Tuesday, April 9, 2013

5 Year Blogiversary & Giveaway!

BY SKEETER

 Dogwood and Swamp Jessamine are blooming in my GEORGIA GARDENS...
This vine is full of blooms, I tell ya...

The only thing that would make me happier, would be for the Honey Suckle to bloom at the same time. The red and yellow together would be an awesome sight. Too bad most of the jessamine blooms will be gone by the time the honeysuckle burst open. But as you can see, there is hope for me this year.
Miss Saigon, Dutch Iris is also blooming for me! I planted the bulbs 3 years ago and she gave me a nice show her first year. Last year, (being her second year with me) she did NOT bloom. The greenery was there but No Blooms. I left her alone and now look at her this year. Blooms once again! I have no idea why she did not bloom for me last year but ever so happy I did not disturb the bulbs.
I recently celebrated a milestone of hitting 50 years of age! The Saints parents were in Georgia to help us celebrate. Mom B brought me a Rose from a small table top type bush I had given her for Christmas. They arrived on March 22 and the rose hung on until the above picture was snapped on April 4. I was shocked as to how long it held onto its beauty. As you can see, the top leaf was nibbled as were all the rose leafs, by a Fur Baby of mine. Grrrrrr, I wish I could have flowers and plants inside.

BEEP BEEP BEEP, WE INTERUPT THIS BLOG FOR A SPECIAL UPDATE: The baby Wrens are about to leave the nest! I must say, these are some early spring fledglings. Now, we return to our regularly scheduled posting...
  

I am also celebrating another milestone. It has been 5 years since I started to Blog with Tina here at In the Garden. Hard for me to believe I have been at this for 5 years as it seems like yesterday when I started jotting down words about my garden.
 
As I gaze out my windows and into my gardens, I see what all I have accomplished in the past 5 years. I credit Blogging in assisting me in my gardens. I have learned so much from the many blogs I have visited over the years. I still visit blogs but not as often as I would like to. I find myself in the gardens more and on the computer less. But I believe that is a good thing.  
 I am going to celebrate my 5 year Victory with you, our wonderful readers! Don't ya just love a freebie? I would like to give one of you these cute little Frogs.  
 And a Second reader, shall receive this cute little frog rain gauge! Just make a comment on this posting and your name shall be put into the Magic Hat for a chance to win! The winners must provide me with your name and address for shipment of the item gifted. Due to Postal Regulations, this offer is only available to those with a Street Address in the USA. You have until April 14th to make a comment as a name shall be drawn at that time. I will be announcing the two winners names on Tuesday April 16, 2013...
 
Good Luck to each of you wonderful commenters of this blog! And HAPPY 5 YEAR BLOGIVERSARY TO ME, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

39 comments:

  1. The rose is BEAUTIFUL & I'm happy the Dutch Iris bloomed for you. Isn't its color wonderful?

    What a great age you are! The prime of life - and yes, I think it IS a good thing that you are in the garden more and on the computer less (but PLEASE keep the gorgeous garden photos coming)!!!!

    I DO have a street address and would be delighted to win either frog :)

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    1. Your name is in the Hat Rebecca! Good Luck!

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  2. Happy 50th birthday and congrats on your 5 year bloggiversary

    I love your swamp jessamine covered arbor and that iris is beautiful. Makes me want to jump outside and work in my own gardens, but it is still dark out. :-)

    Happy gardening and have a great week.

    The frog couple sitting on the bench under the umbrella is oh so sweet. And the little rain gauge is adorable too. Whoever wins will enjoy.

    FlowerLady

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    1. Your Name has been put into the hat Flowerlady! Good Luck!

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  3. Well Happy Anniversary to you to my dear friend. It has been so fun blogging with you. I love it!!! We are a good pair I tell you! How nice of you to share those lovely frogs. They are both very pretty and would great in a garden. Your jessamine-wow! I've never seen so many blooms! Happy spring to you and Happy Blogiversary! Here's to many more!

