When you have a blog, a big part of the fun is finding like-minded souls whose writing you love. Sure, I read the newspapers but they give me a big headache. Apart from books, I look for entertaining blogs.
Two engaging sites that I follow are: Women who run with Delphiniums (the title makes me laugh; the writing keeps me following), and Casa Mariposa, another site that makes me chuckle. Dare I say it Tammy? You are a nut. Bless you; the world needs more people like you.
Recently, I re-read a post about Linnie’s greenhouse and although it is in her archives, I’m providing a link for it here. It shows the process of building a greenhouse and and has some beautiful photos. Whereas I count on neighbors to assist, The Woman who runs with Delphiniums counts on her Westie, Max, to help out (when he is not digging holes or lounging in the sunshine.)
Tammy’s Casa Mariposa post is about neighbors, a subject close to my heart (and close to my vegetables.)
Since I took a hiatus in June to go on a retreat in Provence, this seems like a good time to re-visit a couple of my own posts from the very beginning of the blog. In those days, my subscriber list was small and many of you may not have read these original posts.
Hence Writing Redux.
First Garden: do unto your dirt
Helping the New Gardener (who helped You?)
In these posts, I explore what it was like to build our greenhouse…okay, okay, so it was Patrick who built the greenhouse. But he did have help. Without the help of wonderful neighbors, it might not have come together.
On the subject of people, yes, my off-beat neighbors, Gandhi and Swartzkopf are still around…
I’ve also included the link to what things were like in the garden a year ago in the post entitled What’s growing now? Things look pretty much the same–or as Linnie would say: “what, you think I replant my garden every year with different flowers for YOU?”, but the photos mixed into this article today are all from May and June 2014. Maybe it was the tough winter we had, but the perennial bed has been really prolific this year. You should see it now.…and you will!
Now that I’m home, I hope to get my photographs in order as soon as as possible to share a remarkable journey with you. Some things are life-changing. This trip was one of them.
I hope this tour of a few older posts will be fun for all you new subscribers. And please check back soon—high summer is here! We have lots to talk about.
Finally, I’m taking suggestions on an essay contest entitled: What says “Summer” to you? Please tell me in the comments area what you’d like to see. I’m open to any ideas about the contest, and it doesn’t have to be about the garden. Thanks!
Finally, you’ll see old comments from 2013 when we were just getting started! Please add your new thoughts now–all you new subscribers–I love hearing from you.
Happy Summer Everybody–Isn’t it glorious??
I love both blogs you mentioned too…and boy your garden is gorgeous….I can’t wait to hear about your trip Susie!
Hi Donna…it is pretty tough to identify just a couple when there are so many great garden blogs out there. Yours for example! I just got home yesterday and am walking around like a zombie. (This piece was queued up early.) Now there are 150 photographs to go through and a lot of thought about how to write about the retreat–it was one of most unusual things I’ve done in a very long time. Rich and full and extremely strenuous…a real pilgrimage of twelve women. I got home to many changes in the garden–everything is really growing fast now of course. Thanks for your nice words Donna. Hope you are feeling good and finding plenty of time to be outside.
Hi Susie! I enjoyed reading those earlier posts, fun to look back and I love your writing. Thanks too for your kind words about my blog, I am hugely pleased. The greenhouse continues to be one of the best things I ever demanded from life, although it has taken me several years to learn that in winter one must take those little cylinders out of the automatic window lifters or they freeze and crack and don’t ever ever work again ever. So here I am, new window lifters lifting, cucumbers climbing, and you saying such sweet things– life is good. xo L
Linnie, hi! I’m really happy to hear that the blog post pleased you. Extra delphiniums were pictured in the piece for you too. We probably share the love of them. I’ve had the same dang problem with my greenhouse lifters. There really is a lot to learn when you take on a greenhouse. What has saved my bacon is using a good fan in there to keep air moving. It seems really important during winter when the lemon trees (in pots) are in there. Sometimes I have to take a toothbrush and non-toxic products to get rid of the scale on my lemons. But oh how worth it–the fragrance of lemons in a greenhouse on a cold day. Thanks for checking in and for reading the archived pieces. I’m still jet-lagged or I’d have written sooner. For now, Susie
Lovely flowers! And thanks for sharing your friend’s blog links.. Have a happy trip!
Thanks Eileen–hope you checked out those sites. I’m home from my trip, (I know, it’s confusing–how can anybody keep track of someone else’s travel?) and now I have to figure out how to integrate it and write about it. Coming soon I hope, although as we all know—there is no forcing some things. The integration of a powerful experience being one of them.
Welcome back from your retreat! A lovely post with more blogs to visit and posts to read. Your garden is so cheerful and pretty. Thank you for linking in Susie… Michelle
You betcha Michelle–whenever I have something that fits in with your wonderful meme. May you be well and loving those juvenile ducklings on your river.
