Southern Meadows Blogversary
It is the anniversary of Southern Meadows. I've been writing and photographing my garden for 7 years, today. Three hundred seventy eight posts have been published, which averages to just over 1 post a week since its inception in 2009. The post on A Masked Faced Fox Squirrel remains the most visited post to date.
This amazing journey of growth, not only of our garden but for me as a gardener, writer, photographer, speaker and educator has been a rousing ride. One thing has remained constant over the years, my passion for supporting nature and being a good steward of this land. Blogging has opened doors, fostered friendships and cultivated personal growth that was unimaginable when I wrote my inaugural post.
Blogging is forever with its ups and downs. Writers block is very real. Trying to keep a healthy balance between family, gardening, homeschooling, photography, community, exercise, rest and blogging is a constant challenge. There is never lack of inspiration to be found in our garden, finding the time to put the experience into comprehensive words is the struggle.
There are moments, putting myself out there, that are frightening. I feel extremely vulnerable sharing my creative side and admit, I was not as prepared as I should have been for some of the scrutiny over the years. Humbly learning from criticism has been a life changing lesson and knowing when to disregard negative comments has also been vital. Blogging has made me more of a risk taker in that regard and a stronger person overall.
Blogging is a built in source of accountability. I write and share knowledge about how I feel in my heart. Being answerable to those loves keeps things real and honest.
Blogging has opened up a community of amazing people from fellow gardeners, nature lovers and native plant advocates to artists, writers and photographers, who have all been such a rock on this marvelous ride.
Probably my weakest skill, technology, has been slowest evolving. It is the area I find most frustrating. Steering through the ins and outs of my blog platform has been perplexing and keeping up with all the social media trends has been beyond exasperating. But finding the time to figure it all out has been most taxing (time seems to be a recurring theme).
Blogging has been transformative, allowing me to explore and develop skills, friendships and passions I may not have otherwise uncovered. It has been the most wonderful journey and yet I still have much to learn and discover. Growth is my mantra and there is always room for more. I raise my trowel to you, my treasured friends and followers, to another year of discoveries digging in the dirt!
PHOTOS: All photos in this post taken by Penny Stowe (my biggest cheerleader and crusader) on a recent educational tour of Southern Meadows with members of the Georgia Native Plant Society-Redbud Chapter and participants of the Native Plant Certificate program with the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.
This amazing journey of growth, not only of our garden but for me as a gardener, writer, photographer, speaker and educator has been a rousing ride. One thing has remained constant over the years, my passion for supporting nature and being a good steward of this land. Blogging has opened doors, fostered friendships and cultivated personal growth that was unimaginable when I wrote my inaugural post.
Blogging is forever with its ups and downs. Writers block is very real. Trying to keep a healthy balance between family, gardening, homeschooling, photography, community, exercise, rest and blogging is a constant challenge. There is never lack of inspiration to be found in our garden, finding the time to put the experience into comprehensive words is the struggle.
There are moments, putting myself out there, that are frightening. I feel extremely vulnerable sharing my creative side and admit, I was not as prepared as I should have been for some of the scrutiny over the years. Humbly learning from criticism has been a life changing lesson and knowing when to disregard negative comments has also been vital. Blogging has made me more of a risk taker in that regard and a stronger person overall.
Blogging is a built in source of accountability. I write and share knowledge about how I feel in my heart. Being answerable to those loves keeps things real and honest.
Blogging has opened up a community of amazing people from fellow gardeners, nature lovers and native plant advocates to artists, writers and photographers, who have all been such a rock on this marvelous ride.
Probably my weakest skill, technology, has been slowest evolving. It is the area I find most frustrating. Steering through the ins and outs of my blog platform has been perplexing and keeping up with all the social media trends has been beyond exasperating. But finding the time to figure it all out has been most taxing (time seems to be a recurring theme).
Blogging has been transformative, allowing me to explore and develop skills, friendships and passions I may not have otherwise uncovered. It has been the most wonderful journey and yet I still have much to learn and discover. Growth is my mantra and there is always room for more. I raise my trowel to you, my treasured friends and followers, to another year of discoveries digging in the dirt!
PHOTOS: All photos in this post taken by Penny Stowe (my biggest cheerleader and crusader) on a recent educational tour of Southern Meadows with members of the Georgia Native Plant Society-Redbud Chapter and participants of the Native Plant Certificate program with the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.
