I was reading a post on Christina’s blog the other day about a calendar she made from photos of her garden and remembered that I too normally make one. I haven’t for a couple of years but with that prod from Christina, I decided to leap purposefully into action.
Using an online company, I uploaded twelve photos and a thirteenth for the cover. The photos are taken at the Priory and mostly during 2014. Some have appeared on The Anxious Gardener before but not all. Anyway, here they are.
For the cover I used a rose … but I can’t remember which one. R. ‘Claire Austin’ probably.
January 2012 provided a view from the shelter of an old Nissan hut where I chop wood in bad weather.
February has a female mallard flying out of duckweed soup as I took one step too close.
March brings daffodils – or at least March 2014 did. Usually most don’t appear till April.
Speaking of April – English bluebells and Erythronium ‘Pagoda’.
May 2014 and the kidney beds are busy against a backcloth of rhododendron and hawthorn.
Last June was good for the Hydrangea petiolaris on the front wall of the house. Some years, late frost kills the flower buds.
2014 was a good year for lilies too. This is July.
I’ve used the tropical border from 2013 for August.
Back to 2014 for this September scene featuring the long borders.
October 2013 gave me flowering lithops (taken after some slapdash watering).
The west pond in November featured in a recent post.
And finally, way back to 2012 for this shot of Margaret’s sheep grazing in wintry sunshine.
It was quite time-consuming picking photos and a couple of them didn’t reproduce quite as well as I’d hoped but still worth the effort, I think.
Now then. Your turn.
The Anxious Gardener 
What a fab idea, must have been a nightmare picking them though. I always promise myself that I am going to do a better job of tagging my photos as I go so that it is easier to find the ones I want afterwards, but I never get round to it. I bet you could do an entire calendar using just Margaret’s cows – frolicking or otherwise… Love that shot of your long border. And the tropical birder. And the snow…
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Thanks Janet. It was a calendar of Margaret’s dogs (she now has six) a few years back that gave me the idea. But cows? Now you’re talking. As for tagging. Why on Earth haven’t I done that? It would certainly make life very much easier. Dave
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All great photos but Margaret’s sheep is my favourite. Helen
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Me too Helen. It’s an old photo but when I saw it (trawling through hundreds of library shots) it jumped out at me. D
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Great Idea! How much do they charge for the calender?
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Hi PL, depends on various options but my ten, including ‘glossy’ and P&P worked out at £6.87 each. If you go to Vistaprint you can play around to see the various costs involved. Dave
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Thanks. That seems like great value.
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You missed out my fav’..the frolicking cows. Put that on my birthday card 😊
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Sorry, Jane. I’ve written frolicking cows on the back of my hand. Now I won’t forget next year. D
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Gosh, absolutely stunning! Both the photos and your garden. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi Janna, thanks and thanks for commenting. Dave
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Wow fantastic pictures, it sure is a great way to have something special hanging on the wall each month rather than sitting on your hard drive. Love the sheep!
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Hi Frank, I have such a ridiculous number of photos now that trying to find a particular one of a particular scene at a particular time of year is a bit of a headache. Dave
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I’m still waiting for mine to arrive although I went with photos of my son through the years rather than the garden here – the photos I chose are more entertaining! I do like seeing a whole month at a time, gives me a realistic sense of the ebb and flow of my days.
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Hi Caro, it was seeing a calendar of a friend’s dogs a few years ago that gave me the idea. Having now made a few it is handy to look back over the months and years and see how the gardens have progressed … or not. Dave
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Super photos for your calendar, love the snow scene and the sheep! It must have been hard deciding which photos to use as you always have so many wonderful shots of the garden where you work!
