garden's cedar wall, and steel sculptures (a water fountain, two sun dials, two mobiles, various plant supports, and two large metal spheres--fondly known as Sisyphus and Ringo). ~Bob
Garden Walks in the First Two Weeks of January, 2020
This slideshow is a sample of photographs taken on several mornings, all overcast, between January 5 and January 15. Although I've included a few shots of the garden landscape, most of the photos concentrate on specific vegetation (particularly ornamental grasses and several varieties of seed heads) or artwork installed in the last three years. Shortly after taking these photos, I walked around the garden with a visitor who told me that without the summer flowers, she felt the garden looks so "vulnerable." While I often have a comparable feeling, I do love the stark, clean structure of the garden in winter. All the flashy decorations have been removed and one can observe the garden's naked skeleton, harboring an engine perhaps vulnerable but also resilient, patient, biding its time, ready to explode into action once winter loses its necessary but temporary grip. ~Bob
This slideshow is a sample of photographs taken on several mornings, all overcast, between January 5 and January 15. Although I've included a few shots of the garden landscape, most of the photos concentrate on specific vegetation (particularly ornamental grasses and several varieties of seed heads) or artwork installed in the last three years. Shortly after taking these photos, I walked around the garden with a visitor who told me that without the summer flowers, she felt the garden looks so "vulnerable." While I often have a comparable feeling, I do love the stark, clean structure of the garden in winter. All the flashy decorations have been removed and one can observe the garden's naked skeleton, harboring an engine perhaps vulnerable but also resilient, patient, biding its time, ready to explode into action once winter loses its necessary but temporary grip. ~Bob