These last few weeks have continued my up and down emotional recovery. I’ve struggled with reactivating some of my normal activities, including writing a blog. No, I’m not going to fall back on another Taking Stock (see Spring one link here), but I am going to attempt one heavy on pictures. I do not claim any skill at picture taking, but I will attempt adding photos to a blog post.
In the past few weeks, I have been highly engaged in “gardening” activities. No, not gardening in my own space; our house is fully demoed and we have an open sand lot at the moment.. However, both of my garden clubs (I belong to two) have finally recovered enough from the hurricane impacts to start having some activities. Of course, April is a big gardening focused month here in Florida.
I’ve gone on a docent lead tour at Sunken Gardens with my one garden club. Sunken Gardens is a phenomenal garden here in St Petersburg. (no pictures, I just enjoyed the tour!) I’ve attended the Art in Bloom event at our Museum of Fine Arts. (see the header picture from my last blog) I’ve helped run a plant sale, in conjunction with our town’s Easter Egg Hunt. (not my photo, that’s me in the hat and sun-glasses, my standard outfit!)
I worked the horticulture placement and classification for a Standard Flower Show sponsored by one of my garden clubs. And I won a blue ribbon for one of my own entries to that show.
I’ve staffed the membership tent for the Garden Club of St Petersburg at the local Green Thumb Festival, a huge local plant and flower sale. (Again not my picture, but no hat this time – yes, sunglasses on the top of my head still!)
And in April, our Dali Museum membership gave us reciprocal entry into the Marie Selby Gardens in Sarasota. These are stunning gardens that my pictures do not give any credit to.
Lots of plant inspiration this past month. And a bit frustrating as I cannot apply any of that inspiration until next year, after we have a finished new house.
There it is – a photo heavy, word light blog post this week!
I am hoping to continue returning to my normal activities, including writing, crafting, and beach walking this coming month.
How do you like my attempt at a picture post?
Header Picture: another Selby garden picture.
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Good to see you enjoying activities you love with other active, engaged people. Heavy on photos and light on words works! Congrats on the blue ribbon!
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Thanks Janis. I was truly expecting a “thank you for participating” ribbon so getting the blue one was a surprise. Of course, as a key member of classification staging, we do try to maximize the number of blue ribbons we can give out!
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You looked like you were having fun in the photos and gardens are always good for the soul. Pictures are always a welcome addition.
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Eilene, I’m not much of a picture taker, but it was fun to do a post with pictures! I might try it more often.
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I love picture heavy posts, and it’s great to see your smiling face in some of them!!! Congrats on your blue ribbon 🏆 The pics from the Gardens in Sarasota are beautiful, thanks for sharing!!!
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The Sarasota gardens are amazing and my pictures do not do it justice! The gardens are inspiring as well, but nothing will be done on mine for at least a year. So there was mixed feelings on our recent visit.
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Yes on the pics. Gardening is medicine. And that smile on the outside changes the body chemistry on the inside.
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I was reading recently about how even forcing a smile can help you feel better inside. Fascinating!
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I like your There it is – a photo heavy, word light blog post this week! You look like you’re having fun and filling your hours with gardening which I think is a worthwhile pursuit, so YAY!
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Ally, i miss my own garden! But I did play in my garden club’s garden this week – mostly pulling weeds, its own kind of therapy! – and yes, a worthwhile pursuit.
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I enjoyed the pictures and putting a face to the words!
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I’m not one to take pictures and rarely selfies. I might be posting another picture of myself this next blog…. will see. As you point out, it is nice to have faces to go with words!
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Love the pics. And inspired by how you have kept moving forward. Congrats on the blue ribbon!
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Lisa, It still remains one day at a time. Some days are better than others. I’m trying to stay positive.
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The pictures tell a story of someone who loves gardening and is pushing forward. I love that last photo with the waterfall and those plantings. And hey this will give you lots of time to plan out a new garden. Bernie
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Bernie, I’ve started the planning for sure! Last summer’s research into salt tolerant plants and storm surge tolerant plants will definitely be put to use.
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Hi Pat – I love a post with pictures – it breaks things up – and sharing a personal pic every now and then is a lovely way to connect. I’m not a fan of post after post of “this was my week” type stuff, but I do like seeing them here and there. So glad your world is slowly returning to a new normal and that there is progress on the house – even if it’s a sandpit for now. 🙂
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Leanne, Progress on the house is so slow it is often hard to stay positive. Being distracted with gardening stuff the past few weeks actually helped somewhat.
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This was fun! I love seeing some “normal” and fun things happening in your life! I know thing are far from normal but at least there a moments!
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Exactly the right way to say it, there are moments! Trying to focus on the moments that fill me up emotionally.
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