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Thanks very much Pauline. It is time consuming – I shall save suitable photos throughout the year in 2015 to make it easier. D
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That is an act a bit hard to follow. The photographs are really stunning and even if it took a long time to choose them it must have been good to look at the success of last year and look forward to more flowers in 2015. Amelia
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Hi Amelia, thanks. Difficult to imagine flowers at the moment – some of the garden was flooded last week and all is mud and slop. Ho hum. D
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Great set of pics, my fave being the sheep! If you don’t mind me saying so, I find the size of your copyright notice a bit intrusive. I’d suggest a smaller font.
Hi Cristina!
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Hi Charles, thanks. I’ve had a couple of photos filched in the past so as much as I dislike using watermarks I started to use them. I experimented with different sizes – any smaller and they are just too simple to crop off (though the size I use can still be cropped of course). I get your point but I think the size is about right. Dave
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I love your photos; they are so full of life and joy, the colors are amazing.
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Thanks Charlie.
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Great Idea, I particularly liked your border views.
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Thanks John – though the pinks and reds of the kidney beds was the least successful photo when printed. D
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Love your Calendar David, your photo choices are all really beautiful and serves as a wonderful review of last year. I make a yearly calendar featuring my family, its such therapeutic and enjoyable thing to do.
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Thanks Julie. Mine was a little rushed as I didn’t start until I saw Christina’s post. I’ll be more organised next year. D
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Love that tropical border, the lithops and the snowy sheep. And what a good idea! I think I’ve managed to work out the ‘V’, in case I’m ever inspired to do the same.
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Hi Cathy, didn’t mean to be mysterious. I used Vistaprint – though you’ve worked that out I think. D
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Marvellous shots David, hard to choose a favourite.
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Thanks – glad you like it. Dave
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That’s a great idea David!
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Full of ’em me. 🙂
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What a beautiful calendar you’ve created – the photos reflect the seasons so well. I put one together for my daughter (in NZ) of typically English flowers and scenes, although not a patch on your’s! You’ve inspired me to try again for 2015.
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Thanks Alison. Still time to make one – delivery was within about four days. D
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Your calendar turned out well. Beautiful photos. I’ve been meaning to do a calendar too–guess it could still happen. Good wishes for the New Year! When I write “2015” I feel like I’m in a science fiction world. Susie
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I know Susie. Shum mishtake shurely. I’m sure it’s still about 1992 really. D
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Very fun and creative idea and a great review of your year! Enjoy!
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Thanks Lee.
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What a great idea! I might do the same although I am not sure about the quality of my photos. Love your November one, not what I think of as November at all!
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I think for 2016, I shall squirrel away photos throughout the year that might make the grade. Should save me quite a bit of time next year. It seems lots of people make calendars – I’m sure you have enough good photos, Elizabeth. D
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We do the same and it’s a lot of fun to do each year.
I think we use the same company (begins with a V?) We came home last year to find our calendars’ box a very soggy state, left on our doorstep in the rain. Luckily our neighbour rescued the box before the calendars were ruined. I’ve complained to the delivery company and let V know, and suggested they might like to change their courier. V refunded the cost of the calendars (delighted even though that wasn’t my intent) and the courier company have yet to reply!
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Yeah, it’s Vistaprint. I only didn’t name them becasue I’m a little coy about given big company’s free advertising! My calendars were quite poorly packaged actually and stuffed into our smallish postbox but no damage done. Just as well as ten of them aren’t that cheap! Dave
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I Also make calendars using photos of the garden, and friends always look forward to receiving their Christmas present. I agree it is time consuming to choose the ideal photo and upload them, but always satisfying to see the finished product. I have actually kept one for myself this year! Happy New Year Dave.
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Hi Ronnie, yeah I keep a copy of each one I’ve made – it’s nice to be able to look back over the years. I paid extra this year for glossy photos but actually I’m not sure it was worth it. D
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You’re lucky that you could use the on-line company, I had wanted to do that but I think delivering anything to Italy is a bit of a problem and many companies won’t even attempt it! Good choices, I love your snowy scene, but then snow is always better in photographs than it is in reality!
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I’m surprised, Christina. I would have thought they’d deliver pretty much anywhere – globalisation and all that. D
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