Thus, I present the situation...to blog or not to blog, that is the question!
The weather is finally turning for the better on a consistant basis. The garden is coming to life, and my garden specimens hit hardest by the long Florida winter are displaying promising signs of recuperation. The recent rain showers have not only brought spring flowers but hoards of weeds
as well as muddy patches of unfinished garden spaces for my dogs to trample through.
Again, there's the lovely weather...perfect for a day of boating and fishing. My patient husband becomes more anxious by the day as the boat beckons him at every turn. The TV constantly displays fishing shows and the weather radio droans on and on about the perfect conditions. Even the children are ready to chance the spring water temperatures at the sandbar. My son is waxing his surfboard, anticipating any hope of a beach day.
What is a garden blogger to do? And what about my poor neglected family who is accustomed to my sermons of living an outdoor, active life? What are they to think and do? But if I don't blog, what will my blogging friends think? Will they miss me? What about all the fantastic posts I will miss...the beautiful photos; the poetic words and fascinating stories; my funny comrads that keep me in stitches...what about all of that?!?!
Well, considering the fact that my last post was 5 days ago, I suppose it's obvious which side of the argument won this current battle. And although I'm fearful that I have missed out on the best post of the year, I haven't read any of my favorite blogs. BOO!!!
However...I can report on a great weekend! First, there was the Garden Expo at the Martin County Fairgrounds (the one I mistakenly "attended" last weekend, only to find out I had the wrong date). This show was fantastic! So many interesting plants, ideas, and people!
Bromelaids were everywhere! I got some bare root broms at the economical price of 4/$10. I was happy with my purchase... UNTIL I spotted this prize AFTER I was out of money! If only I'd seen this one first, cash would never be a problem again!!!
Yes, you saw it right...
After I stopped crying, I moved on and enjoyed the abundant orchids.
This one called "Trick or Treat" is apparently new...very cool!!
A creative idea for a bird bath or seed dish...
I stalked a butterfly who was wise to my ways...not easy to capture!
My daughter and her friend had fun with the "Bark in the Park" mascots!
This is the first time I'd seen this fuzzy air plant...Tillandsia Tectorum.
Had to capture this Cassia bloom...pretty!
Yes, you saw it right...
Hmmmmmm!
We also spent a day on the water, enjoying some incredible wildlife. I wish I had photos to share but they didn't come out that well, and I'd rather focus on the action than getting a great shot. Among the multitude of beautiful animals we spotted (sea turtles, dolphin, crabs, water birds, etc.) we witnessed a pair of osprey feeding their young. Absolutely beautiful! Additionally, my daughter and her friend became boat captains for the first time. They were giddy with excitement!
The garden was not 100% neglected during our busy weekend...we added some colorful annuals, blocked portions of the garden from the dogs, and laid stone in the remaining bare areas. No more muddy paws!
I'm still feeling a bit disappointed as I had a wonderful "Palm Sunday" post planned exhibiting a few of my ailing palms and a handful of my favorites. Noticably, this didn't happen. So, to make up for my slacking ways, here's a few of the palms I love best...
Palm Beach's famous Royal Palm entry to the elite island..
The ever tropical Coconut Palm
The graceful Canary Island Date Palm
the fun and quirky Bottle Palm
the beautiful blue/silver Bismarck Palm!
and the jurasic Sago Palm
Until next time....
22 comments:
I understand your blog quandary! I too am a new blogger and often wonder if it is the best use of my time! Perhaps a weekly or monthly post is enough.
I typically use google reader to keep up with my favorite blogs of which yours is one...
I agree, it has become very challenging to keep up with the blogs I follow, AND have time to post AND have time to be out in the garden. I may have to post less, read less, and garden more...at least until spring planting is complete.
I love the Tillandsia, I've never seen that plant before...and nice shot of the osprey!
The beauty of blogging is there are no rules! You will find out that even after taking time off you will pick up right back where you started and your friends and fans will be right there with you! This should be a completely stress free endeavor so go outside and play and don't worry about what you are missing.
If that is a typical post when you are too busy to blog I can't wait to see what you do in the quiet times. I love the photos of all the beautiful plants. Over here we call them hothouse plants! Thank you for the visit to my blog and I look forward to reading more in the future.
Here is what I do to get around the blogging quandary...I work really hard and pre-post a bunch of stuff, leaving only one or two "real time" posts. That way I can relax all I want! It is easy to let blogging take over your life, but it should be a fun hobby!!!!
Loved all your photos as usual, and your honesty. I feel the same - I have been creating my garden and it was fun to monitor the progress, but now that it is just maintenance I have slacked off on posting. I think the important thing is that blogging is something you must feel like doing - sometimes other things like life get in the way, and that is OK!
I chime in with my two cents...
