Taking photos has been a useful tool for my observation process. I
have learned a lot of lessons by trial and error from season to season,
and photographing my observations has been a great reference in
ensuring I do not repeat past mistakes as well as providing information
for future garden plans. I prefer to use a simple point and shoot digital
camera, rather than the camera on my phone, because of the zoom
capabilities. I have gotten the best photographic results with the automatic setting and natural light. It is important – and visually awesome –
to see details like pollen grains caught in the fuzzy hair of a bumblebee
and the proboscis of a butterfly. It’s amazing how little you can spend
on a camera to produce such high-quality photos.
I’m sure many readers can agree that at first all plants look the same,
but once you spend countless hours observing the leaf or branch pattern, it is easy to differentiate plant varieties. Every second you spend
observing your plants brings you closer to understanding their life
cycle. As you observe your plants in a healthy ecosystem more and
more, when there is a fluctuation in the homeostasis of your garden
you will notice it immediately and be able to
adjust accordingly.
Observing your plants doesn’t always
have to focus on increasing yields
and preventing problems. Take
a moment to enjoy the beauty
of your garden—you will be
surprised at the results!
When I’m in my garden, I
feel like I’m in a botanical
Willy Wonka Land with giant
zinnias, gladiolas, blooming
brugmansia and nicotiana
covered in aphids that are
being farmed by ants, which are
competing with the aphid-eating
ladybugs. There are crab spiders
perched on pale pink roses waiting
motionless for unsuspecting prey and miniscule insect eggs on the underside of a single chamomile head.
These somewhat insignificant observations result in pretty cool photos,
but also provide a visual documentation of my garden and the health
of my ecosystem. One of my favorite gardening quotes is “A gardener’s
shadow is the best fertilizer.” Undoubtedly this quality garden time—
monitoring, observing and documenting—will result in a productive,
healthy ecosystem that will give you an edge on your competition. As
your garden grows, so does your knowledge base for botany, and this
will always keep you one step ahead of your fellow gardeners.
Take a moment
to enjoy the beauty
of your garden—you
will be surprised at
the results!”
Molly Sweitzer has a B.F.A. and B.S. from Kutztown University of
Pennsylvania, and most recently studied life in the soil with Dr.
Elaine Ingham at the Rodale Institute. Currently Molly works as
the manager of the Companion Plant in Kutztown, Pennsylvania,
and is the owner of Molly Pollen Botanical Design.
Photos (above) by Molly Sweitzer.
Maximum Yield USA | February 2014
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