“The World is so empty if one thinks only of the mountains, rivers, and cities; but to know someone who thinks and feels with us, and who, though distant is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I am joining Vicki@2 Bags Full for the “Grow Your Blog” Party. This a bit of a different post with a wonderful giveaway for all my readers.
Welcome to Gardens Eye View.
My name is Donna, and it has been 2 years and 4 months since I started this blog where I have posted at least weekly. For those of you who have been here since the beginning, thank you. Those who are recent and new readers, welcome as I give you a bit of an introduction.
This is a blog of my ramblings as I have been discovering the life and soul of the garden (and me). I am 55 years young, and as I turn 56 
this year I will be retiring from public education (I hope) to find a new path and direction in my life.
I have been told by readers that I write about the soul of gardening, and express the words of the soul of the gardener. While I write many posts about such things as garden books, wildflowers and their folklore and what is going on monthly in my garden, the posts about ‘the soul of the garden’ (or what I call reflective posts) still describes many of my blog posts. One of my favorite things to share is my poetry which I do monthly.
I am now connecting with readers in 109 countries and all 50 United States. I think the best part of blogging is the people I have met virtually. Such incredible people with so much to say.
The following is an excerpt from my first post that describes how I became a gardener at an early age:
I remember always loving digging in the dirt from my earliest memories between 2 and 5 years old. I loved it so much so that my nickname as a child was “digger”. I was always carrying a stick and digging holes in the small patch of grass and dirt behind our row house in Philadelphia.
When we moved to Northern Indiana in the early 60s, I remember my mother planting cherry tomatoes, mint and strawberries in our small yard. A huge sweet scented honeysuckle vine greeted me every time I left the house by the lower basement door. Mom was always tending her roses and planting a swath of colorful annuals. I would watch, pick and weed. I was hooked but never really knew it. The lure of the dirt-the feel and smell of it. The smell and colors of the flowers. Whatever it was I looked forward to spring, then summer and then the colors of fall.
You can read more about my journey into gardening by reading that first post.
Those early experiences and my wonderful ancestors who gardened made me who I am. I write from their hearts and souls as well because they have all influenced my life greatly. And my life with my husband has been an enormous gift. Sometimes I don’t think I would have any sanity left it it wasn’t for his unconditional love and acceptance of me-all of me with no judgements…how is that possible.
We live in a house we built 8 years ago where I have created my garden oasis from scratch. Of course it is still a work in progress as I have been replacing many non-native plants with natives for the wildlife that visits. I love to write about native plants and my encounters with wildlife once a month at Beautiful Wildlife Gardens (as part of a group of wonderful bloggers).
So I continue now on my journey with this blog, this life as I look forward to my new journey in August with retirement. This life continues to take me in directions that are unknown. Each new fork in the road an adventure, a new lesson or an old one doomed to be repeated until I learn it more fully. And as I listen to my inner guide, I seem to be taking the right path that is bringing me closer to where I am supposed to be. How do I know? I just do…it is something you just feel with your whole being. I hope you continue to join me on this wonderful journey of life towards a new beginning once again….
A life without love is like a year without summer.
Swedish Proverb
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I hope you enjoyed this little retrospective as I connect with hundreds of others around the world for this blog party. I think this is a wonderful opportunity to continue to meet new people from all walks of life and who write blogs of every description. I love new readers so feel free to follow me through the Network Blogs icon or via email subscription both on the sidebar. You also enter my blog address in your Google or WordPress reader.
If you want to see a picture of me or read a bit more about me, check out my About page located at the top of the sidebar. Also to see a description of these lovely photos of my garden, just run your cursor over the picture and a description will pop up.
I reply to all comments and you will receive notice of my reply in an email. Feel free to contact me via my email. There is a trick to replying…you have to make sure you click on the title of the post first so the comments section comes up. There are no letters or numbers to type to publish your comment, but if you have never visited before, I will receive a notice to approve your comment. I monitor that several times during the day so your comment will become live soon after you write it. Then you can comment after the initial comment without any waiting.
Giveaway
Around this time I do a garden book review post, and since this is a garden themed blog I thought what better giveaway than to give my readers garden books….10 garden books to be exact. Some are like new or new, and others are gently used (only the Wildlife Meadow Book is a bit more used and an older much loved book).
You only need leave a comment to be in the random drawing. Let me know if you have a preference for any book, but all who comment are eligible unless you say otherwise. You can only win one book. Winners will be announced February 1st. Check back to this post for a list of winners. I will also be emailing winners on Feb. 1st so I can get your mailing address.
Here are the books with links so you can check them out on Amazon and get a good description:
UPDATED-WINNERS:
Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person—Susan Troccolo
The Wildflower Meadow: A Gardener’s Guide—Di@Cottage Wishes
Botany for Gardeners (3rd edition)—Carolyn@Carolyns Shade Gardens
I Garden: Urban Style—Carolyn@This Grandmother’s Garden
High-Impact Low-Carbon Gardening—Janet, The Queen of Seaford
Small Space Gardening—Beth@Elizard Breath Speaks
Step-By-Step Successful Gardening—Janet@Plantalicious
Edible Landscaping—Pam@Pam’s English Garden
Garden Ideas: Creative Design Solutions—Beth@Beyond the Garden Gate
Seeing Trees—Jocelyn@Just A Little Southern Hospitality
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Next up on the blog: Monday brings another Garden Book Review. On Wednesday, I will have the first in a new series called Wildflower Tales. Later in the month I will have another post in the Simply the Best series which will be all about Herbs this year.
I hope you will join me for my posts once a month at Beautiful Wildlife Garden. See my current post now.
Please remember, to comment click on the title of the post and the page will reload with the comments section.
All original content is copyrighted and the sole property of Donna Donabella @ Gardens Eye View, 2010-2012. Any reprints or use of content or photos is by permission only.