"When I was one I had just begun
When I was two I was nearly new
When I was three I was hardly me
When I was four I was not much more
When I was five I was just alive
But now I am six, I'm as clever as clever;
So I think that I'll be six now for ever and ever."
~ A. A. Milne, 1882 - 1956
Sometime yesterday greentapestry officially celebrated six years of blogging. I say officially because although my very first post was back in 2005 I did not go public until 2008. This was the year when work ceased to be a factor in my life. With a job that had changed beyond recognition I decided to take an offer of voluntary redundancy. Suddenly there was so much more time on my hands. After a heady summer of freedom, I decided that as well as already visiting a number of gardening blogs I would open the doors to mine. My very first comment came from the lovely Michelle over at Veg Plotting. I can still remember how excited I was.
In those days finding your way round the gardening blog community was greatly enhanced by the existence of Blotanical, which sadly seems to have disappeared without a trace. Through Blotanical I met many other like minded souls some of whom who are still blogging. I'm fairly sure that Grace who blogs over at Gardening With Grace arrived at Blotanical in the very same week. Grace has now written a book about her gardening experiences entitled 'Grace in The Garden : Thirty Years of Blunders and Bliss', which I recently read on my Kindle. This is a book which found me nodding my head and chuckling throughout.
It's perhaps more difficult now for those arriving on the garden blogging scene. There are so many more gardening blogs out there and there does not seem an ready-made mechanism like Blotanical to effect introductions to the blogging community. I would like to take this chance to point visitors in the direction of a new blog that I have recently had the pleasure of visiting. This is 'Our Garden@19'. Do pop in and say hello to Brian who has has just started on the blogging journey and who will be opening his garden in Worcestershire, for the very first time next year under the auspices of The National Garden Scheme.
As I start my seventh year of blogging (no I'm not staying at six for ever and ever) I'm hoping to get to grips with the spring cleaning and updates that I mentioned a year ago and have still to start - hangs head in shame! Thanks so much to all of you who have stopped by to visit over the years and who have taken the time to leave a comment. Your words of encouragement, observations, suggestions, gifts and humour are really appreciated. I only wish that I could send you all a bunch of flowers to say a BIG thank you!
Congratulations Anna! It's lovely to see you're still blogging and it was a privilege to be your first commenter :)
ReplyDeleteYes, many congratulations. It's always a pleasure to find your latest post. Long may they continue!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations from me too Anna. I do enjoy reading your posts. Watch how quick the next 6 fly in!
ReplyDeleteSix years is a hellluva long time and I admire the fact that you have kept posting regularly - me, I think about giving it up every week. Congrats. Here's to the next six.
ReplyDeleteA happy sixth birthday to your blog, Anna!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't realise Blotanical had folded - how sad. I had to stop visiting to give myself more time to concentrate on moving, but I had planned to return once we were settled here. I found several good gardening blogs through it, and you're right, it will be much harder for garden bloggers to connect with each other now it's gone.
Congratulations on six years. I know I've been visiting your blog for a long time, I can't remember if I found you through Blotanical, by blog hopping or if you found me first. I always enjoy popping by and reading your interesting posts though so I wish you many more blog anniversaries in the future.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Anna. Thank you for the mention. It is a little daunting getting started on the blogging journey. As with everything in life it is easy when you know how!
ReplyDeleteOne observation I have had confirmed in the sort time I have been blogging is the generosity of gardeners in freely offering advice.
Congratulations on 6 years of blogging, Anna - it has been a pleasure to share part of that journey with you.
ReplyDeleteMany congratulations from me too Anna. Blogging is a wonderful way to bring gardeners together from all over the world. Do you still organise the 52 week salad challenge; I never took part but would love to now if you started again. Here's to another six years!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Anna on your 6th, I always enjoy your posts. It is sad that Blotanical has folded, that was how I found lots of lovely gardening blogs and it has grown from there.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your next 6 yrs!
Six years is some achievement! Congratulations Anna, and all the best for the seventh year. I enjoy your posts so much - such a nice mix of poems, information and your thoughts and ideas on your garden. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOooh happy bloggy birthday Anna! Thanks for all the lovely posts and photos, always a joy to read. Here's to many more years of garden blogging.
ReplyDeleteI didn' t realise that you had been blogging for 6 years. Congratulations, what an achievement! I always enjoy a visit to your blog.
ReplyDeleteHuge congratulations on keeping the blog going for 6 years, Anna! I can't remember if I found your blog through Michelle or Blotanical (which I also hadn't realised had bombed). I met so many other bloggers through that site, it's a shame it's gone. I now always have a look to see which blogs are listed on reading lists such as yours, it's a good way of finding blogs even if I'm stretched to read them all! Hope you have many more years of happy blogging, always a pleasure to visit here - and to hear from you! Caro xx
ReplyDeleteSorry I missed your blog's big day, Anna. Sending my congratulations to you too and my very best wishes for year seven. I've enjoyed e-meeting you through our blogs. I agree about blotanical, there have been other community sites but non as friendly as that one. Stuart did a great job there but perhaps his day job demanded more from him. In the spirit of the garden blogging community, that is still here, I've popped over to Brian's blog and added his link to my blog list :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy belated blog birthday, Anna. 6 years, where does time go? I do love how blogging has brought together so many people with a shared passion for plants. Here's to many more years of blogging. Lou xx
ReplyDeleteHi Anna and happy blogiversary! Has it really been seven years? That's impossible! Where does the time go? Your blog has always been such a pleasure to visit, especially since you're located across the pond and I've always envied the way the British do gardens. Such a small world, isn't it? ... And of course, thank you SO MUCH for making mention of my book! I am deeply honored and hope you enjoyed it. I sure had fun writing it. Sending hugs and best wishes for a speedy winter. Hurry up spring!
ReplyDeleteThanks dear blogging friends for taking the time to comment - your congratulations and kind words are much treasured xxx
ReplyDeleteP.S. Christina it's the lovely VP who is behind the 52 week salad challenge. I only wish that I could take the credit :)
Congratulations to Anna of the Hand on your sixth blogaversary.
ReplyDeleteSadly Stuart has mothballed both the original Blotanical and the Version 2 that six of us were trying. Hard for us to find new garden blogs and even harder for those new garden bloggers to find their first readers 'Is anyone there?!'
Thanks for your good wishes Diana. So sad that Blotanical has folded :(
ReplyDeleteA very belated 6th birthday. I'd forgotten about Blotanical. It was very useful - a golden age of garden blogging. Or perhaps that's just my rose-tinted spectacles as my life has changed so much since then!
ReplyDelete