January, the 1st of 2012 was not only the first day of a brand new year, but also the first anniversary of my blog. That day we had again wonderful California winter weather with temperatures in the upper 70s, clear blue skies, and just a very light breeze. I used the day to garden as much as I could since it was the last day of the holidays and on the 2nd I went back to work. For me there is no better way to start a New Year than this! Still I took the time to reflect a little bit about my blogging experience of the very first year and would like to share my thoughts with you.
First of all I am surprised that I am still blogging about my garden. I am even more surprised how much I enjoy writing about and photographing it. When I started my blog I was not sure if I would be able to post on a regular basis and keep the blogging up. My husband was almost certain that I would not do it, but how wrong we both were.
I never would have anticiapted that sharing my garden (and sometimes other people's or public gardens) with you, my dear readers, would be so much fun for me. A heartfelt thanks to you, who are "out there" reading my blog. Also special thanks to the ones of you, who took the time to leave kind, encouraging, and helpful comments. It means a lot to me!
At the end of 2011 I had a look at my blog statistics and realized that I finished the year with 18.962 pageviews and that 54 people have enrolled to follow my blog. When I begun to write my little blog one year ago I would have never thought that I will have so many readers, as a matter of fact I was not sure if anyone is interested in anything that I have to write or show. Your resonance to my blog has been very motivating and rewarding for me and I am looking forward to continue to blog in 2012. Hopefully I will be able to improve my blog content and become a better writer and photographer. Be assured at least I am trying to! I would be delighted if you would continue to visit me here in 2012, too!
One thing that I also didn't get in the beginning of blogging is, that it is as much fun to read other people's gardening blogs and "see their gardens" as to write about my own yard. So I also would like to thank those of you who are writing gardening blogs for letting me participate in your gardening adventures, visiting your gardens, and learning from you.
Last but not least I was asking myself: Has blogging made me a better gardener? The answer is a clear yes. I think what helped me the most is taking so many photos of my garden. Somehow I see my garden through the lens of the camera more objectively. It seems to give me more distance to look at my garden almost like a stranger. The flaws stand out more, but also when something worked I can see it more clearly. Somehow photographing the garden trains the eye. Also reading other blogs written by real hands-on gardeners has taught me so much. Taking in their garden designs, reading about their experiences (triumphs and failures), getting to know new plants, seeing things through someone else's eye (or more accurately camera lens) is an invaluable source of learning. Besides this I simply enjoy looking at other gardens.
I am not a big fan of New Year's resolutions, but gardening and blogging about it has given me so much joy last year that I feel highly motivated to try to make my garden 2012 the most beautiful garden that I have ever had. Of course, that will be in the limitations of time and other resources that I have at my hand, but I would really like to test my limits this year. I cheated a little bit and started already in the last week of the old year, which my husband and I had taken off from work. Right now I will only say that much: I am working on a re-do of the "White Bed". Please stay tuned, more about it soon...
See you in the garden!
Christina
Bee visiting an anemone (photo by my husband).
First of all I am surprised that I am still blogging about my garden. I am even more surprised how much I enjoy writing about and photographing it. When I started my blog I was not sure if I would be able to post on a regular basis and keep the blogging up. My husband was almost certain that I would not do it, but how wrong we both were.
This 'Iceberg' rose living in a container is still going strong.
I never would have anticiapted that sharing my garden (and sometimes other people's or public gardens) with you, my dear readers, would be so much fun for me. A heartfelt thanks to you, who are "out there" reading my blog. Also special thanks to the ones of you, who took the time to leave kind, encouraging, and helpful comments. It means a lot to me!
'Madame Caroline Testout'. I really like her informal flower shape.
At the end of 2011 I had a look at my blog statistics and realized that I finished the year with 18.962 pageviews and that 54 people have enrolled to follow my blog. When I begun to write my little blog one year ago I would have never thought that I will have so many readers, as a matter of fact I was not sure if anyone is interested in anything that I have to write or show. Your resonance to my blog has been very motivating and rewarding for me and I am looking forward to continue to blog in 2012. Hopefully I will be able to improve my blog content and become a better writer and photographer. Be assured at least I am trying to! I would be delighted if you would continue to visit me here in 2012, too!
Agapanthus 'Storm Could' emerging back from the ground. To me this just looks so spring-ish already.
One thing that I also didn't get in the beginning of blogging is, that it is as much fun to read other people's gardening blogs and "see their gardens" as to write about my own yard. So I also would like to thank those of you who are writing gardening blogs for letting me participate in your gardening adventures, visiting your gardens, and learning from you.
My gardenia 'Veittchii' is blooming a little. The flowers have a porcelain like quality and the fragrance is just wonderful.
Last but not least I was asking myself: Has blogging made me a better gardener? The answer is a clear yes. I think what helped me the most is taking so many photos of my garden. Somehow I see my garden through the lens of the camera more objectively. It seems to give me more distance to look at my garden almost like a stranger. The flaws stand out more, but also when something worked I can see it more clearly. Somehow photographing the garden trains the eye. Also reading other blogs written by real hands-on gardeners has taught me so much. Taking in their garden designs, reading about their experiences (triumphs and failures), getting to know new plants, seeing things through someone else's eye (or more accurately camera lens) is an invaluable source of learning. Besides this I simply enjoy looking at other gardens.
The bird feeder is highly frequented at this time of the year (photo by my husband).
I am not a big fan of New Year's resolutions, but gardening and blogging about it has given me so much joy last year that I feel highly motivated to try to make my garden 2012 the most beautiful garden that I have ever had. Of course, that will be in the limitations of time and other resources that I have at my hand, but I would really like to test my limits this year. I cheated a little bit and started already in the last week of the old year, which my husband and I had taken off from work. Right now I will only say that much: I am working on a re-do of the "White Bed". Please stay tuned, more about it soon...
See you in the garden!
Christina
