The Anxious Gardener is one year old! Hardly seems possible – but it is. During the dark and cold days of January 2011, I began to think idly about starting a blog. Didn’t know why particularly … still don’t. But I did think that it might help my brain from atrophying (jury’s still out on that one) and also, I wanted to share the beauty of the Priory with others. And so, after scratching my head and reading a handful of gardening blogs, I played around a little with blogger, scratched my head a little more and before I really knew what I was doing, I published my first post on 4th February 2011.
And what an amazing and (at times infuriating and maddening but generally) hugely enjoyable process it has been. It didn’t even occur to me, when I started, that it would be so hugely time-consuming or that I would ‘virtual-meet’ such a wealth of lovely people – from all over the globe. Indeed, if I take only one experience away with me from this whole blogging malarkey, it would be this; that there is such a surprising number of very nice people about. Read the newspapers, watch the news, commute, make obscene gestures at a crowd of football supporters … and well, you’d never guess how damn decent the vast majority of people are.
To celebrate my twelve months of blogging, I thought I would re-visit some of my photos; a few of my favourites, showing a range of subjects from the Spring, Summer and Autumn of 2011. (Winter is a little too recent to re-visit just yet)! Most have appeared on the AG before; but not all:
Perennial Sweet Pea – Lathyrus latifolius, June 2011
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Ladybird on Alchemilla mollis, May 2011
View of the Long Borders from the west pond, April 2011
Red Admiral Butterfly – Vanessa atalanta, July 2011
" data-image-title="DSC_0168" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0168.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"7.1","credit":"","camera":"NIKON D60","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1311062080","copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 theanxiousgardener.com","focal_length":"200","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.001","title":""}" loading="lazy" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0168.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/02/04/a-year-of-blogging/dsc_0168/" title="DSC_0168" alt="" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0168.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0168.jpg?w=150 150w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0168.jpg?w=300 300w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0168.jpg?w=768 768w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0168.jpg?w=1440 1440w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0168.jpg 1838w" class="size-large wp-image-1795" data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0168.jpg?w=676" />Red Admiral Butterfly - Vanessa atalanta, July 2011
Poppy with puppy Dora, August 2011
A different poppy; Opium poppy - Papaver somniferum, June 2011
Honeysuckle, May 2011
" data-image-title="DSC_0085 (2)" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0085-2.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"9","credit":"","camera":"NIKON D60","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1305015915","copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 theanxiousgardener.com","focal_length":"18","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":""}" loading="lazy" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0085-2.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/02/04/a-year-of-blogging/dsc_0085-2/" title="DSC_0085 (2)" alt="" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0085-2.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0085-2.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0085-2.jpg?w=150 150w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0085-2.jpg?w=300 300w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0085-2.jpg?w=768 768w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0085-2.jpg?w=1440 1440w" class="size-large wp-image-1789" data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0085-2.jpg?w=676" />Honeysuckle, May 2011
Arum lily - Zantedeschia, June 2011
Mandarin duck (very annoyingly) using the tawny owl box, April 2011
Hosta leaves and Forget-me-nots, May 2011
Grass Snake, September 2011
Daffodils and Snowflakes, April 2011
Echinops and visitor, July 2011
View of the Priory Gardens, September 2011
The Vegetable Beds, May 2011
Above The Old Forge, June 2011
Helenium, June 2011
Mixed hedging - The Priory/Margaret's Field Boundaries, April 2011
Hummingbird Hawk Moth, June 2011
" data-image-title="DSC_0052" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0052.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"6.3","credit":"","camera":"NIKON D60","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1309351437","copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 theanxiousgardener.com","focal_length":"200","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.00125","title":""}" loading="lazy" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0052.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/02/04/a-year-of-blogging/dsc_0052/" title="DSC_0052" alt="" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0052.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0052.jpg?w=150 150w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0052.jpg?w=300 300w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0052.jpg?w=768 768w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0052.jpg?w=1440 1440w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0052.jpg 1877w" class="size-large wp-image-1784" data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0052.jpg?w=676" />Hummingbird Hawk Moth, June 2011
Blackthorn in flower, April 2011
" data-image-title="DSC_0027" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0027.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"5","credit":"","camera":"NIKON D60","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1302507933","copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 theanxiousgardener.com","focal_length":"110","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.003125","title":""}" loading="lazy" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0027.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/02/04/a-year-of-blogging/dsc_0027/" title="DSC_0027" alt="" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0027.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0027.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0027.jpg?w=150 150w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0027.jpg?w=300 300w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0027.jpg?w=768 768w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0027.jpg?w=1440 1440w" class="size-large wp-image-1846" data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0027.jpg?w=676" />Blackthorn in flower, April 2011
The Priory Drive running through Margaret's Wood, April 2011
Dragonfly, September 2011
Auricula, February 2011
" data-image-title="DSC_0540" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0540.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"25","credit":"","camera":"NIKON D60","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1298299800","copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 theanxiousgardener.com","focal_length":"55","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667","title":""}" loading="lazy" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0540.jpg?w=247" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/02/04/a-year-of-blogging/dsc_0540/" title="DSC_0540" alt="" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0540.jpg?w=841 841w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0540.jpg?w=123 123w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0540.jpg?w=247 247w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0540.jpg?w=768 768w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0540.jpg 1380w" class="size-large wp-image-1829" data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0540.jpg?w=676" />Auricula, February 2011
One of the Kidney Beds, July 2011
Grass vetchling – Lathyrus nissolia, June 2011
" data-image-title="DSC_0030" data-orig-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0030.jpg" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"5.6","credit":"","camera":"NIKON D60","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1307113732","copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 theanxiousgardener.com","focal_length":"55","iso":"280","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667","title":""}" loading="lazy" data-medium-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0030.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://theanxiousgardener.com/2012/02/04/a-year-of-blogging/dsc_0030/" title="DSC_0030" alt="" srcset="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0030.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0030.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0030.jpg?w=150 150w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0030.jpg?w=300 300w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0030.jpg?w=768 768w, https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0030.jpg?w=1440 1440w" class="size-large wp-image-1779" data-large-file="https://theanxiousgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dsc_0030.jpg?w=676" />Grass vetchling - Lathyrus nissolia, June 2011
(Vampire?) Hedgehog at The Old Forge, July 2011
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The Priory Meadow, May 2011
California Poppy - Eschscholzia californica, September 2011
Who knows how long The Anxious Gardener might last (I certainly don’t) but, while it does, I would like to thank you and everyone else who visits and reads and, by doing so, encourages me to carry on. Thank you. Very much.
