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Annie in Austin
Welcome! As "Annie in Austin" I blog about gardening in Austin, TX with occasional looks back at our former gardens in Illinois. My husband Philo & I also make videos - some use garden images as background for my original songs, some capture Austin events & sometimes we share videos of birds in our garden. Come talk about gardens, movies, music, genealogy and Austin at the Transplantable Rose and listen to my original songs on YouTube. For an overview read Three Gardens, Twenty Years. Unless noted, these words and photos are my copyrighted work.
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Wednesday, June 06, 2007

One Whole Year


When my family and friends lived near me, it was easy to grab someone by the arm, drag that person over to a flower border and say, “Look at this!” The people who came to our house in Illinois knew that a walk around the garden might well be part of the visit and many of them enjoyed seeing the changing floral scene.

For the past 12 months, thanks to Blogspot, I’ve been able to do the same thing on a larger scale, posting a photo and saying “Look at this!” to other gardeners around the world. We can enjoy conversations, and if they're also bloggers, I can have the pleasure of visiting their gardens. I’ve even met some Austin garden bloggers in person, and feel as if I know many more of you. You’ve been so kind and generous with your comments, have touched my heart with the Mousie nominations, and you even let me sing and play the piano.

Thank you all for a wonderful year!



My first post on June 7, 2006 had a photo of the Blue River II Hibiscus, but in 2007 those buds are not even allowing a glimpse of their white petals. Another large white flower carries fewer blooms on its branches, but has the advantage of fragrance, and it graces the page today. There were five Magnolia blossoms, from bud to blown on the ‘Little Gem’ tree this morning.

Tomorrow should bring a story about passalong daylilies – and that will be my last post for a couple of weeks. My mom has been recovering from surgery and she's doing well, thank heavens. At this point it looks like I can be useful in person, and I’m heading up to Chicagoland to be with Mom and the Illinois family. My mother’s home is an internet-free zone, so I’ll catch up with you when I get back - Philo is keeping the camera, ready to take photos of what is happening here in Austin garden while I'm gone.
Happy June Gardening to everyone!

26 comments:

  1. Wow! Congrats on one year of wonderful garden blogging. I know I couldn't imagine the garden blogosphere without you!

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  2. Congratulations on your Blogiversary, Annie! You have a terrific blog, complete with singing and piano back-up.

    I'll miss your posts while you are gone but I know you'll be enjoying Illinois with your family. I hope your Mom continues to improve.

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  3. Happy anniversary! Thanks for making me smile!

    Tell your mom she needs to get better because your fans will miss you ;-)

    Bon voyage!

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  4. It's only been a year? I don't know why I didn't realize that -- I think of you as such a veteran of garden blogging...but a huge congratulations to you! Very exciting...and I'm looking forward to more great garden blogging to come -- thanks for sharing your space with us!

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  5. Annie,

    So glad to hear your mother's better and at home.

    What a lift she'll get from your humane "gardening." Hope it's a joy for you, too.

    May Chicagoland be cool and beautiful,
    Julie

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  6. Happy First Year Anniversary, Annie. I didn't realize you'd been blogging for so short a time. You're such a pro.

    I'm glad to hear that your Mom is recovering from surgery. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Hope you have a good visit to your old stomping grounds.

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  7. And what a pleasant gardening year it has been! Love the top pic of the magnolia. Hope your mom gets well soon, my brother and I were in the same situation in February when our mom fell (jumping a drain after weeding,obviously forgetting she's now 70!)

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  8. Only a year? I can't believe it's been a only year since you wrote about nervously putting your toe in to test the blogging waters. Look at the mark you've made in the garden blogging sphere--awards, newspaper articles, even a foray into singing songs on YouTube.

    Your writing brings a special joy to my day. I'm so glad you decided to jump in.

    Hope your Mom's doing better. Tell her, next time, she doesn't have to be so dramatic just to get a visit out of you.

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  9. Happy Blogiversary, Annie in Austin. You truly stand out with your beautiful posts and your always kind and generous comments around the blog-o-sphere. Best wishes to your mom on a continued speedy recovery!

    That is a gorgeous magnolia, by the way, we sure don't have 'em like that "up here".

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  10. Happy Blogiversary, Annie! I've enjoyed reading the Rose since day one. I hope your mom gets well soon and you enjoy your visit with family while you're up there. See you again soon.

