2009 Blotanical Awards, and a bit of Rambling

At first, I was feeling a bit shy about thanking folks for my blotanical award, and waiting to receive some official badge or something. Also, I needed to find the words to my thoughts about this. When I first started blogging, I noticed people had awards on their sidebars. Shortly after that, I found out that people made them up, and tagged others, who then had to write some things about themselves, and then give the award to a number of others.

I am the kind of person who is very friendly to everyone and appears to be very extraverted, but it takes me awhile to feel comfortable with people on a deeper level. In fact, years ago, when I took the Myers-Briggs test, I came up with almost even numbers in the extravert and introvert categories. When I started blogging, I didn't know many bloggers yet, and didn't want to have to find other people to give awards to and expect them to do anything. I thought they might think I was too forward or imposing on them. Also, I was afraid no one would give me an award. Actually, early on, a person who made crafts and sold them on her blog, and didn't have a garden blog gave me some kind of tagging award thing that I was kind of embarrassed about. So, I ignored it and decided to put a note on my sidebar saying I don't accept tags or awards by individual bloggers. (Added 10/4/09: I really have nothing against these things, except I just don't feel comfortable participating, especially when I had just started blogging, and hadn't gotten to know the person first. Then, how could I accept one from someone else later without hurting her feelings?)

Now, the reason I added the part about individual bloggers is because I found blotanical shortly after becoming a blogger and saw that they had awards based on different categories, and you didn't have to do anything other than be in blotanical and have a garden blog to receive one. I don't think I knew about the voting process, but now I understand it, and feel pleased that I was one of the blogs involved.

After seeing what some of the other winning blotanists were doing, I realized that the badge I had put up for the blotanical voting, is the award badge.

So, I will open up and officially thank those who voted for A Corner Garden, giving it 1st place in "Best Nebraska Blog" (of the 4 from Nebraska), and 3rd place in "Best Urban Gardening Blog." I also want to thank all those who I have become blogging friends and acquaintances with, and those who leave such nice comments on my posts and help me when I ask for information. That is what is what makes me glad to be a "blotonist". I realize that just because I have made enough contacts and become known enough to have received the votes I got, that doesn't necessarily mean the quality of my blog is better than many out there who are either not part of blotanical or not as active in it. Still, I am pleased to have those votes. I have already done a post about blotanical, but I can't end this one without thanking Stuart again for all the time and efforts he puts into making blotanical a fun meeting place for garden bloggers all over the world. Thanks, Stuart!

To see the 2009 awards results, click here. (This link didn't go right to the awards page after all. From there, you have to sign in, then go to the Blog Directory tab on the left side, then the link is provided in the top middle of that page. It looks like you can't go as a visitor if you aren't a member of blotanical. It's easy to join from there if you are interested.)

A Corner Garden

"Best Nebraska Blog"

3rd Place in "Best Urban Gardening Blog"

Others in the Urban Blog Category:

1st place: The Patient Gardener

2nd place: The Urban Gardener

4th place: Joanne's Cottage Garden

5th place: Totally Inept Balcony Gardener

Just a Few Critters

The weather has turned cool, and I've been trying to stay off of my knee and ankle after tripping on Heidi's leash 2 weeks ago, so I haven't been out as much. I haven't been seeing monarch butterflies every day like I had all summer. Maybe they've all headed south by now.

I was surprised to see this eastern black swallowtail when I went out to pick herbs for supper yesterday. When I looked to make sure that's what it was, I read that females have smaller white spots than males, so this one must be a female. When I first went out, it was on the edge of the bed, and I wasn't sure if it was alive, but when I came back out with my camera, it had moved. It let me get pretty close, which surprised me.

This is the first open cosmos bloom of these plants, and I had to make adjustments in contrast or something in order to see the beetle, which I flicked off after taking the photo. The other insect looks like a skipper.

While experimenting with the super macro, I found an insect of some kind in the iris. I'm thinking it may be a beetle.

All manner of bees, wasps, and other insects are still enjoying the asters and goldenrods.

See how they share? A fellow Nebraska blogger, Ben, from The Deep Middle, who was voted second in the state category in blotanical, helped me figure out the insect on the left is a spined soldier bug. Thanks, Ben! I read that it's a beneficial insect. I had so many of them this year, that could explain why I didn't see many caterpillars. I'll just keep planting lots of flowers and more and more host plants, and hope that the predators don't eat them all.

To see more critters, click on the icon in the sidebar. Have a great weekend, and watch out not to trip on dog leashes.

Some Aging Beauties for Blooming Friday

Katarina, of Roses and Stuff talked about aging, and how different blooms handle it. She invited us to show blooms we think age gracefully or other blooms we'd like to share. First, I want to share the lovely iris blooming away at a time most iris have long finished for the season. Sweet Bay helped me figure out this is 'Harvest of Memories' iris. I got several unnamed irises last fall, for 75% off at a local garden center, and didn't know much about them. Such a fun surprise! The cleome on the right are aging quite gracefully, and holding their seed pods out so proudly.

Some of my blooms have aged into nice looking seed heads. This is from the new blue clematis that is not a climber.

The rattlesnake master is a wildflower I forgot to include in last week's post. A cardinal climber vine has made itself at home on it.

Here is a seed head close up. I like the texture of it.

Here's a zinnia that is almost finished with its job producing seeds.

Liatris and black-eyed Susans next to still blooming coreopsis:

False Baptisia seed pods:

The Virginia mountain mints are some of the most graceful agers I know of.