This gardening year will be so interesting since last year I started using the 10-yr garden journal. Last year several people talked and wrote about how good it was to be able to look back on the same date to see what was happening in the garden. So I thought I would try it.
I believe I did a fare job of writing down the minimum of what was happening. This has really helped me keep the temperatures of most days if nothing else. However I have kept a different type journal for so many years that it is a difficult habit to break. Actually it is one habit I don't want to break because it works for me on many levels.
As you can see my 2008 garden journal is what I keep the most records in. I am one of "those" people that like to take my book out into the garden with me. I sketch in it, write whatever is running through my mind about the garden and sometimes other things happening in life.
This is how it starts out the first of the year. All neat and tidy, tied up in the leather cover that protects it from most dirt and spills. It will end up fattened up with receipts, flower tags, pictures and notes galore.
I usually write, draw, paste in a picture in the front page. What ever the mood brings during the time of getting the journal ready to use. I like to prime it with what ever mood the first of the year brings. It is great fun to look back over the years and read what was going on in the garden.
As you can see my 2008 garden journal is what I keep the most records in. I am one of "those" people that like to take my book out into the garden with me. I sketch in it, write whatever is running through my mind about the garden and sometimes other things happening in life.This is how it starts out the first of the year. All neat and tidy, tied up in the leather cover that protects it from most dirt and spills. It will end up fattened up with receipts, flower tags, pictures and notes galore.I usually write, draw, paste in a picture in the front page. What ever the mood brings during the time of getting the journal ready to use. I like to prime it with what ever mood the first of the year brings. It is great fun to look back over the years and read what was going on in the garden. Those ribbons are how I keep track of the pages of chores or happenings, projects that I need/want to keep track of.
This year I have an added delight to work with when it comes to journaling. It is a gift given to me by Sherry of Q's Corner. She is such a generous loving friend and I want to thank her for surprising me with this journal. It is different than any I have ever used. It has pockets for "stuff" and prompts and quotes to keep you thinking about the garden. Thank you so much Sherry for feeding my journaling soul. I look forward to finding things to put into those pockets and filling up the spaces that call for descriptions of other gardens visited.
I hope you have your garden journal ready to capture all the action in the garden this year of 2009. I want to wish all of my gardening bogger buddies the best, healthiest, most flower/plant filled new year and I hope that all your Garden Dreams come true.
I hope you have your garden journal ready to capture all the action in the garden this year of 2009. I want to wish all of my gardening bogger buddies the best, healthiest, most flower/plant filled new year and I hope that all your Garden Dreams come true. 
Hi Lisa, what a wonderful journal from your friend. I remember you showing some pages with photos pasted in and your writing when you redid a spot in the garden and thinking how organized you are! I have always written on loose leaf notebook paper, not outside either, it would be a muddy mess, then put them together in a plastic sleeve in a larger notebook. The last couple of years I haven't even done that because I refer back to them all the time. Sorry this is so long, I should do a post of my own! LOL
ReplyDeleteMay you have the best year ever in 2009!
Frances
Lisa .. that is such a great thing to be able to stick to .. I used to keep a journal and then when I began blogging it went out the window .. I didn't have the time or energy after working in the garden .. then blogging.
ReplyDeleteBUT ... I would dearly love to get back to doing it .. keeping track of what plant is where and what has happened is so much easier if you can flip back in the pages and read about it.
You might have just inspired me to try again .. thank you !
Joy
Happy New Year : )
What a great idea! I have journal'd in many different modes, but I like this one - my creative juices are flowing! Thank you Lisa! May your 2009 entries be the best ever!
ReplyDeleteI had a health journal I was writing in somewhat faithfully, but there were some blank pages in it. I didn't get new one last year. I don't think I'd keep up with a garden journal, although I just remembered I have a binder with some pics I printed and wrote notes on. I am way behind in that, though.
ReplyDeleteI like your journals, though, and your handwriting looks pretty in them.
It takes dedication to stick with journaling like that. Congrats, and happy new year to you too!
