A blogger I follow on WordPress from Melbourne Australia, Mark Nolan, commented that he was in the dark, dreary days of winter and appreciated seeing the color and life here on the other side of our planet. I think one of the really cool rewards of blogging is the person-to-person side of communicating; I connect with people whose lives are not that dissimilar to mine. We never meet, though pictures of the writer help me form an image of who they are beyond their words.
In many ways it reminds me of my grandfather who was a ham radio operator. He had his call sign – a jumble of letters and numbers – on his license plate. In the evening, he would retire to what would be called his “Man Cave” today; the semi-finished basement. He would sit for hours “chatting” with friends around the globe. When I lived in Trinidad, the phone system was antiquated and overseas calls were non-existent. In case of a real emergency, there was a network of radio operators who would relay messages to the States and then phone calls were placed to families. Luckily, I never had an opportunity to see the system in action, but it was comforting to know there was a connection.
So in the interest of sharing with my Melbourne buddy, I wandered around the yard smelling the heady blooms of Peonies and checking up on those pots I over-planted a few weeks back with “varieties” I wasn’t really familiar with.
Therapeutic Misadventures 
Sometimes it boggles my mind when I think about how small we have made our world. Journeys that used to take months can now be done in hours. We can immediately connect to people half way around the world and we do so on a regular basis, as if it has always been this way. The generations arriving now will probably never know what “snail mail” was not will they know what a ham radio was.
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So true, Laura! The world is shrinking and things like telex machines and ham radios are dinosaurs!!
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I am still amazed. I play Ruzzle with a woman from India and she plays in her third language. The world is getting to know each other in a much more personal way.
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Thank you and welcome Lori! What is Ruzzle? Fascinating!!
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Some beautiful color to brighten up a dreary Midwest day!
I very much enjoy the blogging connections and friendships I’ve made — present company very much included!!
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Thank you Julie! Always good to hear from you. We are having a rather chilly June so the flowers keep me “warm.”
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It is so very true what you have said Martha, I think I now know more about bees and bears than anyone else in Australia, and I learn something new every time I read your posts. it’s nice to find out what is happening on the opposite side of the planet – particularly in opposite seasons. We have just had the coldest June in living memory in Melbourne, so your warm pictures of your beautiful flowers are truly a ray of sunshine! Enjoy the sunshine and look after those flowers! We all have stories to tell and isn’t blogging a great way to connect with other people who enjoy writing and hear about the important things that are happening in their lives. Thankyou Martha, it was really nice to read your kind words!
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My pleasure Mark and thank you for your kind support.
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How appropriate that you planted Dahlias!
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Yes, thank you Aline! They remind me of my happy old dog with their bright, cheery colors.
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Reblogged this on xdayschocolate.
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Nice color!
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Thank you Chris! Coming from a Master Gardner such as yourself, that is a high compliment!!
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Who cares what they’re growing in-the flowers are beautiful!
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Thanks Allen. I am quite pleased with myself this year!!
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ITS SO NICE BLOG
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Thank you rizkyraja!!
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I think the plants like being too-closely planted!
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I have never had such robust planters, Susan!!
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You meet the most interesting people by reading blogs. It’s good to have a different perspective too, especially from someone on the other side of the world. It’s funny how you can feel you know someone you’ve never met. This pots look gorgeous, I’m a fan of stuffing as much as you can in every pot, it makes for some interesting results.
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