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| From In the Garden |
After more than three years of blogging I've been most blessed to 'virtually' meet many other bloggers and to look into their gardens and to share a bit of their lives. I've also met a few other bloggers in person and have enjoyed swapping plants and talking of gardening. Gardening is a hobby most people are most passionate about.
Gardening is not only a very popular hobby but it is a hobby that unites people all across the world. A lobelia is a lobelia in Washington State just like it is in Tennessee. A banana tree is a banana tree here in the United States just like it is in the Caribbean. An oak tree is an oak tree in Europe just like it is here in my home state of Tennessee. I find plants a most comforting unifier for this world because when all diplomacy and communications fail; we will still have plants all throughout the world no matter what language we speak, what religion we practice or what our temperature and growing conditions bring us we will still have plants that can unify us. But not only do plants unify us they connect us in personal ways. Who among you have your grandmother's peony growing in your garden? Or perhaps you grow peonies because your grandmother grew them even if you don't have hers. Plants provide a comforting normalcy to our lives and plants and I think that is one reason gardening is such a popular hobby.
If you are a blogger and choose to share some special plant or seeds with a fellow blogger you too are unifying people-bloggers from all across the world and the country. This is a very special way of connecting with others and a method of connecting I never would've anticipated when I began blogging. Then, someone would occasionally email me and offer me a plant or a seed. Huh? I never even knew you could send plants through the mail (only from commercial sources) so I was stunned! Seeds yes, but plants? Wow!
Some plants are most special and hard to find so when a fellow blogger offers up a coveted plant it is with a great deal of gratitude that I accept the offer. It is a kindness I remember for a very long time and growing that plant that another blogger sent me helps me to think of that person each time I see the plant-it is a unifier since I live so far from most bloggers. I am not going to name all of the gifts I've received through blogging because that is just not something I generally do on this blog, but I wanted to share a few with you today.
Earlier this year Catherine of A Gardener's Progress shared some seeds with me. She sent me several but the ones that come to mind are: great blue lobelia, 'Lilac Fantasy' veronica, and red valerian. I diligently planted and babied those seeds and the resulting seedlings and I have finally found success! The plants I thought were red valerian actually turned out to be great blue lobelia and what an awesome and wonderful surprise the lobelia turned out to be. It is actually still blooming in my frozen garden here in Tennessee! Thanks Catherine!
Marnie from Lilacs and Roses and I did a daylily swap-through the mail. She has the most gorgeous daylilies and sent me not only a lovely daylily but some irises and a book too! How very sweet and I will so enjoy the daylilies and irises in my 'Friendship' area of my gardens. That is an area that is growing as I collect more and more plants.
Lastly, Kathleen of Kasey's Korner offered me some Veronicastrum virginicum or Culver's Root. It arrived perfectly and is happy in my garden. I've seen the Culver's root on so many garden blogs I really liked it. I'm pretty sure it will do well in my garden conditions too and am ever so excited to see it grow and bloom here-and to think it came all the way from Colorado!
So when you blog and you talk with your fellow bloggers and maybe offer to share a plant or some seeds with your colleagues think about how you unify us all and how those plants will leave a lasting impression....
in the garden....
I've received several plant exchanges and gifts in the mail from bloggers near and far. I've also traded with other gardeners and bloggers in person. I tell you all of these plants and gifts make me think of the giver-not for the gift but for the gesture. Plus I so love plants. I think pass a long plants are sometimes the best.
Do you think of special folks who have given you plants?
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,
In the Garden
Yes Tina...I have several things in my garden from fellow bloggers and I just smile when I look at them and whisper a word of thanks. I too, have been so surprised by the kindness of fellow bloggers and never thought it would bring such unity across the globe. Gardener's are generous by nature, a special, special group!
ReplyDeleteYes, I have plants in my gardens grown from seeds, cuttings or given as plants by online gardening friends and bloggers. I've not been able to do much trading these days because of the economy, but I cherish what is growing in my gardens and think of those who have shared with me from theirs. Gardeners are such a warm and friendly bunch. I do live in an area where most of what grows north of us would NOT be happy down here with our heat and humidity.
