Thursday, July 21, 2011

Help Me Celebrate with A Give-Away!

This give-away is now closed.  Thank you for for stopping by.

TODAY is my one-year “BLOGIVERSARY”!   My first post was made on July 21st, 2010.   I can hardly believe it’s been a whole year since that first nervous post.  I worried that no one would be interested in reading what I had to say about gardening and quilting or whether I would be able to come up with new things to write about.   Back then my goal was to write at least once a month and while sometimes I’ve exceeded that goal, there have been some dry spells too but what I feared most—running out of topics—hasn’t happened and  I still have lots of  ideas and information that I hope to share with you in the future.

Up until last July I had only ever followed ONE blog myself, knew very  little about blogging and struggled with the mechanics of adding pictures and “gadgets”—what were those? I’ve learned so much from my fellow bloggers  and  I have  been lead to some wonderful blogs that I follow and even have followers of my own.

My last give-away was several months ago  when I celebrated my 50th post by giving away a stack of fat quarters.  This time, I’ve decided to give away something garden-related.  So I’m offering a wonderful book called “Month By Month Gardening in New England” written by Jacqueline Heriteau and Holly Hunter Stonehill.

Blogiversary Give-away 002This 383 page paperback book is packed full of suggestions for each month as well as sections called “Did You Know” which feature hints and projects. It includes eleven plant categories from annuals to water and bog plants, charts and lists for trees, shrubs, companion Blogiversary Give-away 003plants, summer bulbs, fall bulbs, tips for drying herbs and flowers, thinning vegetables, how to deal with bugs, prune roses, lawn care and maintenanc, organic alternatives, how to stake perennials properly, the language of flowers and what they mean…..and on and on.   Blogiversary Give-away 005

Don’t be deterred from entering just  because this wonderful  book targets New England---the information inside is relative to any area of the country, because it’s written in almanac style.  For instance, when I’m reading the planning ideas for March, you may be reading the planning ideas for April or May if you happen to live in the mid-Atlantic or southern half of the US.Blogiversary Give-away 004

Oh, and did I mention there will also be a surprise included with the give-away?   The “surprise” will be disclosed once the winner has been chosen by random number drawing.  Here’s a hint….think hot, hot, hot just like the temps around the country this week!

So to enter the drawing, leave a comment about what is in bloom in your garden right now.  If you don’t have a garden you can still leave a comment telling me what summer sewing or craft project you’re working on.

This give-away will last till Thursday, July 28th at 7PM.  Winner will be announced then.   Good luck! 

14 comments:

  1. Yeah! to a wonderful year.So glad you joined this community. May blogging bring you many more joys.

    There are purple and white coneflowers a bloom in my flower gardens right now.

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  2. Congratulations on your one year blogiversary. I have one little cuke growing in a planter, and the only other things blooming in my Florida homestead is impatients, under a lot of shade :-)

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  3. Happy One Year Anniversary. I'm fast approaching my one year, as well, and I have to say I've also learned a lot from fellow bloggers.

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  4. Happy 1st Year!
    Now that is something I need, lol.
    I am doing well in my vegetable garden, everything is coming up nicely and lush green this year, just got a late start. I planted flower seeds in a new area and nothing is growing, planted a flower bush and it died. This time I grew some flowers in pots and yesterday I replanted them, so will see how they do. The area does have a lot of roots in it, so that could be the problem, they are choking out anything I plant?

    Debbie

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  5. Congrats on your 1 year blog anniversary.

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  6. Congratulations on your First Year Anniversary. It has been so hot here- heat indexes way over 100 and no rain so the plants aren't so lush but my basil, plumbago and black eyed susans are loving it!

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  7. In bloom? What is NOT in bloom is a shorter list- let's see... black eyed susans, roses (mini and killer), love in a mist, seedum (many varieties), pincushion plant, flax (just finished in this heat), lavender, fennel, heliopsis, coriopsis, garlic, coriander, parsley, squash, pumpkins, basil that I let bloom, oregano, daylilies (about 15 varieties), astilbe, monarda, anise hyssop, butterfly bush, hydrangea, hosta -and lots and lots of weeds!

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  8. Crepe myrtles, altheas, and four o'clocks, as well as roses, are blooming. The heat has crushed our vegetable garden. Our temp here at 10 pm is 94 degrees in hot Florida. Congratulations on your milestone, and thanks for celebrating your blogiversary with a giveaway. Right now I'm making Almost Solid quilt by K.England.

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  9. Congratulations on one year of blogging! I am happily quilting for my bed using Grace by Three Sisters and the Lucky Stars pattern by Atkinson Designs. I also have visions of Christmas projects dancing in my head and have started collecting fabrics. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.

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  10. Congratulations on your anniversary! I was sewing lots of tote bags and some quilts for a vendor fair I'll be doing in September, but it's all on hold for now until my sewing machine comes back from the shop! In the meantime, I'm crocheting cotton dish/wash cloths which is a great summer project!

    Our garden is in bloom right now with peppers, tomatoes, basil, tarragon, carrots, peas, onions, sunflowers...we've already picked peas and onions and are looking forward to some ripe tomatoes in the next few weeks!

    MGM

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  11. We should have a bunch of sweet corn by next week, if the racoons don't get it first! The rest of my garden looks pretty sad this year. Congratulations on your anniversary!

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  12. Happy 1st blogiversary, I just celebrated my 1st on July 14. I've planted lots of annuals but with the lack of rain in June and July and the extreme hot temps my impatients have not flourished like past years when they looked like a colorful bush. Thanks for the chance to win the garden book.....I need all the help I can get to make my gardens beautiful.

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  13. Happy Anniversary Gail! And I want to thank you for so many great posts about gardening and plant care. I've learned a lot! And your pics are really great, too! Thanks a bunch!

    In my perennial beds I have all sorts of lilies blooming right now, black-eyed susans, coneflowers, and liatris....and a few that I can't identify.....must remember to write names down as I plant the bulbs! lol Of course, the veggie garden is in full swing, with way too many zucchini and cukes, green peppers, jalapeno's and the greeen been are just about ready! It can be a full time job just keeping up with the veggies, picking zucchini before we have baseball bats! lol

    Thanks for the giveaway.....the book sounds fantastic!

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  14. Congratulations on your anniversary. I started a perenial garden last year and am enjoying the beautiful flowers this year. Some flowers are from my mom's garden and some from her neighbours. I have shasta daisys, black eyed susans, cone flowers and several that I don't know the names of. I appreciate the opportunity to win the book. If I win perhaps I can find out what the names of they mystery flowers are.
    Keep blogging and thanks!
    marg_head@wrdsb.on.ca

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