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    1. Yes Tina, 5 years! Can you believe it girl? Seems just like yesterday that you started this blog and I joined along for the fun. It has been a pleasure being your partner in this journey. Holding up my iced tea for many more postings to come from us both......

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  4. Happy belated birthday, and happy blogiversary to you! You make 50 look fabulous (and I'll be joining you in just a few years.) Your jessamine is spectacular! Dutch irises are truly one of my very favorite flowers, and I'm so glad yours decided to bloom this year! Enjoy your time in the garden--it's turning into a lovely spring in the south, isn't it?

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    1. Your name has been placed into the hat Julie! Good Luck and yes, Spring is turning out beautiful....

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  5. How in the H E double hockey sticks did you get so many blooms on that jasmine? I've never seen one so full of them. Happy late birthday and congrats on the blogiversary. Best wishes for many more years.

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    1. Your name is in the hat Randy! Good Luck! I just put those two plants into the ground and pretty much walked away! I have watered it during really drought spells and never fertilized it or anything else. I have guided it along on the route at times though. Other then that, all left to nature... This one is SWAMP so maybe they bloom more so then Carolina Jessamine...

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  6. First of all, a very belated Happy Birthday, Skeeter! And congratulations on your 5-year milestone in blogging; I agree that blogging has helped me learn so much, too, and my gardens have benefited from it as well. I've so enjoyed reading yours and Tina's posts over the years, and it was such fun to finally meet you and the Saint last year in Asheville! I'm looking forward to meeting up again--I hope--in Charleston next year.

    The first photo is beautiful--what a gorgeous combination of the jessamine and dogwood! And I love the little froggies!

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    1. Your name is in the hat for the running Rose! Good Luck! Blogging has brought so many of us together and I find that a wonderful bonus of garden chat on the computer. I will forever remember our Asheville trip and keeping fingers crossed for Charleston to happen next year as we WILL be there for that one for sure.....

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  7. I am a friend of Tina Ramsey in Clarksville and I read your blog as well as Tina's. My front yard is the one that Tina designed that won the award that I am so proud of.

    Happy Birthday. My swamp jessamine isn't as full of blooms as yours but it is getting there (I hope). The weather in Clarksville is beginning to warm up and we have been outside for a full week working and getting ready for the burst of color that is to come. Happy gardening.

    Eddie Materia

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    1. Well hello there Eddie! Tina does a wonderful job of design and I am so happy you are one of her clients as well as friends. She is so full of knowledge and so good at what she does with her designs! I have a few plants in my gardens that Tina has passed along to me and I cherish them each and everyone! I have put your name into the hat for the drawing! Good Luck!

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  8. Hi Skeeter...Happy 50th birthday and happy 5 years of blogging! Your Jessamines are so pretty. Mine never do that well. Do you do anything special for them? And how cute are those baby Wrens. The one baby looks like it's winking at the camera!

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    1. Christy your name is in the hat for the running! Good Luck! Nope, I do not do anything to the Jessamine. I give it a bit of water during really dry spells and help to guide the vine a bit but nothing more. I can only assume it like acid soil as our yard is full of pine trees and needles. I do not fertilize or anything. Just basically, let nature take its course... The little baby Wren saw me and would not take its eyes off me. Even when mommy came with a bug! Was so cute. They are still on the porch this morning but I bet they will fly the nest today sometime...

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  9. Congrats on both Skeeter. My jasmine in not blooming yet but when it does it smells the whole neighborhood sooooo good. I started reading Tina's writings before the actual blog. I so enjoy both. Wishing you many more to come.

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    1. Lola I am putting your name in the hat for the drawing! Good Luck Sweetie! You may be confusing the Jessamine with Jasmine. This Swamp Jessamine does not have a scent as the Confederate Jasmine does. However so pretty. And yes, the Jasmine does scent up the entire yard and I love it and wish it would bloom all year long! Amazing how Tina has brought the original 7 of us together! What fun we have had with our visits...