ReplyDeleteHappy gardening in your part of the world, which is no doubt very lovely at this time of year.
FlowerLady
Very nice post. I do treasure some of my plants as given to me by friends and relatives. They do hold a special place in my heart. The same with my moms specials recipes of my favorite dishes. I see her standing in the kitchen as when I was a child. :)
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Tina. I tend to be the giver rather than the receiver, and I receive so much joy in doing so!
ReplyDeleteTina, There are too many to name~You, Frances, Dave, Darla, Sweetbay and on and on have been the kindest and most generous gardeners. I like the new look of your blog~I have been practicing being a foul weather blogger since we've had excellent gardening weather, so I've not been here for awhile. ~gail
ReplyDeleteDarla, I so agree!
ReplyDeleteFlowerlady, Gardeners are indeed a warm a friendly bunch!
Troutbirder, Ah yes, the recipes. They sure bring back memories too. Very special just like the plants because food is a great unifier too-probably better than plants since who doesn't love to eat?
Meredehuit, Givers are such lovely people and all the more so when they take joy in doing so. You sound like a wonderful lady!
This is a lovely post, Tina, and I agree that gardening is a way of unifying people. I sometimes think in my idealistic way that if everybody had a garden, the world would be a much happier place. I, too, have received seeds and plants from other bloggers, more than I have given them in exchange, I'm afraid. I always think of them when I see these plants growing in my garden. The 'Cosmic Orange' cosmos have been a resounding success in my butterfly garden, and I think of you, Tina, every time I look at these butterfly magnets.
ReplyDeleteHi Gail and hugs to you my Tennessee fellow garden blogger! Yes, we've been lucky to have all met and swapped plants. I love that phlox pilosa in my garden and have spread it around. I think of you even now since it is semi evergreen it seems. Glad you like the new look to the blog. It is quite a change for me but I simply could'nt get the coloring right with other colors I had in mind-it was the darned lettering. Anyhow, looking to be good most of today-I'll be in the garden a bit and can't wait. The ground is indeed perfect to garden.
ReplyDeleteHi Rose, Yes! That is exactly what I was trying to say that even though we may have not met we still are closer by growing plants from our fellow bloggers. It is such a nice outset of blogging I think. If everyone had a garden this world would be a much much happier place for sure.
ReplyDeleteYou are very right, plants really do connect people together. I have appreciated every one of those people who gave me something - it gives my garden a story or a history to talk about. It's almost like a family tree.
ReplyDeleteI've been very blessed getting to know all you fabulous garden bloggers too. You've all shared something special with me from your own gardens at one time or another. Everytime I put that little welcome sign in my Arbor Garden in the spring I will remember you Tina. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Tina,
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post! I am glad there is a good community of bloggers to help each other with gardening tips. I am starting a garden myself and I can certainly use all the help!
Nice post and all so very true. I have some lupine seeds I collected this year since I prommised them last year but they got by me. Now I need to get them in the mail.
ReplyDeleteI have always found gardeners to be very generous so its hardly surprising that gardening bloggers are generous. I have met quite a few bloggers now and they have all been lovely and some are real friends now who have helped me through a difficult year. We have swapped plants, seeds and support
ReplyDeleteI just loved this post Tina. The plants that were given to me by friends and fellow gardeners are my favorite plants in my garden. This past fall one of my dearest friends gave me several "volunteers" from her garden and I can't wait to see them in their glory this spring/summer!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you had success with the seeds. The hollyhocks you sent me will be blooming next summer, can't wait! It's very fun to have plants growing in the garden that remind me of people. I had no idea either that I would end up trading seeds with so many bloggers either.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about how plants really do unite us all no matter what, very true!
I'm pretty new to gardening and have lots of online mentors-- including you! There is also a very special woman named Paula who lives in a neighboring town who gave me tons of perennial plants to start in my garden. I say a little thank-you prayer to her when they come back each year.
