2007—A Year in the Garden at Digging
Looking over this year’s posts, I see that as my garden grew, so blossomed new friendships, experiences, and even a bit of publicity for Digging. A retrospective reminds us of changes, both in the garden and in life, and I hope you’ll enjoy looking back with me before ringing in the new year.
January
Nearly a year ago, Austin experienced some real winter weather when an ice storm encased early blooms in “fairy bubbles” (my daughter’s phrase), broke a few limbs on the shrubs, and froze back semi-tropicals like the Barbados cherry. A few days later, the ice had melted away, and for the most part the garden looked no worse for wear.
February
Spring arrived in earnest this month. On the 16th I marked my one-year blogiversary at Digging with memories of the two women whose gardening spirit I inherited. And when Amy Stewart came to town to promote Flower Confidential, four of the Austin bloggers attended her reading—and went public for the first time with a group photo.
March
High spring in the Austin garden! During this busy month, I made a wildflower pilgrimage to the Hill Country to see the bluebonnets. Guest blogging at Garden Rant, I advocated the use of cacti, agaves, and other spiny plants, especially in combination with cottage-garden classics like antique roses. Back at Digging, I was mooooved to tout cattle-trough planters, cow-nted the ways these stock tanks can be used, and created one of my own.
Frustrated with an in-my-face view of the kids’ trampoline, I built a trellis screen out of a cattle panel, fencing stakes, and cedar posts and planted a crossvine on it. Immediately it reframed the foreground and kept the eye from drifting to the back of the garden where the trampoline hulks. I look forward to seeing the crossvine bloom next spring.
April
Along with a flush of new growth in the garden, the bottle tree flowered bigger and bluer than ever thanks to the donation of MSS‘s bottle collection.
On the heels of my one-year blogiversary, I mused on the garden of my childhood and wondered which plants from my own garden would elicit memories for my children one day.
My socks were blown off when I learned on the 15th that Digging was a Mouse & Trowel finalist in six categories. A week later, having met in the blogosphere, the Austin garden bloggers socialized in person during a garden-tour party we nicknamed a Ground Robin (like round-robin). I remember being so enthused that there were 8 of us. Well, less than a year later, there are now 15 of us! For a full list, see “Gardens in Austin” on my sidebar.
May
Regular readers know I love a good garden tour. This month I posted about each garden on the Wildflower Center-sponsored Gardens on Tour 2007. Garden blogging in Austin (and in general) got a little press when my article “Locals Reap What They Sow, then Blog” appeared in the Austin American-Statesman on May 5. Accompanying the article was a photo of eight of the Austin bloggers posing in Susan‘s garden, taken the day of our Ground Robin.
On the 13th readers kindly awarded Digging three Mouse & Trowel awards, for Best North American Garden Blog, Best Photography, and Best Design. Wow, I still can’t get over that. Interested in learning more about those who regularly read Digging but don’t comment, I invited my lurkers to drop me a line—and received a record number of comments from many wonderful readers I’d never heard from before. It was so great to “meet” them at last.
June
The garden grew more vibrant, colorful, and lush, leading me to rhapsodize about pink. Summer arrived late, and it didn’t really get hot and sticky until June—our first indication of the unusually mild and wet summer to come.
July
I returned from an adventure of a lifetime—an African safari—early this month. Gardeners who love watching birds, as I do, would go wild over the variety and colors of the birds that populate the savannahs of Tanzania. Above is a lilac-breasted roller, one of the most beautiful birds I’ve ever encountered.
But I was really there to see the big cats, elephants, and big game animals in their natural habitats in Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.
The Tanzanian people were equally fascinating.
I even posted about the plants I saw in East Africa.
On the way home, I stopped over for a few days in the beautiful city of Amsterdam.
August
My old camera died on me, giving me the perfect excuse to get a new and better one. I was able to get clearer shots of the moon than before, inspiring me to start a series of full-moon posts. This month I mused on failure in the garden, confessing to killing dozens of plants over the years, and I posted about a dear neighbor whose memory lives on thanks to a scarlet passionflower.
September
Cold Climate Gardening‘s Kathy Purdy braved 100-degree temperatures to visit the Austin bloggers on her way to the garden writers’ conference in Oklahoma City. After reading her blog for so long, it was wonderful to be able to visit with her in person. Also this month I took a walk in my neighborhood, visited San Antonio Botanical Garden on an amazingly cool summer day, and investigated the rights and responsibilities of photographers as it pertains to blogging. On the 1st, I celebrated Austin’s famous bat colony at Batfest 2007.
October
A Chicago visit early this month culminated in a beautiful fall day spent at the incredible Chicago Botanic Garden, which I posted about over the course of several days.
Austin’s own Zilker Botanical Garden deserved a visit too, particularly its beloved Japanese Garden and unique prehistoric garden. But the highlight of October was the filming of my garden for KLRU’s “Central Texas Gardener.”
November
Autumn truly arrived this month, making for delightful hiking at Lost Maples State Natural Area. I documented two changes in my garden: the removal of the vitex tree and the addition of garden lighting.
December
December means planting time in Austin. This month also saw the reroofing of my house (and happy survival of the garden), a visit to the Wildflower Center, distress over Blogger’s comment changes (all fixed now, thank goodness), and Christmas ornament stories.
How quickly a year slips by amid the hustle and bustle of the routine. Stopping to revisit my posts from the past year brings home the many changes, new friendships, and adventures that occurred in my garden and daily life. What fun! I look forward to seeing what 2008 will bring.
All material © 2006-2007 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Your photos are stunning as always. Thanks again for your kind assistance and looking forward to reading more about your garden, trips and thoughts.
Thank you, Frances. I’m so happy to see your blog added to the community this year. You have a lot to contribute. —Pam
Thanks, I enjoyed your restrospective review of the year, “digging style”. Wishing you the best for 2008,
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
I’m glad to know you “dug” the post, Carol. Have a happy new year! —Pam
Wow! That lilac-breasted roller is just gorgeous. I must have missed that before. What amazing color! Looks like you’ve had quite a year in these pages – (and I love excuses to buy a new camera, although mine is currently in for repair…I resisted the urge, at least for the time-being!). Have a great New Years.
Isn’t it a beautiful bird? I wish I could have gotten a good photo of it in flight. With wings extended, it was even more colorful. I hope your camera gets fixed soon, Pam. I felt so much at a loss while mine was out of commission. —Pam
A thoughtful and enjoyable tour of your gardening year. A happy and healthy New Year to you and yours.
And the same to you, Nicole. Many happy returns. —Pam
What a great recap of the wonderful year we’ve all spent following your blog, Pam! Thank you. 🙂
Thanks, Kim. It’s been a fun journey this year, including following your blog and others. —Pam
Pam,
A wonderful synopsis of the year. I especially enjoyed it because I’ve only known of your blog since September. It was nice to go back to the previous posts. Pam, when I grow up as a photographer, I want to be as good as you. Happy New Year (and new gardening season.) I had no idea that you all start again in February.
Thanks for the compliment, Dee. I’m happy to have “caught you up” at Digging. Thanks for your regular comments since you started reading. They mean a lot to me. —Pam
That was an ambitious post! Far more ambition than I’ve got, but I’ve only been blogging since August, so there you go. I’m jealous of your trips, especially Amsterdam, since you obviously found some cool plants along the way. Have a good new year.
Thanks for taking the look back with me, Benjamin, and I thank you for your frequent comments since August. The Amsterdam visit was great, though way too short. I’d love to go back one day. —Pam
Hi Pam: Couldn’t resist doing a similar retrospective over at Ellis Hollow today. It was a fun excuse to go back through the archives. ‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.’
Sincerely,
Craig
Yes, indeed. In fact, I copied the idea from Chuck at Whoreticulture and Carol at May Dreams. I enjoyed your retrospective too, Craig. A lot goes on in the course of a year, doesn’t it? —Pam
Hope you and yours had a great Christmas and have a happy New Year. Am looking foward to a season of gardening.
Thanks, Kathleen, and the same to you. Here’s to the garden in 2008! —Pam
We’re on the same wavelength, Pam. I enjoyed my “tour” of your year! It’s always a pleasure to visit your blog.
Thanks, Kylee. I enjoyed your look back too. See you in 2008. —Pam
It has definitely been a great year. Your blog never fails to inspire me, even if at times I’m a bit envious of you Austin gardenbloggers with your long growing season 🙂
Looking forward to another great year of Digging!
Colleen, I always appreciate your comments and the inspiration of your own blog and garden-blogging innovations. I feel lucky to be a part of this supportive community. —Pam
Thanks for the look back. I’m one of those lurkers that “fessed-up” last May. I’m still lurking and enjoying your site. Happy Digging in 2008.
Yea, Jean is back! Thanks for taking this gardening journey with me. Happy digging to you too! —Pam
Hi Pam!
Nice to see your garden year.
I think I do the same whith my blog in Sweden,if you dont mind?
And I see that you hawe visit my neaberhood 😉 Holland.
I like to send you and your family a very
Happy New Year
Best regards Ken&Carina
Hi, Ken. Thanks for stopping by for the year-in-review. I always enjoy seeing what’s going on in your Swedish garden too, and I really appreciate the English translations on your recent post. —Pam
It hardly seems a year ago that you had the icestorm. That post was my first visit to your blog I think, and I adored that ice-encrusted flower.
This has been a wonderful look-back at the past year through your blog Pam, and what an interesting year it’s been! I’m in awe of the lilac breasted roller. What a beautiful photo of a gorgeous bird. And the lion…wow!
I look forward to sharing gardens with you throughout 2008 and may it be a year filled with blessings for you and your family.
Kerri, I wish many happy months of digging in the garden for you too. Thanks for being a regular commenter this year. I always appreciate your thoughts and insights. —Pam
Great post, Pam 🙂
What a busy year you’ve had all round! Although I always enjoy seeing the plants from your garden I have to say also that I have particularly enjoyed seeing the photos from your garden tours 😀
I am not surprised at all that you’ve had many nominations! Your blog is a treat to visit – a great read and fantastic photos. Wishing you continued success and a great 2008 for you and your family as well as your garden 😀
Shirl, much of the pleasure of blogging is getting to know other gardeners like you, so thanks for all your comments over the past year. It’s wonderful to share the pleasure of gardening with others, even though they may live so far away. Happy New Year! —Pam
Thanks for the retrospective, especially since I hadn’t begun immersing myself in gardening blogdom until late last spring. Your photos are always so beautiful! Happy New Year!
I’m glad to get to read your blog too, MMD. Here’s to a fun and productive 2008! —Pam
Pam, I came back to this post to click the links for your safari posts which I missed back in July (didn’t have time when I was here previously). I so much enjoyed reading about the trip and seeing all your wonderful photos. How nice of your dad to loan you his Canon. You got some really fantastic shots!! Amsterdam looks like a fascinatingly beautiful city too. Thanks for the ‘close-up’ view through your excellent camera ‘eye’, and the interesting details related in your friendly style. It’s the next best thing to taking the trip myself…which I’d love to do! 🙂 It sounds like a fantastic experience, and how nice to be able to spend that time with your dad. He must be quite a guy! 🙂
Well, thanks, Kerri. I’m glad you enjoyed the trip photos. I had such fun on that vacation, and yes, my dad is quite a guy—very adventurous and a devoted traveler. —Pam