You were all there, I swear you were.
As I was out and about in my garden today, trying to focus on one particular task, but actually following several paths at the same time, you were there.
You know what we call following several paths in the garden all at once, don’t you? Together now… GADS! As in… “Gads, I could get a lot more done if I would just focus a bit on one task at a time.”
You are asking how could this be, that you were in my garden, because you swear you were in your own garden, or at work, or anywhere but here.
Here’s how… you’ve joined in the garden blogging community, you’ve left comments with advice and encouragement, you’ve even shared actual plants with me, welcomed me to visit your garden, to eat at your table. You’ve shared your own garden with me on your own blog. That’s how you were in my garden today!
Now that there is an online community of gardeners, connected through a common bond of being plant obsessed, garden obsessed, and just plain gardening geeks, can we ever garden alone again, any of us?
I see my Stapelia or I can’t think of a plant name and I think of Annie in Austin who has an amazing grasp of botanical plant names and gave me a start of her Stapelia to bring back to May Dreams Gardens.
Out in the vegetable garden, the cilantro, of all things, reminds me of Zanthan Gardens, and MSS’s meadow, which was in its glory for the spring fling, filled with blooming cilantro. I see her long-standing blog and think “that’s how it’s done, that’s real garden blogging”. I never miss one of her posts.
Passing by the Swiss chard, which was fun to grow but I never did try to eat it, I feel a bit guilty because Robin(Bumblebee) sent me an email with an ‘easy’ recipe for cooking it in a pasta dish. Easy, I suppose, if you cook!
And those raised beds out there in my garden? I can only dream that they will look as nice as the ones that Lancashire Rose has in her Austin, Texas garden!
Did I mention that I grew some red impatiens in a metal tub, which isn’t exactly a stock tank, but I remember Pam/Digging’s stock tanks when I see it? One day, I might get a real one for my garden.
Who else was in my garden today? The Colchicums are still blooming nicely and they bring thoughts of Kathy at Cold Climate Gardening, the Colchicum Evangelist. If she had her way, we’d all have these beautiful and delightful fall flowers in our gardens.
This spring I planted more flowers that I thought would attract hummingbirds because I want to be like Mary at Mary’s View, who has given me some good advice on attracting birds, and Robin of Robin’s Nesting Place who both take amazing pictures of these fast moving birds. But I’m only half like them. I attracted the hummingbirds, which was great, but I can’t for the life of me take pictures like they do! Every time I see some hummingbirds, I think of them.
When I see squirrels, which isn’t too often, thankfully, I tell them to go home to Squirrelhaven were Mr. McGregor’s Daughter gardens. She must like them to give her garden that name.
When I see a “dirty little secret in my garden”, something I decide I won’t blog about, I think of Mary Ann in Idaho, and can just imagine her telling me to go for it. “Show ‘em what’s real” is her motto! And Dee from Red Dirt Ramblings would be right there, too, thinking that perhaps my dirty little secret is that there is only one small rose plant in my garden. “How could that be!”, she’d say.
And when I put away all my garden furniture and decorations for the winter, and then bring it all back out in the spring, I’ll remember Cindy at My Corner of Katy who had to put away all that and more before Hurricane Ike came through her garden last week. The few leaves that I had to clean up when the remnants of Ike blew through my garden are nothing compared to the mess she has to clean up.
See what I mean? Right now, I’m cleaning up my houseplants, trying to get rid of the mealybugs ONCE AND FOR ALL, and I think of Elizabeth at Gardening While Intoxicated, (and Garden Rant) one of the few other garden bloggers who also admits to having houseplants, (like there is something wrong with us for having houseplants. THERE is not. Real gardeners have houseplants, you know that, don’t you?) and her response of sympathy in response to my posting about composting all my African Violets because I’ve decided that’s the only way to get rid of those little nasty beasties! Yes, I did that today. I had to. I’m desperate and those mealybugs hide in the African Violets. (Okay, I did keep one small variegated African Violet to take some leaf cuttings from, but the rest are compost.)
Then once I’ve dealt with this mealybug problem, I’ve got to get back outside and prepare some new places to plant. I ordered a new shrub clematis because I have one with white flowers, but Kim, Blackswamp Girl, at Study in Contrast, has one with blue flowers that she posted about one bloom day, and I loved it, so I ordered one like it. I’ll think of her when it blooms.