Ultimately, I think blogging and gardening should be pleasurable for you. I don't think you have to set a certain schedule for yourself to blog. When the mood hits you, blog...and if it doesn't, that is okay too :-) You should only do what activity brings you pleasure.
Kimberly ~ With blogging, there are no set rules, you blog when you feel like it, when you have something to share. We all have lives to live, and not all can just blog every single day, especially as spring happens and we gardeners want to be out in our gardens. Your personal life is what's really important, we here in blog land are your second family. We enjoy and appreciate what you share with us, when you can.
Have doing things with your family and puttering in your lovely gardens.
Hugs ~ FlowerLady
Kimberley, I agree with Flower Lady - you should blog when you feel like it and certainly not feel pressurized to do so! Your regular followers will be able to keep up with you on Google reader and you can check in to Blotanical and check out your favourite blogs when you you feel like it!
It's great that everything is coming back to life here in Florida after the cold spell - it really does feel like spring!! I keep seeing new flowers everywhere I look!
Kimberly:
Totally agree with what previous commenters have said. Blogging is supposed to be fun. I am kind of surprised that I am doing much more bloggings than what I was intended to initially. Well, I figured out since I am in the mood, I will blog whenever I want (except when I need to work, and live the normal familar life :)). But someday if I feel the time crunch, or just don't feel like blogging, I will take a break.
Kimberly,
I have lots more ideas to blog than I ever have time to actually get them put together. Life goes on and I must keep my blog(s) in their place when life is just too busy to get around to it which is most often the case.
I loved your palm display. The royal palm is my all time favorite although it freezes up this way. Enjoy your family and make the most of the outdoors! Meems
I imagine, the garden blogging community will get a little quiet for the next little while, but that's OK, It will give us all plenty to talk about when the busy gardening spell is over!
Do whatever calls you. I'd imagine that most bloggers will slow down as the gardening season bites. I will. I have way too many things to do and the bad weather kind of drives the blog posts forward. That said, I work at a computer so can take the odd break from the daily grind to do it.
If I had a choice to be sat here or out in the sun working or messing about, the PC would definitely be redundant.
Why do you blog? Is is for you or for others? Are you out to educate or just inform? Is it a release? These answers will give you your answer. I started my blog as a journal-calendar to keep track of what was going on in the garden so I can plan for following years. I blog mostly for myself, throw in some education or entertainment and share experience for others, and entice readers to share their experiences for my education. I post weekly, monthly, or - whenever I can and whenever it's called for.
I'll agree with the others about blogging when you want to. I've gone through this too. I used to try to blog every day, but then I felt like my family and other things were getting less time than they deserved. Your regular visitors will visit you whether you blog every day or once a month. I know I've had far less time to visit all the blogs I would like, but as others have told me, it's supposed to be fun, not something to feel guilty about.
The garden expo looks like it was fantastic. I'd love one of those money trees too! :)
Kimberly, I so empathize. I'm having the same issue, as you can see by my disappearance from the blog. ;) I say go with it -- it's not everyday that one gets to live Spring! (And I can't resist anyway; spring is my favorite season.)
That blue-grey palm has to be one of the loveliest things I've ever seen. (I'm a sucker for blue-grey foliage.) Does that one grow in your garden?
If I don't garden, I don't have anything to blog about. Blog when you can. We'll still be here. jim
aloha kimberly,
i do feel your dilemma, i live it everyday since we have no winter here and after a big rain flush, the weeds just come back and turn into life size (no kidding) bushes and small junk trees turn into giant junky trees in no time.....aaaah whats a person to do especially when there are other fun distractions outside of the garden??? i usually just go and do what i want and enjoy for the moment and if the inspiration is there i can blog about, or save it for a post and let it develop...i do have a small back log of posts i can publish when the timing is appropriate so i do have time to enjoy being outdoors......now excuse me its time for volleyball at the beach :)
Kimberly, I so enjoy your posts, but as a longtime blogger, let me assure you--no need to apologize, and no rules in the blogosphere (other than to be civil, in my worldview). Posting goes in cycles; we get busy in the garden, we spend less time indoors. We have rainy days or winter, we hang over our computers, catching up with our blogging buddies and tidying our own blogs. Just relax, have fun--we enjoy your posts and photography, and so long as you're enjoying what you do, it's all good. Honestly.
Kimberly I enjoyed this post a lot. Good questions about blogging that I'm thinking about myself. I try to post once a week, twice is a bonus. And best of all I've enjoyed the comments from all the other bloggers. Jim, good point, I like that one, if you don't garden what is there to blog about?
Love the topic! And your photos are phenomenal! I'm a bad person to comment on frequency since I am a brand new blogger and think I overdo it right now with the daily posts. I think it is a trust your own instincts type deal and play by your own rules. Rock on!
Wow Kim, your pictures are amazing! I've been doing alot of rock work. Finally done! So, I missed some blog reading! Your blog is lovely
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