Ten years ago, on April 3, 2009, I published my very first MulchMaid blog post.
It wasn't much of a post. I didn't have a lot to say. There were no pictures. I wanted to start blogging about the garden, so I just threw a virtual stone into the blog pond with a few sentences.
How little I realized what huge ripples in my life that beginning toss would yield. In the ensuing ten years, I have met the most wonderful group of gardeners, both locally and nationally. Some of them I'm lucky to call real friends. All of them have been generous with their encouragement, knowledge, camaraderie and plants.
Also in those ten years, the garden has grown, changed, frustrated and delighted me. Plants in the garden have come and gone. My interest in various plant groups has changed. My space for experimentation has shrunk as I filled up the garden. More beds have been carved out. Plant maturity and death have required new plans and new solutions.
Everything is still far from perfect in the garden. My other two original goals–teaching myself to write and learning to take better pictures–remain elusive. And I don't blog as often as I did in those first, heady years.
But I'm having a great time. I look forward to seeing gardening and blogging friends at open gardens, plant swaps, and the annual Garden Bloggers Fling.
Especially this time of year, I can't wait to be out in the garden doing something–anything–so I can breath in the earthy scent of the beds and the spring fragrance of flowering shrubs.
I can't wait to plant the next wonderful find from a nursery or a plant sale or swap.
Life is good at Longview Ranch. I wonder what the next ten years will bring?
It wasn't much of a post. I didn't have a lot to say. There were no pictures. I wanted to start blogging about the garden, so I just threw a virtual stone into the blog pond with a few sentences.
How little I realized what huge ripples in my life that beginning toss would yield. In the ensuing ten years, I have met the most wonderful group of gardeners, both locally and nationally. Some of them I'm lucky to call real friends. All of them have been generous with their encouragement, knowledge, camaraderie and plants.
Also in those ten years, the garden has grown, changed, frustrated and delighted me. Plants in the garden have come and gone. My interest in various plant groups has changed. My space for experimentation has shrunk as I filled up the garden. More beds have been carved out. Plant maturity and death have required new plans and new solutions.
But I'm having a great time. I look forward to seeing gardening and blogging friends at open gardens, plant swaps, and the annual Garden Bloggers Fling.
Especially this time of year, I can't wait to be out in the garden doing something–anything–so I can breath in the earthy scent of the beds and the spring fragrance of flowering shrubs. 
I can't wait to plant the next wonderful find from a nursery or a plant sale or swap.
Happy 10 years, Jane ! I think it might be 10 for me as well ! I'll have to check. I remember that plant swap at Heather's , was it the first one ?
ReplyDeleteThat photo is from the swap at Jenni's in West Linn. Happy 10 years to you, too, Linda!
DeleteHappy Blogiversary, Jane! I'm so happy to have met you through blogging. My garden and knowledge about plants in the PNW has been immensely improved through meeting other bloggers.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alison! I'm delighted to be able to count you among the actual friends I have made through blogging!
DeleteCongratulations on 10 years!
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogiversary, Jane!! I've only been at it for half the amount of time that you have but was nodding my head in full agreement when you mentioned the ripple effect that blogging had on your life - who could have imagined?
ReplyDeleteHappy blogiversary, Jane! Blogging leads to all sorts of wonderful friendships and travels and gardening adventures. Here's to the next 10 years!
ReplyDeleteWow! Happy Blogiversary, Jane! I think I'm about a year behind you... We do need to get together - I still have that Buddleja globosa for you! Maybe we'll manage to do that before the Swap, maybe not. Time is a-flying...
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're making it to the Fling! It looks like a great one. And congratulations on blogging for a decade. It's definitely been a great experience for me.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Here's to another 10!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on 10 years. I think mine is around 10 as well. It's given many unexpected gifts, hasn't it? Happy to know you, Jane.
ReplyDelete