Welcome to my zone 9 garden. My roots are deeply planted in the sandy soil of sub-tropical central Florida, where the summers are long and hot, but the rest of the year is paradise!

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Gardening Friends


Today I'm posting about something other than my own garden ....well, mostly anyway. I want to talk about my favorite garden blogs. My main purpose for doing this is self-serving! You see, I read my share of blogs on gardening (some from places other than Florida, too),  genealogy and what I call 'cozy cottage' ones. But, there are certain blogs (Florida gardeners) that I enjoy immensely and look forward to each new post.

So, I know over time that we bloggers can run up against dry spells in blogging. I've done it myself over the 11 years I've been blogging. Can you believe I've been posting on this blog since 2005. I can't believe it myself. It's not easy to find new things to talk about, and it often seems like we can post on the same old thing. Heck, you will most likely find red pentas in just about everyone of my posts over the last 6 months or more. Hey, I have a small garden now, so what can I say. Anyway, I'm getting off topic. My point is that there are about 6 blogs that are my favorites - folks with the same garden interests. One gardener in particular, Eli (sorry for mentioning names) says she feels like she's posting the same ole post over and over.  So, my selfish reason for writing this post is to encourage my favorite bloggers to keep on blogging!!!

You notice that I'm getting a few of my stray photos in on this post like this pretty Vitex bloom

Now, I must mention that as I was writing this post, Eli sent me a comment that she started blogging again. Hurray for that good news, and I know others will be happy about it too. You can find her new blog: Back to Eli's Place (love the new name) at www.elihart1018.blogspot.com.

 But, I want to continue on with this post because I want to make sure that my other favorites - even though they might take breaks - will continue to put fingers to the keypad and post about their beautiful gardens. There have been several Florida gardeners (whose blogs I really enjoyed) that used to blog and have stopped for several years now. Perhaps, they have created a new blog, and I just haven't found it.  I do miss the  updates from Sherry in Ocala, Nanette's Bay-Friendly Landscaping, Ami in the southeast, NanaK, Meems and a few others. 

Isn't this a busy little bee on the Indian Blanket flower!

For the blogs I currently follow: Leslie at Spruce Pine Cottage, Janice at Garden on Fourth Street, Lynn at Southwest Florida Garden, Lorraine (been following her for a very long time) at Flowerlady's Musings, and Rusty at Dragonfly's Garden, I just want to say that I look forward to each of your new posts with anticipation. You folks are like neighbors to me, and I feel as though we are chatting over the garden fence when we exchange comments. 

Each and everyone of your blogs is unique and provides a different perspective to me as a Florida gardener. The photography on your blogs is stunning, your gardens are beautiful and I love seeing what's blooming in your yards (even if I've seen it a hundred times, and it's in my yard, too). I still enjoy it! I love seeing butterfly and bird photos, and I always get new butterfly plant ideas from all of you. Seeing your plant combinations and different talents for matching plants together sparks new ideas in my mind. 

I managed to spare you from another pic of my red pentas :)

I like short posts, I like long posts, Leslie, I like posts on cats, new recipes and stories of the past. Janice, I want more stories on your chickens and  your colorful shade garden. Lynn's gorgeous bird photos introduce me to birds further south of me, Lorraine's openness and honesty about real life is heartwarming, Eli's butterfly garden is inspiring and educational, and Rusty's tropical garden is a feast for the eyes. You guys are the charming gardeners who make my soul blossom and help me to be a better gardener, so please keep on blogging!


7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well how was that for timing?! Thank you to you and Leslie both for encouraging me to "blog on". You ladies sure know how to make a blogger feel special.

This post is spot on! Even though I consider myself extremely shy, blogging has provided me a way to connect with people that otherwise would have never happened . . . and what great blogs you mentioned! I know many people have converted to Facebook (I tried that), but there's just something extra special, and personal, about a blog.

Love your photos in this post (especially the bee). Can you tell me the name of the rose? Does it spell a little bit peppery?

I'll end this by saying I am very "grateful" for your blog. It has always been one of my favorites!

Susan said...

Hi Eli, I, too, am a shy person by nature and find that there are very few people that I actually connect with and have things in common with. Glad you are blogging again. Don't forget those soap recipes. I'm going to learn how to make it at some point. The rose is Louis Philippe. I'm sure you probably have one in your garden. It's a great one for Florida. He gets kind of big for the area I have him in, so I have to keep him a little contained. Have a nice weekend!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What a nice post, and I thank you for the sweet mention and link to my blog.

I was so glad to see that Eli has started blogging again. I have missed her.

I love reading our Florida gardeners blogs. Our gardens are different from the rest of the states as to what we can and can't grow.

Your new, smaller garden has really grown and blossomed and I always enjoy your posts.

Have a wonderful weekend ~ FlowerLady

Janice said...

What a lovely post! I couldn't agree more about our Florida bloggers - SPECIAL! I've been on somewhat of a blogging hiatus myself, but with summer winding down I'll find more time. So glad to hear Eli's back - gotta go see what she's up to. Thanks for the encouragement! _Janice

Unknown said...

Oh, wow - I must have picked up a psychic signal as I haven't blogged for a month or so and just came back on today to see what you and the rest of my favorite bloggers are doing! I so agree with you - I look forward to everyones blog that you listed and I love reading what is going on, no matter what it is! And thank you very much for liking my blog and giving it a mention. I'm also very happy to hear eli is back! Hurray! I had a wicked virus last month (got it from hubby) and it's been so hot, I haven't been doing any gardening. Like Janice, I hope with a little cooler weather on the way, I can get out there again. Thank you Susan, your beautiful blog was the first Florida gardening blog I read several years ago and is what encouraged me to start blogging myself. Blessings! Lynn

Leslie Kimel said...

Susan, thank you so much for including me in this post. You made my day. And I'm so excited that Eli is back! Hooray!!

I really enjoyed the way you listed what you liked about each blog you mentioned. I will tell you what I like most about yours: I like your close observations of nature, the way that you always notice the doings of insects and birds and can describe them so well. I also like the obvious joy you find in nature and gardening, how positive every post is. And, of course, I think your garden is just beautiful.

Thanks again!

Susan said...

Hi Janice and Lynn, So glad you are both posting again.

Hi Leslie, Thank you for your comment. I definitely do find joy in nature and in my garden.

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