Posts
Seven years ago I started a blog on a whim, mostly so I could comment on other blogs (back then you needed a Blogger ID just to comment). I named the blog The Transplantable Rose and posted a photo of my white perennial hibiscus with the title "Define Gaudy". The Hibiscus 'Blue River II' is still alive but the ground warmed up slowly this spring, so we have buds instead of blooms this June 7th.
And a new Passalong Plant from Pam/Digging, called Monarda 'Peter's Purple', is currently wearing the crown as Most Gaudy. I have tried Monarda over & over since we moved to this house nearly nine years ago... only a couple of those plants lived at all and none bloomed until this powerhouse took root last summer.
A glance at the first few posts reminds me that plants can grow a great deal in seven years - the first triangle bed with the 'Little Gem' Magnolia was brand new in June 2006.
Yesterday there were 12 flowers open at once on a tree that is dwarf by Southern Magnolia standards, but still quite a presence in this small garden!
A post about the double Mock-Orange from my dad's garden showed it blooming in the newly-made Secret Garden. I took the photo for the blog, but it ended up being a memory - that Mock-Orange didn't make it through alternating days of flood & drought. But do you see that tiny fig tree close to the white iron fence? It is no longer tiny.
The Secret Garden seems a little more Secret today, with the now-large fig tree, crepe myrtle and pomegranate casting shade, borders on all the edges, a different bench and the usually-unhappy grass replaced by stepping stones & decomposed granite.
Another summer is on the way, perhaps preparing to draw its twin daggers of heat and drought to murder the plants I love. But just for today, I will celebrate that the garden is fuller, the shrubs are larger, a few tomatoes and peppers are getting ripe, the beds and borders are stuffed with plants native and adapted, the containers are stuffed with plants that are totally inappropriate and/or beloved for sentimental reasons, and the birds, insects, lizards, and squirrels think it's just swell.
I may not write often, but I'm not giving up yet. Year 8? Bring it on.
This post, "Gaudy Redefined" was written by Annie in Austin for her Transplantable Rose blog.
Congrats on another year of blogging Annie. Our blogs are sort of like gardening. We have the heavy rain years where we write a lot and then the drought years when we don't. Which ever year this becomes for you it will be a nice surprise to find your blooming thoughts upon the screen.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa - it's always good to see your blooming thoughts, too!
DeleteBring it indeed! I'm so glad to have found your blog 7 years ago, Annie, and to know you in person thanks to it. It's fun to see how much your garden has grown in 7 years. And, wow, a passalong from my garden made it into your blogiversary post as "most gaudy" -- pretty cool!
ReplyDeleteHonestly - when looking out the breakfast room window that monarda stands out & glows! Yes, it's almost 7 years since you held the first Austin Garden Blogger meetup - your little seed that grew into the nationwide Garden Blogger Fling. I'm glad to know you, too!
DeleteHappy blogiversary! You made me go back and look...wow, it's been a while. :-) I, too, am glad to have found your blog so soon after I started my own. It has been fun to follow your progress-and hear a few great songs along the way!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim - your blog is always fun and I'm glad you like the songs. You made me go back too - you commented here July 7th & I commented the 8th. No wonder your posts seem as if they are written by a friend! They are!
DeleteGreat post, Annie! Many of us are still here, still lurking, perhaps not blooming, just like our plants. Love the evolution of your garden and it's always nice to read a post from you!
ReplyDeleteHi Lost Roses! I lurk, too - darn those spammers for all the hoops we have to jump through to comment. And the blog is still useful! I complain loudly while trying to upload & format a post on blogger, but then am glad to have the photos & text later on. Happy Summer!
DeleteAnnie, I started blogging from my iPad using an app called Blogsy. Not totally familiar with it yet but so far it's a lot easier to insert photos and formatting. I might even blog more often!
DeleteThat would be excellent!
DeleteCongratulations on seven years blogging!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see how well your garden is doing this year. I added Peter's Purple monarda this year after several monarda failures and it's growing well so maybe it will look as good as yours soon.
Sorry for the late reply, Shirley - and by now that Peter's Purple is looking pretty bedraggled, but it's still alive!
DeleteHappy blogiversary! We're happy to get your posts no matter how infrequent!
ReplyDeleteThanks for that, Dorothy - you're a much more dedicated writer - and a good one!
DeleteCongrats on your 7 year achievement. Peter's purple is the plant of the moment! I adore it although wish it wasn't quite so tall. It makes wonderful cut flowers that are very long lasting. I am planning to cut back soon and hope for a fall bloom.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lancashire Rose - and I'm very glad that blogging that let me meet you! The bloom on Peter's Purple is spent - now trying to decide just how far to cut it back. I sure don't want to discourage it!
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