Raising A Garden

For the last two years I have been growing a square foot garden. Not a raised bed, however. What I did was double dug a plot two feet deep into my lawn. Well, at least from a distance it could pass for grass. The soil was compacted clay. So what I ended up with was a two foot deep basin which retained water. 

In May of the first year it rained. Lots of rain fell. Rain filled the double dug plot, drowning most of my plants. I replaced the drown plants. The remainder of the growing season I didn't get any other drowning rainfalls. The garden was fairly successful.

Last year I wanted to build a raised bed frame but couldn't justify the expense of the wood. So on my patio, I mixed forty pounds of sand and all the shredded leaves I gathered from the front yard the autumn before with one foot of soil I dug out of the plot. I then filled the plot with the mixture and mounded the rest on top.  The plants were above the surrounding lawn, up out of any retained rain water. No plants drown and the garden yield was better.

This year I was able to fit the expense for wood into my budget by spending less on beer and whiskey, eating away from home less and making due with my current wardrobe. Such a sobering sacrifice for two 2"x12"x16'*, one 2"x12"x12'** and one 2"x4"x8'*** boards, a box of exterior screws and some landscaping cloth.

I can't wait to finish constructing the frames and raise my garden beds even higher.

*50mm x 30cm x 4.87m
**50mm x 30cm x 3.65m
***50mm x 200mm x 2.43m

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Persephone Breathes Color into the Garden

Twenty-five days have elapsed since Hades released Persephone from the underworld and I saw her head pushing up the soil in my garden. Cold and wet days have poured in to fill the gap since. Now the daughter of Demeter breathes brilliant life back into the garden.

Dwarf Iris

I have always loved spring flowering bulbs. Plant them in the fall and the garden's winter palette of dull grays and browns changes to brilliant hues of purples, blues, pinks and yellows. 

crocus

Crocus and dwarf iris are the first to bloom in my garden. My  preference has changed from crocus to the dwarf iris. You must admit, they are beautiful.

crocus

Not that I don't like crocus. I do. Look at the complexity of the petals, the shape of the pistil and color of the stamen. Marvelous. 

Muscarii in the foreground and Jonquil in the background

If you don't have spring flowering bulbs planted in your garden, I have a suggestion. Travel around your neighborhood or town and look to see what others have done with their spring flowering bulbs. If you don't know the name of a flower you like, knock on the owner's door and ask. Photograph the garden bed and research online. There is no better time to plan next years spring bulb garden than right now.

Gardening doesn't get any easier than planting spring flowering bulbs. I used more time and energy choosing which bulbs to plant than planting the actual bulbs. For a small amount of physical labor you will receive years and years of pleasure. A tremendous ROI.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Bird Feeder as Snow Fell 12/29/12

Snow began to fall about 11:20 on Saturday, December, 29. The temperature hovered ± 3ºF freezing. The snow accumulated at a rate of 1" / 25mm per hour for the first two hours.

Several species of birds visited the feeder. Of course the squirrels had their nosed in there, too.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Bird Feeder First Anniversary

January 2012

Christmas day it was one year since I hung my new hopper bird feeder with integrated suet cages. I've placed close to 120 lbs/ 54.4kg of sunflower seed chips into that feeder over the last year. 

December 2012

Plus the +/- 8lbs/ 3.6kg black nyjer seeds I put out just for the goldfinches and the few suet cakes for the woodpeckers. In total I probably spent in excess of $300 in bird seed. A small price for the wonder of such beautiful creatures.

source:American Museum of Natural History

Besides, they are my closest link to dinosaurs. 

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Photo Safari - Norristown State Hospital

Postcard image of the administration building

The dativer photo safari for September will be on the grounds of Norristown State Hospital. The first Pa. state hospital constructed in the "cottage" model, interconnected by a system of tunnels. NSH was designed in 1878-1880 by Wilson Brothers and Co.

Many of the buildings are in disrepair and hold a great deal of photographic opportunities - rusted iron, weeds growing out of everything and ivy covered walls. 

If you wish to become a better photographer, the relaxed atmosphere of this photo safari will be a great no-stress venue to learn.

Join the dativer safari on Sunday September 16 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at Norristown State  Hospital. The timing will be just right for sunset.

What is a photo safari? It is a group of photographers on a walk in an interesting location accompanied by qualified photographer guides. Photographer guides supply tips on composition, lighting and exposure and customize the session to your level of photographic skills.


Learn to create better photographs while exploring the historic Norristown State Hospital grounds on Sunday, September 16, starting at 5:30pm.

For more information write to dativersafari@gmail.com or call 484-433-2282 today.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved