New Garden Bed created in May 08 - photo taken May 09
Today is my one year anniversary of starting this blog. I’ve mentioned before that my Mom talked me into starting this blog. When she originally brought up the suggestion I wasn’t sure if this was something I wanted to do. Funny thing is that I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. My first blog post one year ago today was titled My Favorite Blooms and was just a few photos of my roses, no words. Since that first post I’ve managed to post frequently on my garden, projects, and other various things. (Click on any of the photos to enlarge)
Squarefoot veggie beds created April 09
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed the journey with me as well. I’ve met some wonderful like-minded individuals from all over the country and world and it has been a pleasure getting to know you & your gardens. During the early months I also joined a wonderful group of garden bloggers on the constantly growing site called Blotanical which was created by Stuart of Gardening Tips ‘n’ Ideas. My garden has evolved over the past year thanks to the inspiration and encouragement of my garden blogging buddies.
Front foundation bed May 09 - slightly modified this year
The garden beds have been tweaked along the way with my new found enthusiasm for the garden. Sometimes change is for the best, a garden evolves with the gardener. For example, the trellis out front had climbing roses for years that were not doing well and after no blooms last summer they were removed. In their place three Clematis ‘Niobe’ were relocated from another area and are doing well. The concrete birdbath was moved to the new garden bed and was replaced with another Euonymous ‘Emerald & Gold’ that will catch up with the existing shrubs in a season or two. I wanted this area to be low maintenance because of its’ southern exposure. Come August it is too hot to be out there all the time. All the plants in this bed are pretty carefree including the white Buddleia and Liatris on the left end. Anyhow this is just a tidbit of all the things that have happened in my garden over the past year. Hope you will join me as I explore the second year in the garden blogasphere…. 🙂
Perennial Garden Lover 
Posted by Deb on May 12, 2009 at 12:21 am
Happy anniversary. It has been a pleasure to get to know you.
Posted by Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage on May 12, 2009 at 12:37 am
Congratulations on your blog-iversary! How exciting to reach that milestone!!!!!!!
Posted by Grace on May 12, 2009 at 1:49 am
Hi Racquel~~ Congrats. Your blog is always a joy to visit.
Posted by Janet on May 12, 2009 at 6:35 am
Wow Racquel, how exciting to have one year under your belt. You have made great strides in your blog, I would have thought you had been blogging for a lot longer. It is always a treat to see what a fellow blogger in my area is growing. AND — it was a BIG bonus to meet you! I am thinking the end of the month to get together, but I will call you this week. Happy Anniversary.
Posted by Meems on May 12, 2009 at 7:28 am
Hi Racquel,
It is a bit surprising to look back at a year a realize how many gardening topics were covered.You wonder how it was possible when the first thought of blogging was not anything like the way it ends up. At least that is the way it has been for me. I’m not quite as dedicated to it as you are but it has been a really fun way to get to know other gardeners … from every where. You are one of the special people I’ve enjoyed and I’m so glad you decided to start blogging.
Happy one year and I look forward to another year of you sharing your garden projects with us.
Meems @ Hoe and Shovel
Posted by Joy on May 12, 2009 at 7:31 am
Racquel ! Happy Blogaversary girl !
It is an odd things how we first start out with few words .. and a few pictures .. then it seems we draw steam to really say a lot more and boy … take loads of pictures and have to comb through them all for the “best” ones ? .. I think we are all alike with that evolution !
Congratulations on a wonderful blog girl ! : )
Posted by Linda at Meadowview Thymes on May 12, 2009 at 7:43 am
Congratulations on such a great year Racquel! Your blog is one that I go to early every morning before work.. You always have great pictures and such interesting information. Keep up the good work–I look forward to another year as your blogging buddy! 🙂
Hugs,
Linda
Posted by Monica the Garden Faerie on May 12, 2009 at 7:58 am
Happy blogiversary! It’s cool that your mom talked you into writing a blog. Mine refuses to own/use a computer! 😉
Posted by Marnie on May 12, 2009 at 8:33 am
Hi Racquel, isn’t it amazing how fast the time passes. Congratulations on your blogging anniversary. I’m glad you Mom suggested it. Your veggie beds look so nice and easy to work in. I’m thinking of doing something similar.