See what I mean? Leslie, Layanee, Frances, Lisa, Gail, Margaret, you were all there, too. (My garden fairies would like to have a word with your frogboys, Margaret!)
I could go on and on (and on and on) down through everyone else whose blog feed I subscribe to on my Google Reader. You were there, too, all of you!
Yes, welcome to the garden blogging community… you’ll never garden alone again! I promise!
That sums it up pretty well, Carol. If you’ve ever started reading comments in other blogging genres, you know gardeners are much nicer commenters than the average blog reader.
This post really hits home with me Carol. It is wonderful to know that there are so many more obsessed gardeners out there in blog land that are doing some of the same things at the same time thinking about blogging friends that have done or are doing some of same. It is wonderful to not feel alone when you are out there pulling those weeds or seeking yet another spot to plant a new shrub, perrennial or seed. Many are thought of regularly.
Too true. Just looking around the garden reminds me of the plants and seeds I've been given or I have given or are about to give away to other bloggers. Then there are the plants I want to get after being inspired by other bloggers.
BTW, I was being ironic in naming my garden "Squirrelhaven." Just today I was chasing one out of my Sedum & Dahlia container with a yardstick, & the girl asked if I would really hit the squirrel with it. Fortunately, it hasn't come to that yet.
That was sure clever and you did all that while doing a hundred other things. Can you type and talk on the phone at the same time? I appreciate being on your blogroll.
You’re absolutely right about never gardening alone. And you always have someone to give you advice, an answer to a problem or an idea…or a laugh at the end of a horrid day.
Robin Wedewer
National Gardening Examiner
P.S.
I am shocked you didn’t try the Swiss chard pasta! It’s delicious!
Blush. Ironically, when I think of YOU, I’m the one who thinks, “that’s how it’s done, that’s real garden blogging”.
You are in my garden, too. Living on through memories of our wild and wonderful day of conversation pre-Spring Fling.
I wonder if the fairies, who abandoned my garden during the hideous summer, will come south (like birds) to over-winter in my genial meadow. If mine don’t return, maybe yours will like a vacation down south during your winter.
Well said! As Kathy mentioned gardeners are usually nice commenters. I lurk around photography forums because I love taking pictures and some of the comments are very harsh.
So very true…it’s so nice to have kindred spirits to commune with! What an interesting world we live in when I can discuss gardening and life with people all over the country…and further…every day!
You capture the fellowship of garden bloggers so well in your post! It’s hard to believe about 5 months ago I had no idea about blogs. A googled plant question led serendipitously to the discovery of the gracious, knowledgable, beautiful world of garden bloggers. It is a cherished lucky accident, like finding your blog. I will be back.
Cheers
Carol, you are so good at reminding us of our wonderful garden blogging community. How did I ever get along without it? Gardening alone—without the benefit of the online and in-person friendships made here—now seems so lonely in retrospect.
Well, Carol, I have to admit that I always think of you when I look at my collection of gardening tools in the shed and then ponder whether I should acquire an interesting hoe, just because. 🙂
And, like you, I also think of Pam when I see stock tanks!
Carol- what a wonderful post. What good fortune that I bumped into Pam last year and she told me about garden blogs. Then having the opportunity to give the Spring Flingers a tour of the Wildflower Center. I have learnt so much from reading garden blogs; how many of the same thoughts are going through our heads, new plants to try in my garden, and most of all take the rough with the smooth and still smile about it.
No, I was at work I swear! Nice post and enjoy your week off…
Carol, what a wonderful sentiment! I had not thought to put it into words like you, but your so right. Now when enjoying a garden or flowers, I often think of blogging friends and their posts or comments. When Rose and I are together, they join us in our conversations. Isn’t it wonderful to have such friends!
Carol, thanks for the link. I about cracked up when I read that MrMcD was chasing the squirrels with a yard stick. It is funny too that anyone would think that a squirrel would let you whack it. They are much too fast and wily for that so keep on swining MrMcD if it makes you feel better. tee hee
What a lovely post today Carol. We do learn alot from each other in the garden blogging community. I’ve found it so nice to chat with others who are as passionate (if not plant geeks) about gardening as I am.
Indeed! Your garden was most crowded. I could’ve used a few extra hands today pulling out an old tractor tire that had been in our landscape ever since we moved here. I got tired of mowing around it. And wouldn’t you know it, I forgot to take before and after pix!
