And the next post is ...

 

Number 222!
There's a repetition and symmetry about these numbers that appeals to me.
It's a coincidence that this post also falls on first anniversary of this blog which I started on 13 February 2011. Truth be told I'm a bit surprised that I'm still doing it. P is even more surprised...At least the blog hasn't fallen by the wayside on a tide of good intentions...

Looking back the content of the  blog has changed quite a lot. I would even like to think it has evolved into something more interesting than a record of the weather in the east of Scotland. Maybe I should let others be the judge of that. What was a diary or an "aide memoire"   is now bits about the garden, photos (lots) and other bits and bobs. It's an eclectic mix...

I decided to look back and see what interested other people. A wee trawl through the stats showed that top of the posts was..


Radical Action Part 2: A Touch of Spice.
Gratifying to know that it was actually something about gardening!
This post was about the overhaul of one of the borders and the addition of late summer colour. It went from tasteful whites and pinks and lilacs to zingy oranges and yellows and greens. 

A close second in terms of popularity turned out to be "The Dung Fly and the Stinky Mushroom".
Some of you might have thought that this was just an opportunity to put up photos of a questionable subject matter...

But I have become fascinated by images of fungi and there is an ever increasing archive of  photos. Plans are afoot to join in a fungi ramble with an expert this year in order to identify a few more.

Looking at Statistics or "reading the runes" were of great interest to this blogger for a while. You can only read so much into them (or not as the case may be).

There was one statistic that I would like to share with you. I'd like to call it a "Rash of Russians"  One day some time back there were over 400 visits. That was unusual...
And even more unusual was that most of them were from Eastern Europe. The answer may be the title of the post at the time. "St Cyrus" is a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. They must have been a bit surprised to find a Nature Reserve rather than the saint they were looking for.

When I started Planticru Notes I had a rather precious notion that I was doing it just for me. Then I discovered that it was really good to know that you're talking to other often like minded people. That gives the whole exercise a different complexion and a bit more substance. I am not alone...

I've also had the opportunity to meet up with Penny at Little Herb Farm and Shirley at
Shirls Gardenwatch. That was a delight.

There are other birthday blogs around. Dave at "The Anxious Gardener" and Papaver at "The Blackberry Garden"  and Ca at Foxglove Lane are all downing the champagne and painting the garden red.

So here's to another year blogging about a garden in Montrose.....perhaps....

Triptych is by Frances Pelly.