Marnie
Posted by Balisha on May 12, 2009 at 8:48 am
Congratulations Racquel,
My anniversary is coming up in a few days. I have enjoyed following you and your Mom. I have learned so much from you.I feel that I have made two friends here and I’m so delighted. Keep on with the blog and showing us the adventures in your days of gardening. Balisha
Posted by cherry on May 12, 2009 at 8:48 am
Congrats Miss Racquel and Happy Blogaversary looking forward to seeing your blog and gardens continue to grow.
hugs, Cherry
Posted by Randy on May 12, 2009 at 9:04 am
Oh happy blogiversary! Congrats Racquel, you do a wonderful job!
Posted by tina on May 12, 2009 at 9:48 am
HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY to you! So wonderful to have met you through here! Here’s to many more years.
Posted by OhioMom on May 12, 2009 at 10:18 am
Happy blogoversary dalin 🙂
Posted by OhioMom on May 12, 2009 at 10:19 am
LOL … I type faster than I think …. “darlin”.
Posted by Zach on May 12, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Congrats on the blogiversary!
Posted by DP on May 12, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Congrats on the blogiversary! It’s been so fun to watch and learn about your garden.
Posted by gail on May 12, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Happiest of anniversaries to you Racquel! I have enjoyed getting to know you and your garden! gail
Posted by Kathleen on May 12, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Hi Racquel! I’m glad your Mom talked you into blogging. It’s been a pleasure to get to know you thru this medium. My own Mom likes to visit your blog too! I don’t think I’ve ever told you that.? She clicked on your link from a comment you left on my blog. Anyway, I hope you keep blogging for a long time ~ you are always so busy in the garden and have a lot to share.
Posted by Cathy on May 12, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Happy Blogiversary Raquel! I enjoy reading your posts on gardening!
Posted by Susie on May 12, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Already a year huh?!? I thought I started my blog right after you did. I’ve definitely enjoyed following your blog and seeing what’s going on in your garden. Hopefully this next year will be just as great.
Posted by easygardener on May 12, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Congratulations Racquel – who would have thought blogging could give so much pleasure 🙂
Posted by Victoria on May 12, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Congratulations, Racquel. Your post has reminded me that I’ve been blogging for a year too, but my own anniversary, on 5 May, completely passed me by! So it’s lovely to see you celebrating yours. It’s amazing to think of all the friends we’ve made and the conversations we’ve had, as if oceans and mountains and borders didn’t exist. It’s been a wonderful journey.
Posted by greenwalks on May 12, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Congrats on your anniversary! It’s been fun (since I joined the club in August) to see your gardening efforts and all the innovations you’ve made. I think you were the first person to visit my blog regularly and comment so kindly, I’ve always appreciated that and continue to enjoy our back-and-forth exchanges. Can’t wait to see what the next year brings, including your wonderful foray into raised bed veggies!!!
Posted by Beckie on May 12, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Racquel, it has been an enjoyable year’s journey with you. I have followed with great interest your changing gardens as well as your changing blog. I may not have told you lately, but I do like the ‘look’ you have now.
Blogging is one of those happy accidents, that like you that came my way. It has been a wonderful way to meet like souls and share a passion with them. Aren’t we lucky?? 🙂 Conragtulations and I hope you have many more years as a blogger.
Posted by Robin on May 12, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Happy blog anniversary! A few years ago I could never have imagined myself blogging either, but I love it.
Posted by Racquel on May 12, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Thanks everyone for stopping by and your congrats on my 1 year milestone. All of your sweet comments are so appreciated. I’ve enjoyed getting to know all of your via comments. It’s been a fun adventure thus far and I look forward to what’s ahead. 🙂
Posted by Tatyana on May 13, 2009 at 8:38 am
You were one of the first bloggers who welcomed me on Blotanical Racquel. Happy anniversary to you! Love your blog.
Posted by Brenda Kula on May 13, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Congratulations on this milestone! Blogging has turned out to be so much fun for me too. I read about a year ago that it is also therapeutic mentally. That psychiatrists are telling their patients this. It is like a journal. Writing anything is a way of forming insight, I suppose.
Brenda
Posted by ChrisND on May 13, 2009 at 11:37 pm
So much can happen in a year! It is fun to see how a garden & yard can change. Adding new beds, finding out what works, filling in with new plants, learning new things….all great. I am glad you have decided to share some of your world with others.
Posted by Kanak on May 14, 2009 at 1:29 am
Congrats Racquel! And a very happy anniversary! There was something wrong with my connection and I couldn’t access WordPress blogs. Managed today, thank God! I’ve loved every moment of my visits here and I think your gardening/space saving ideas are excellent! Congrats once again!
Posted by The Plant Lady on May 14, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Happy Blogiversary Racquel!