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  11. Happy anniversary! Like others, I figured you had been doing this for years - you seem pretty comfortable in your blogging skin. I hope your mom feels better, and that the weather up here in the Midwest cooperates!

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  12. I'm in between wash loads, packing from the dryer into the open suitcase, but want to say thank you for commenting!
    The Divas of the Dirt website was up and running by July 2003 so I had a place to practice first.

    Annie

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  13. Glad your mum is recuperating, and that you can go be with her. We'll miss you and keep you both in our thoughts while you're away. Fly safe and we'll look forward to seeing your joyful posts again soon.

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  14. Happy Anniversary! Have a good trip and here's speedy-recovery wishes to your mom. Thank you for sharing your garden with me. :)

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  15. Even though I've only been blogging a short time, I've really enjoyed your blog. I'll miss keeping up with you while you are gone. Hope you have a wonderful visit with your Mom and family and that your Mom heals quickly so that you can enjoy some gardening with her!

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  16. Congratulations on your blogiversary, Annie! May your trip to Chicago be safe and quick... I hope that you are useful at the beginning, but that by the end of the two weeks you will just be enjoying each others' company and having a nice visit. :)

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  17. Happy anniverary, Annie! What we would ever do without you? Like many others I thought you'd been blogging for a much longer time. Your expertise, along with your encouragement and thoughtful comments always sends me hunting for the latest post by Annie in Austin!

    Enjoy your visit with your family in Illinois, and we'll eagerly await your return. Are you sure you want to leave the camera with Philo? You might encounter some late-blooming peonies up north. But I'd say that's a fair trade for a magnolia blossom!

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  18. Happy Blogiversary and have a wonderful trip. I'm glad your mother is doing well.
    I'm sure there will be a lot blooming while you're gone!

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  19. Happy Anniversary, Annie! Visiting your blog is like having a stroll through your garden. You always have such WONDERFUL photographs. I often look at them and think, "Oh, I'd love to do a little painting of that." Have a wonderful trip, and take good care of your mother. She's lucky to have a daughter like you.

    Cheers,
    Josie

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  20. Many congrats on 1 year of blogging Annie! You were one of the first to welcome me to the gardenbloggers world!

    Lovely pics of the Magnolia btw. ;-)

    I hope your mother has a speedy recovery and you a wonderful time with your family in Illinois.

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  21. Annie: Let me add my congratulations to the above! As a new blogger myself, I know the value of the comments and the sharing of the garden! Thanks for sharing yours. I look forward to another year of enjoying your garden! Best to MOM!

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  22. Yay! One whole year of fun. Here's hoping for many more out of our favorite northern transplant!

    Have fun up here. It will be fun going backward in time, spring-wise, from Austin, I am sure...

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  23. Only 1 year?? Strewth, I actually thought you were part of the gardening furniture. You are by far the best blog commenter and I love coming to Austin (in a virtual sense) to read your blog Annie.

    Congratulations. If this is who you are after one year online, I'm definitely looking forward to the next one.

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  24. I just discovered your blog and had to let you know how much I enjoyed seeing that gorgeous Magnolia photo. Reminds me of Texas where I grew up. Hope your mother's doing much better. Happy blogiversary.

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  25. I think Stuart gets the runner-up prize, after you, for great comments :) I haven't heard anyone say "strewth" in a very long time :)
    Warmest congratulations on a whole year of blogging Annie. It doesn't seem that long, does it? I consider you one of my dearest blog friends, and love reading about what's going on in your gardens, and life. You have a very special "touch", and a marvelous sense of humor, not to mention a great talent for the written word!
    It is all about having someone to share the flowers with, isn't it? It's such a joy to have others who share the delight of seeing something growing and blooming.
    I hope your mom will recover quickly. Having you with her should speed her recovery considerably. Meanwhile, we'll miss you...as will Philo, I'm sure. I hope he takes some great photos to record what you're missing.
    The magnolia is glorious!
    Have a wonderful visit! Did you inherit your love of gardening from your mom?

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  26. You 'Little Gem' magnolia is indeed a gem. Isn't the fragrance wonderful? Our 'Edith Bogue' the big cousin of your tree is just about to bloom. But it looks like it will put out one flower at a time instead of several like yours.

    I am thoroughly impressed that you've been blogging for only a year and have created such a great site. Congratulations.

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A comment from you is like chocolate - maybe I could live without it, but life is more fun with it. I'll try to answer. If someone else's comment piques your interest, please feel free to talk among yourselves.