I gave myself a project of taking a picture every month from the same window. I thought it would be interesting for me to see the changes over a year all at once. Thought some of you might be interested too.. It’s a bit like that thing they used to have in the papers when I was a kid – spot the difference.
If you think of doing something like this yourself, a word of advice: file and label each picture as soon as you take them, so you don’t at some point have to search every picture you took that year trying to find them.
The photographs are a bit grim – taken through a window with my phone. A couple are elongated  because my phone can do that.  It’s quite fun. More advice: if you do this, do it out of a window which opens enough so that you don’t have to take the picture through (dirty) glass! And choose a part of the garden which gets manicured regularly…..
…………
June 2016
July 2016
August 2016 – this is elongated!
September 2016
October 2016 – the horizon has changed. A large sycamore next door was cut down.
November 2016 Foliage has all been cut down and left on the beds.
December 2016
January 2017
February 2017
March 2017
April 2017 New bird bath appears. (well, is finished and installed. Thank you, Charles)
May 2017
And finally, here’s now:
July 2017
PS – Boasting alert. Did you know that Outwitting Squirrels has sold over 20 thousand copies!? And Deckchair Gardener sold over 5 thousand in the first month. See sidebar for reviews.
riveting – lovely to see the seasonal changes. Not so lovely hunting through past photos listed by date when you know you should have Saved As into a Special File where you will be able to find it easily…..
Exactly. Xxx
Wow ! I really like the bare beds of Nov /Dec with just the topiary and rails x
Yes – me too! Wondered whether that isn’t best of all. Now there’s a thought….. XX
This is a lovely idea & though my plot is tiny compared to yours I think it would still be an interesting thing to do myself too.
I wouldn’t think size would matter – you have the seasons and the weather. Do it! Xx
This is stunning stuff. I should try to do it!
Yes! And I’d love to see such pics. Been ages and I never see all the changes.. Xx
Absolutely Brilliant Anne! Love the progression…. And congratulations on your book sales numbers! Proud to say I am one of your International Readers!
I am delighted to hear that, K the Y ! And proud to be international, thanks to your good self! Xxx
The changing seasons like magic; I never get enough. Talk about squirrels– I just had a whistle pig in my shed. They are basically a 15pound squirrel. Think l’ve all it’s holes plugged up now; including the one at garden gate. Of all the flowers and berries in my garden the only thing noticed was it ate the broccoli. I love them but hopefully it found a better home in the woods.
I love the internet – how would I ever hear of such things else?! It certainly went for the healthy option.
This is a really good idea that I may have to copy. I love the January photo with the dusting of snow. From November on, I kept thinking how much better the scene would be with the new birdbath — and then it appeared. Were you rigorous with the date of the month or even approximately? And would it be more telling if the photos showed exactly the same scene?
I wasn’t rigorous with the same scene – even selecting slight variation for the post for interest’s sake. (might have been mistaken) Nor was it the same date/day- I would have to be there, remember, and the weather be at least possible. Am now doing the view from my office and doubt I’ll manage those consistencies there either! I’m trying to get under the window to avoid the glass so the manoeuvring is likely to cause variation. Go on though – you do it and be purist! Xxx
What an interesting idea, so much vegetation coming and going. Think I’m going to copy this idea. Did you take the picture the same date every month.?
I didn’t do it the same date – kept forgetting. You could though! Think – it would be even more fascinating over many years.
What an excellent idea Anne. That is some view to have all year round. It shows the importance of evergreen shrubs/trees for structure. They are like the stars of the show, with the standing ovation of other plants at different times of the year. I love it. Brava!
I’ve done this kind of thing before in the context of capturing how the light falls across a garden at different times a year to help with making design decisions. And from taking part in the End of Month View meme where you analyse changes & problems on a month-by-month basis. But doing it just for the pleasure, without feeling the need to explain/contextualise, now that’s something I’m definitely going to try. It’s also a low spoon/Deckchair Gardener way of enjoying the garden & blogging đ
Hi Julieanne, – I was feeling a bit bad for having been so casual! So thank you. I also feel embarrassed because I think the planting looks scrappy in the pics and it never did to look at (ah – photographer’s skills). But people do seem to like the idea, so I feel really pleased about that.
I like your end of month check, but am too overwhelmed with stuff to contemplate that. And just now I feel rotten – is it the weather, maybe? Xxx