Happy Birthday TmouseCmouse

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Last summer, after having dabbled in gardening with natives for a few years, I read Douglas Tallamy's book Bringing Nature Home. The book had a profound effect on me. It has scientific evidence for the damage invasive plants can do to not just other plants but pollinators, birds, and eventually the whole ecosystem. And it explained clearly the good that native plants can do by supporting the pollinators, birds, and all that surrounds us, even in small suburban lots.



I wanted to do more than just fiddle with my own garden. So, in October last year, I asked my good friend Country Mouse whether she might enjoy doing a joint garden blog. I still remember, we were having a companionable luncheon at the cafeteria at work, and it was a sunny fall day. After contemplating the matter, Country Mouse indicated it was a definite Maybe, but immediately came up with a brillant name: Town Mouse and Country Mouse.


I did my first post on November 9, and just proceeded to muddle on. We both hoped that our posts would be entertaining, educational, and inspiring. Well, actually, I just hoped Country Mouse would finally be done with her deadline and join in, and that someone would find our blog.


Then I found Blotanical, and realized there was a whole wide world of garden bloggers out there. Amazing photos! Interesting stories! And many like-minded bloggers who cared deeply about sustainable gardening, native plants, or both.


We were so excited about our first comments, and even more excited when we found our blog on other blogs' side bar. And really, getting some feedback has made it so enjoyable to write the posts. Thanks to all who participate, or follow our blog or -- believe it or not -- recognize us as the "famous" mice we are. As happened to Country Mouse last weekend.


For me, the exciting part has been how the blog, and our understanding of native gardening, has grown over the year. I've also received an amazing camera and I'm slowly learning how to make photos that capture what I see. Which is surprisingly difficult, but fun to experiment with.


Going forward, I might try to revive the Book Review and the Native Plant of the Month feature.
I hope to get better at identifying birds and insects. But mostly, I hope to continue to enjoy sharing, and learning from others.



I hope to continue to feel a connection, from my blog to other bloggers, just as my birds aren't my birds but belong to all of us.

And while I was worried at the beginning that I'd run out of things to blog about, the problem has actually been that I don't have time enough to post and read and garden. But then I remember that it's fine to enjoy the quiet and some rest. Especially during this darker time of the year.