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  10. Happy Birthday!! and Happy 5yrs Blogging!! Love your beautiful flowers!!

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    1. Thanks Cherry and your name is in the hat! Good Luck!

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  11. I thank you for sharing your gorgeous garden with me... with all of us :) I have never had much of an outdoor garden bug but I do enjoy seeing your beautiful handiwork. On a side note, one of my World of Warcraft characters is named Jessamin. I wonder if I had heard or read that name somewhere? Now, she will always remind me of you :) Happy birthday and happy blogorversary!

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    1. Whisper, that is so sweet! You just made my day! Good luck on the drawing as your name has been put into the hat...

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  12. I loved the arches with the yellow flowers on them. When I was there Friday with Emily I really did want a picture with her in front of the arches. Absolutely beautiful. I could sit in your yard all day and aside from the aesthetics - it's just fun to listen to nature.

    Thank you for letting me be there! Happy belated birthday and 5 year Blogiversary!

    Talmadge

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    1. Aw, your so sweet Talmadge! And just why didn't we snap a photo of you two? You can come to my gardens anytime! Sitting and soaking up the sounds of nature is one of the best things for the soul.... Your name is in the hat for the running. Good Luck!

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  13. Two milestones! Congrats Skeeter. Five years on the blog is quite an accomplishment!! Fifty years is nothing to sneeze at either. :-)

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    1. This pollen sure is something to sneeze at though! LOL, Your name is in the hat. Good luck!

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  14. Happy Birthday. That rose just knew it needed to stay nice a long time to celebrate you!
    Happy blog anniversary too. Very cool to have five years of records and friendships in blog land.
    All those frogs are cute!
    Enjoy those gorgeous blooms on your arbor. So spring!

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    1. Thanks and Good Luck on the drawing as your name is in the hat!

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  15. Congrats on turning 50 and blogging for 5 yrs...your garden shows all your hard work....here's to many more years....

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  16. WOW! 5 years blogging! Way to hang in there! I agree with you, I have learned a number of things from reading garden blogs, particularly about plants I of which I was unfamiliar. And, so now that I am retired, I have started my own blog. whatsthebuzzin.blogspot.com I would love to be in the drawing for the giveaway. (I assume the winner gives mailing address after notification)

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    1. Yes Beth, the winner will pass along their address via Email to this blog. That keeps it private for security purposes. I shall notify the winners on their blogs and on a posting as well.... Your name is in the hat and Good Luck!

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  17. Skeeter, you and Tina are a good team. Congratulations and best wishes for many more years of blogging. I once knew someone who collected Anything Frog. She would have loved to comment and be considered for one of your giveaways. Carolina Jessamine is a great evergreen vine, isn't it?

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    1. DJ, my niece is a frog lover as well and I think of her every time I see a frog of any type! It is nice to think of others when spotting certain things in life. I love that Jessamine and how wonderful it has been for me in the short time I have had it. Only wish it put out a scent to fill the air. Your name is in the hat for the running. Good Luck!

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  18. Happy 50th Birthday, Skeeter, and Happy 5 Years of blogging, Skeeter and Tina. You two are a fine team. Your jessemine is stunning even without the honeysuckle. All we have are crocuses in Maine. Thanks for sharing your spring.

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    1. Sarah, you shall be seeing Spring before too long. Once those fist Crocus pop out, there is no stopping Spring! Tina and I work really well with each other and I cannot thank her enough for inviting me join her on this blog. It has been so much fun and such a learning experience as well. Good Luck on the drawing!

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  19. Many congratulations on your 5 year Blogiversary, Skeeter! I've just had my first and know how hard it is to come up with new ideas and postings. And Happy Birthday as well. Love those froggies!

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  20. Thanks Lynn, It is never difficult for me to find something to talk about on the blog. As my mom calls me, the Mouth of the South, and never lacking for something to say. hee hee.... Good Luck on the drawing....

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  21. Wow, I loved the swamp thing! I tried to grow it here but it said way to cool summer for its tastes. Happy versary Skeeter!

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