What lovely flowers. I am in winter now so your colors are much appreciated!
Hi Bettyl, I’ll take a look at your site to see what is cooking in NZ in the winter. Thanks so much for coming by…
I’m in your blog!! Hooray and thanks so much! For all the plants that croaked this winter, some really thrived. I have more coneflower seedlings than I’ve ever had before. I guess all those seeds needed was -2! One of my neighbors recently had his yard treated with pesticides despite my attempts to sway him. He told me he had crickets in his basement and I told him to “Man Up!” It was so frustrating.
YES you are! That’s what comes from writing such fun and wacky stuff. So, now I need to ask what -2 is. I should probably know right? But I’ve decided that learning new things is part of the deal, as is not feeling embarrassed that I don’t know. Good for you having a little chat with your neighbor. I’m sure it was frustrating. Often people don’t understand the many connections in our natural world. There is a magnificent quote from John Muir about the web of life and how every action we take effects everything else. Now, I’m off to find that quote…
-2 was the lowest our temps went this winter. :o)
Well dang. Of course. I thought it must surely be some esoteric thing I needed to put on my seeds for better results-:))
Yes, to answer your question, summer IS glorious! I’m very happy to live where I am during the summer. Your garden is beautiful–great combinations of heights, forms, colors and blooms! Can’t wait to hear about your trip!
Thanks Beth, I appreciate that. I do try for different heights and forms. I was just out in the garden weeding and deadheading after a day and night of heavy rain and I noticed that my color situation had gotten a little crazy–I might have to move some things around. Once all the dahlias come on, the echinacea, rudbeckia, crocosmia, etc–lots and lots of the “hot” summer color, then I’ll see. But I am predicting some clashing in the wings. Summer for me is coming in at 9pm, so muddy that I have to leave my clothes in the garage-:))
Strangely I just visited Casa Mariposa and found Women who Run with Delphiniums and that brought me to yours! A complete circle … and all good garden blogs too! I will visit again now I have found you. 🙂
It is great how it often works that way. Welcome Patricia! I hope you’ll visit often, and please subscribe if you wish. I send out a piece about once a month. The subscribe box is on the Home page. Portland is hosting the garden blogger’s fling this month and I’m hoping to meet at least a few other bloggers.
Once things start settling down at V&V,Susie, I have a feeling my reading/comment habits will change a bit in the foreward direction, staying caught up on what you and others write. This year I have taken more pictures of flowers than the rest of my life put together (it’s my new camera!), so your blog is an extra delight for me. Thank you.
I’m so happy to hear that Ginnie. You are the kind of reader I write for. I also love following your adventures and photography. Although V&V has changed, I never want to lose touch. Susie
Yes indeed, Tammy and Linnie, like you, are kindred spirits. I enjoy each of you as you toil the soil and share your wit and insights. Summer to me means spending more time outdoors than I do indoors. Except, of course, like today when it’s too hot to be out there. I’m sure glad this is a one day heat wave. Take care.
I definitely read blogs for friendship and inspiration. You chose great blogs to read and follow. Thanks for introducing me to one of them I didn’t know.~~Dee
Hi Dee, it is my pleasure to introduce you to these blogs. And I do hope you’ll stop by and visit from time to time. Now, I have to find out if reddirt rambling means the southwest, one of my favorite parts of our big amazing country. I often think of the southwest as a masculine place and the northwest, feminine. A yin and yang if you will. In the many months I’ve spent in red rock country, with cerulean sky as big as the sea and racing clouds and wind, I find an energy I’m often hungry for….
Susan, the flowers are beautiful, I love all the colours and shapes. And some of them I have in my garden too! I definitely need to spend more time in my garden and wish days had more than 24 hours… but I know that this is often about priorities, we all have just one life. I’ve just read Sue’s post at V&V about gratitude and the importance of positive attitude and perhaps that’s it, not to complain that there is not enough time for everything but to be happy we can grow in so many ways. 🙂 Are the white flowers in the second photo Aquilegia?
I’m looking forward to reading about your trip and if I find some time then I’d love to have a look at the blogs and posts you’ve mentioned here. I’m not a new gardener but still have so much to learn!
Hi Petra, Yes you are right about the white flowers. It is going to be a shock for all of us at Vision & Verb when the virtual doors close. I will miss all of you so much. I spent time on your site yesterday and realized that I can always catch up with your adventures in Bohemia and the Czech Republic through your site. And please do stop back here. I’ve not been able to write since I lost my sister, but there will be a new post soon.
There is a certain slow to summer….it’s the pace that I love the most.
Maybe it’s just what I remember, the childhood feeling of school’s out
and eating a peach slow in a tree and poolside peace and staying up late
and fireflies. It’s just the long days seem drawn out slower somehow.
That’s my favorite part:)
Thanks for the question,
Jennifer