A wonderful tribute to your collaborators, Carol. I have to say that I look at my garden anymore with an eye toward Bloom Day, which has been VERY good for the plants–they thank you! (Loved your comment, btw, about following several paths–I have to write down every day what I absolutely HAVE to do the next, or else I’ll just wander around thinking about what I might do next . . .)
If you were trying to get us all choked up, Carol, you succeeded with at least one reader!
The garden blogging community has been a wonderful place to hang out…my house is messier, but my heart is fuller.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
This is so true, Carol! I’ve been at this a much shorter time than you, but already I find myself looking at different aspects of the garden and thinking of other bloggers. My small fascination with insects has definitely come from some blogger friends. And I, too, wish I could take photos of the hummingbirds like Mary or Robin.
And when I see my weedy vegetable garden, I always think, “Oh my, what would Carol think?!” Perhaps next summer I’ll invite you over–but you have to bring one of your hoes:)
This is a lovely post Carol, and it made me realize with a real rush of guit how much I’ve missed my regular contact with all of you over the past few months. Fingers crossed for what the surgeon says next week, and that I’ll be back in the pink–or the green–of health for gardening soon. Meanwhile, I’l be a better visitor/reader/commenter, I promise.
carol – this is so awesome and i couldnt agree more! stuff in my garden often reminds me of my e-garden buddies. more than that, when i’m doing something new in the garden I often find myself thinking “wow – carol (or whoever) will love this!”
I never feel alone! And it keeps me on my toes because I know if i’m being a slacker somebody’ll call me on it.
I’m rather new here. It is like moving into a new town. It takes a while to get to know everyone. You can’t rush it. Eventually I hope to get to know as many people as you do. It must be wonderful to have so many friends.
Yep, the garden blogging community is wonderful, and probably makes the nicest comments of any community I have ever visited. If you want to see real nastiness, check out the political blogs, but make sure you wear your eye/ear screen devices to protect you from the negativity!
I too am happy to be on your blog roll and aspire to be one of the people in your mind rather than one of the myriad others! You are an inspiration to us all, Carol.
Hi Carol, just now getting around to visit and was pleasantly surprised, thanks for the link. You are so right about this community. And it gets larger and yet tighter knit as time goes by. People meet, exchange seeds and plants via mail, and personal triumphs and sorrows with people they have never even met. What a wonderful and supportive group, all gardening together. You say it so well, as always.
Frances
And you think of me, your baby sister when you see a weed, don’t you?
Hey, call me….
All,
Thank you for the wondeful comments. I’m happy that you all feel the same way I do about garden blogging and the community of gardeners brought together by it!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Jeez, all I wanted to do was comment on a comment I saw on another link which took me here but not to an email address for that person so I had to scroll down through all this wonderful text to get to this form at the bottom. Now I have forgotten what it is I wanted to say. Oh right! I wanted to say that Blogging was a big topic at the recent Garden Writer’s Conference in Portland, Oregon – attended by 640 Gwa Members and spouses. Amy and Doug were the most interesting speakers on the Blog panel of 4. In fact, I told the moderator that instead of having this topic as a concurrent program, it should be presented to the entire conference next year with only Amy and Doug as the presenters.
On another note, I have a Blog. Reference to it was removed from GardenWeb.Com because I made some statement they didn’t agree with (slap my wrist). Talk about a garden rant, sometimes I do and I am becoming emboldened to do more. I have 2 blogs: A personal family page with interesting stories and I have a garden blog which doesn’t always stay on topic. I am thinking of adding one more blog for music as I am a songwriter. For gardening my top interests are Yard Art and grafting my own fruit trees. My blogs are not interactive as I have seen where people get very argumentive and begin bickering back and forth. People can still comment on my posts simply by emailing me at my prominently featured email address. My music is at http://www.sonicbids.com/eddierhoades (click on AUDIO) and my two blogs are at http://www.bittersweetgardens.com
Please visit
Thanks,
Eddie Rhoades
Carol, I can’t believe I missed this post. I’m glad you plurked about it this evening. I was missing all of you today while I was at the hospital with Mom, and I was thinking about how great it is that we’ve become such good friends. Some people had commented on my blog today, and I so enjoyed their comments. Aren’t we the luckiest?~~Dee
Once you start blogging you're always writing the post in your mind while you're digging, meanwhile thinking of the next one.
What a nice sentiment in your post today.