The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

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As I lay face down in the wet mulch this morning, snapping photos at angles bordering on tantric, I started to ask myself, why do I have this compulsive need to share photos with you all at such an alarming rate? Am I really that self indulgent? Do readers really care that much? Am I just bored?

I am a big fan of quick self analysis so here is a replay of the potential reasons I ran through in my mind:  

Control – I can make my gardens look so much better than they actually are.
Verdict – Not really, it may help elevate the mood temporarily, but I get enjoyment showing the bad as well.

Filler – The need to just post “something”, and photos take little thought.
Verdict – Honestly, I could post 2-3 times per day with what goes on in this brain. They would be odd, boring, and unnecessary posts, but I could do it ( and don’t tempt me either).

Traffic – Admittedly, I pay close attention to the traffic I generate with each blog post and photos seem to be the closest to a sure thing.
Verdict – I get more of a thrill when someone takes the time to read my babble and even comment on it. And if someone gets my sense of humor, forget it, I’m thrilled for days.

Need for praise – “Oh your peonies are beautiful” (wow that sounds wrong, yet hilarious), “Your roses are exquisite” or “Fantastic job on the bed design”.
Verdict – Yeah it feels good and my head does swell for a while, but again, I really do enjoy posting the good, the bad and the truly ugly. Each evokes a variety of different emotions, comments and thoughts.

I am just plain obsessed
Verdict – “WE HAVE A WINNER”. Did ya happen to see the blog title? While the other factors addressed above do play a part, I realize I just love taking photos of my plants and it has given me a perspective I honestly never paid attention to before.

Sorry, I am done with the psychoanalysis, for now, on to the photos:              

Daylilly ‘Happy Returns’ have fully arrived. Time to get the deadheading gloves on.
‘Happy Returns’ close-up 
Russian Sage, Purple Coneflower and Daylillies are all ready to dance together.
Achillea are ready to bloom
Crabapple ummm … berries or apples? Anyway, I may like these just as much as the blooms.
Newly designed container with a chartreuse Arborvitae and a trailing annual I already forgot the name of. I will reconstruct my containers over and over again – hence the “neurotic” moniker.   
This plum tomato plant has just exploded since it was planted a week and a half ago. This is my first official non-cherry tomato planted in a container. More to come … unless it bombs … well I’d show you that too for comedic purposes.
Here come some Jalapeno peppers baby. I will eat these right off the plant. Nothing is too hot for me. 
The blooms are forming on the Calamagrostis ‘El Dorado’. I love the fact that these bloom so much earlier than all of my other grasses.
I am happy to report all of the hydrangeas have recovered since the ill fated cold snap and the blooms are on their way. 
Photo only a grass lover can appreciate. It is Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’ and I love how upright it stays.  
Geranium ‘Brookside’ blooms all appeared to be pointing in the same direction this morning. Must remember to cut these back right after bloom in order to keep my sanity.
I could photograph Heucheras after a rain all day.
The Astilbe blooms are finally emerging that super clean white color.
Viburnum ‘Emerald Lustre’ in full bloom.

Have a fantastic weekend! I’ve got ten yards of mulch and ten yards of top soil to play with. It is OK to be jealous.

ONG 

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16 Responses

  2. I say just post as much and what ever you want. BTW, I posted 23 times in May and beat you by 3, but my blog is only a few months old and I am in this mad rush to put content on it.

    Also, do you need me to send you some hostas? NJ should be perfect hosta weather.

  3. Don’t worry…you’re not the first to have these thoughts. Or to do ridiculous things for that perfect pic. I’ve mentioned several times in my blog that my neighbors think I’m certifiable…just not in a dangerous way. LOL! I like photos, especially macros, because they help you see the details that you’d otherwise completely miss. Also, everyone wants to share what excites them. It’s difficult to do that when no one in your immediate circle, or extended circle for that matter, is even remotely as interested as you are. Your blogging friends will cheer you on with the smallest, most insignificant post…because they get it!
    So, anyway, love your photos! Totally worth laying face down in the mulch!!! 🙂

  4. As long as you keep your photo comments short. AND label the plants, I could look at the photos all day. Oh yeah, keep the photos in focus, and not too many of the same plant. (Observations from a garden blog addict). Along shot every once in a while, so I can steal landscaping ideas wouldn’t hurt either. ;o}

  5. I probably enjoy stories from other bloggers more than even great pictures. I like wider shots than close-ups of most plants and flowers too. I like to see when they mess up, or do great. Nice post today, take care, Gina

  6. I wish I could take ‘great shots’ but the camera lets me down (poor workwoman blames her tools right?) Anyway I like your style – keep posting

  7. Purple plant in the container is scaveola. Beautiful purple cascading flower. Great in hanging plants as well. Love your pictures and love your neurosis. Having fun following your successes and “un-successes”

  8. I’m with you on the borderline obsessive thing. I take so many pictures that don’t even make it to post. Your not alone 😉 Har!

  9. Keep it up! It’s nice to know I’m not alone in the obsession. I enjoy following your garden adventures especially since we are almost neighbors. If you grow orchids we have a new orchid society, Jersey Highlands Orchid Society. We meet once a month in Andover

  10. Just like a Man…always fishing for compliments about your ‘peonies’. Did you name your peonies? Do you let your peonies dictate your decisions?

    Listen to me. I’m being catty. I apologize, I have peonies envy. And I cleverly used ‘peonies’ and ‘dictate’ in the same sentence. I’m so awesome.

    I find that you’re correct. I get more traffic, and more ‘picks’ if I post a photo or two. But the longer I’ve been blogging, the less I care about that. I just want to make the people I’ve made friends with on here laugh.

    I still post an assload of pictures occasionally (and yes, assload is a technical measurement…it’s slightly less than an ass-ton), but I think deep down, people prefer a good story, like Gina said. I get more comments that way, as well. I’d rather have thoughtful comments, than just pure traffic.

    Don’t worry about being obsessive, or about your happiness when people ‘get’ you. I’m happy when I find people like me, which is rare. And you’re one of them. I don’t throw out blog faves like confetti. Take THAT compliment to the bank and cash it.

  11. I don’t have peonies, but I do have pentas.

    Photos of the whole plant are preferable to down the throat of something. Shots of most of a whole bed are better than a glimpse of a bud.

    Do you ever post pics of things about to bloom because you can’t wait and then wish you had waited because the later photos are so much better? I’m trying to learn patience by putting them in a folder and waiting.

  13. An apple is a pome; a type of fruit in which the receptacle (surrounding the ovary) becomes a part of the fruit and is referred to as “accessory tissue.” Apple flowers are epigynous and (usually) have inferior ovaries.

    A berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary, with seeds located in the flesh of the ovary. Tomatoes, peppers and grapes are all berries. But blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries aren’t!

    Just thought I’d make you feel a little less neurotic today, by sharing a little of my botanical obsessiveness with you. And btw, your photos are ab-fab.

  15. Thanks for rubbing the M. ‘Gracillimus’ in my face. Miscanthus aren’t too happy to be alive in my state. I do have a specimen of ‘El Dorado’ and love the gold tinge. Calamagrostis love it here and I have dozens…but then I am a “certifiable” grass geek.

    I can’t do posts with too many photos. My very poor quality shots offend even me, let alone all the pros and gifted amateurs out there in the garden blogger world.

    Christine in Alaska

  16. Your daylilies are exquisite, lovely, adorable, and beautiful. Fantastic job on the plant combinations. 🙂

    Enjoyed your post and it is all so true. I’m not sure what I like better gardening or blogging. Glad I don’t have to choose one.

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