At the Greenhouse: New Job? Availability photographer…?

At the end of last year I designed a website for the greenhouse to showcase their plants online. This year my bosses have given me the opportunity to publish their weekly availability list for the company. I’ll be responsible for walking through the crops, determining their progress and deciding whether or not they’re ready to be shipped. Although this will be my 4th season at the greenhouses this new task will have it’s challenges. Over 20 greenhouses, various plants at different stages, and creating an inventory for the entire site. I’m excited for the new challenge and I hope to succeed. It will take some work.

An interesting aspect of this new job is that I will be updating the website with photographs of our best crops. Where once the pdf list listed primulas, or aeonium pot I’ll now be taking photographs of these products and posting them online. A task which is a lot more difficult then I had previously thought. Taking a professional photograph of plants for sale is a tough thing to accomplish.

Finding a good stage for your photographs is the first problem, lighting is another. I attempted to take the photographs with my pocket sized canon elph which made thing even harder. (~I need a new camera~). I spent about 4 hours on Tuesday trying to find the perfect recipe for nice photos, in the end we settled with the high contrast of the barn wall against the green plants. Only a half victory really, I’d like to do better next week. I’m going to have to step it up a notch if I’m going to make an impression on this new gig. Here’s the best of the first round. Wish me luck on the next.

Beautiful 2nd season aeonium pots, they turn red in the summer and these have a huge head start on the season. Mine was a quarter of the size by October of last year and perished in the snow storm of mid November. I might need one of these myself. . .

We have new premium primulas this year, cobalt blue, buttercup and cream. All seem a step above your regular primula hybrid.

These buttercup primulas bloom in strange way. Little starfish rosettes, with a rose like bloom in the center. Amazing.

Balarina Primula as described on PlugConnection.com
“A wonderful series of polyantha primrose varieties with large, fully double flowers in a range of vibrant colors. A very neat habit and a great pot presentation. The plants produce literally hundreds of flowers that have a delicate freesia scent. Flower display holds for up to two months under cool spring conditions. Hardy garden perennial.”

“Care-free, beautiful plants for early-season color in mixed containers, window boxes or planted
out as a garden perennial. Hardy USDA zones 5-11.”

Expect to see these in garden centers around Victoria and Vancouver in the next coming weeks, treat yourself to something new this spring.