ReplyDeleteThe wonderful thing about gardening is that there is always something new to learn and always someone willing to share their knowlege. I think blogging just opens this up exponentially, don't you?
Oh wow, I am truly touched to come here and read about the Veronicastrum Tina!! I was very happy to share that with you. :-) Blogging has certainly been more than I ever thought it would be when I wrote my first post. Funny how a hobby can be so unifying. A very wonderful, thoughtful post you put together.
ReplyDeleteps I looked at my Clivia after you left me the message about yours ~ it had a bloom stalk coming up!!! I couldn't believe it. Some of the leaves have brown tips and were a little yellow but otherwise none the worse than when they first went into the basement.
I hope yours bloom. I think I've given mine a "teeny" bit of water every two weeks? That's it tho.
I think of people who gave me plants every time I see the plant. It's one of the most wonderful things to me to get a plant as a gift!
ReplyDeleteThis was a lovely post with really wonderful thoughts. I share many plants from my garden but am rarely on the receiving end, unless I am on a rescue mission to find one a new home. That is a curse of a tiny city garden...no room for even a new seed.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with you Tina, and i think plant bloggers are mostly generous and respectful, kind people. I once said, if only all the people are like us, there will be no wars and misunderstanding at all in the world. So plant blogging, like love, transcends beyond race, culture, religion, economic status, climate, etc, haha. Like your treatments with your givers, i always give beautiful thoughts for Skeeter, who sent me seeds not only of the birdhouse gourd i am interested in, but with lots of seeds more which i might also like. May she be fully blessed, just like you Tina. thanks.
ReplyDeleteA very nice blog posting Tina. I too have shared plants and seeds with many of my electronic pen-pals. You have been generous with your goodies and your knowledge. We garden bloggers have a wonderful bond.
ReplyDeleteGarden/nature bloggers probably share more than any other kind. Maybe it's that bumper crop mentality spilling over--don't let anything go to waste so why not share? I've got the same kind of evidence at home that Rose has of one blogger's generosity: orange cosmos. You know, I enjoy reading other kinds of blogs, but I feel more at home when invited into someone's garden. Thanks for this thoughtful post, Tina.
ReplyDeleteIt's so true how blogging/gardening unites people.
ReplyDeleteI have plants that I can't remember where I got them BUT seeds and plants from friends and bloggers...well I'll always remember.
I agree, gardening is a great unifier! I treasure all of the plants that were gifts and trades from other gardeners. Wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteHas blogging brought us together Tina? Hee hee. It were as if you were talking about me and my grandmother with that peony!
ReplyDeleteGarden Bloggers are the best for sure!
Andrea, you are so nice to say such sweet things. I wish you much success with all the seeds. I was so concerned they would not get to your hands. Let me know if you grow a gourd! I had no luck with them this year but I was missing in the garden a lot and sometimes, the garden needs a little Tender Loving Care. I was lack in TLC this year. Maybe next year will be a better year for me and my family...
Even if this is already a bit older, i would just follow up for Skeeter. Tina i am sorry for using your living room here to chat with Skeeter,haha. Just dont bother to prepare us cups of coffee. Thanks for hosting us here.
ReplyDeleteSkeeter, i hope you saw my early messages thanking you for the seeds, as repeated emails privately might not have reached you. I suppose it did not because i did not get a reply. Anyway, i always use "In the Garden" to thank you coz i'm sure you will see it here. I've not been reporting the results of the seeds because my first planting didn't germinate even if the soil is wet. I gave some to my sister and some to my neighbor and a few seeds germinate with my sister. I replanted some of mine and i hope some will come out of it. The flowers might be more lucky as i've seen them germinating already. But i dont loose hope. Thank you very much Skeeter. As i said even if they dont germinate the gratefullness is not diminished and the good thoughts for the giver continue. Love begets love.
Andrea, This is SO what this blog is for-living room or front porch chats so chat away:)
ReplyDeleteI have been lucky as well. I think it is such a marvelous way to meet fellow gardeners.
ReplyDelete