ReplyDeleteLove the journal! I semi-tried to keep one this year - am sure it well help as I continue to garden to jot things down. Not near as dedicated as you - though I should try in 09! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Years!
I like your journal ideas! With your drawings and sketches, one of these days your journals will be a treasure to those you love. I hope you have a very blessed and healthy new year!
ReplyDeleteI like the journal too and I'm not a journal person---although--I'm starting to see the benefits. I've moved so much that one year to the next was a different plant zone. But now I'm rooted and loving what you shared with us today.
ReplyDeleteYour journals look as if they'd be wonderful mementos of years past as well as useful tools. I've kept journals in a haphazard fashion for years, hardly ever consistently remembering to record important dates and events from the garden.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Happy new year! I think such a journal certainly can be a great record! but I also know myself well enough to know I would never stick to it... though I have found all the photos I took this year for my blog have been REALLY helpful in knowing when things bloomed. I also like wunderground.com for looking up historic temperature data. :)
ReplyDelete~ Monica
What a great gift, Lisa! Happy New Year to you!--Randy
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed, Lisa! I mean to do this; I have meant to do this, but I just don't. I write or type things but then forget about them. Have you read Dear Mr Jefferson by Laura Simon? She keeps incredible notes. I love the look of each of your journals.
ReplyDeleteHi there Lisa and a very Happy New Year to you too :-)
ReplyDeleteWell done for keeping your journal going! After being gifted one this year I have no doubt whatsoever that it will hold so much more in content this year!
Yes, like others I too have difficulty keeping one going but since blogging I do find myself partially keeping one. It is indeed a mixed format book quite similarly stuffed with bits of paper by the end of the year too. Maybe this year I’ll also add gardening notes - so far the notes have been more blog focused from lists to mindmaps :-D
All the best for 2009 :-D
Dear Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI am chuckling over the term...primed! I love it and what an excellent descriptive activity! Right before you described the sweet journal gift I had been thinking...Lisa needs a book with pockets to put her photos, drawings and tags! A very thoughtful gift...and how well she knows you! Now I am very tempted to get the 10 yr journal...
Happy New year!
gail
Happy New Year, Lisa! God! You're so meticulous. I can never be so patient but I'm sure it feels great to maintain a journal. Wish I had that patience in me too.
ReplyDeleteI admire you for keeping such an important journal. Isn't it great to look back and see what you thought at times and to see what the weather was.
ReplyDeleteI hope you share a few pages with us.
Happy New Year Lisa!
Thank you, thank you, Lisa! For reminding me how important the aspect of journaling is! I need to "get going!" Best wishes for 2009. (Perhaps I'll be back for some journaling encouragement and enlightenment during the year!) :-)
ReplyDeleteYour journaling is much more attractive than mine & also more organized. (No surprise there.) I guess I do have a separate ideas journal, but it's more like scribbling in a spiral notebook where I write down lots of other things.
ReplyDeleteFor Christmas, I received the Lee Valley Garden Journal. Oh, it will so scientific that I should be able to record lots of interesting stuff. However, I think I like your new journal best. It looks creative and happy. Oh dear, first day of the year, and I'm coveting your journal. Bad Dee.
ReplyDeleteMy friend Marsha gave me a gardening journal when we had lunch yesterday. I've not kept a written one, but this year, I will. Yours is a beautiful gift as well, and you're such a practiced journalist! I have a hard time keeping one up.
ReplyDeleteNow before you all get all googly eyed and awed about my journaling just remember I don't journal every day and I forget really important stuff sometimes. I am just hard headed enough to keep at it. One day I hope to be a good journalist. Wish me luck.
ReplyDeleteYour garden journal must be a work of art as a scrapbook recounting the labor and observations that go into a successful garden.
ReplyDeleteI am thinking about a journal for 2009, but haven't yet decided. You all make it sound really cool.
ReplyDeleteYour ten-year journal does look pretty cool. Comparisons from year to year would be a lot easier, too.
ReplyDeleteMy journals used to be better - the combination of blogging and living in Texas seemed to wreck what little method I had for weather recording.Who wants to write It's hot. Please lord, send rain for 75% of the last 9 years?
Happy New Year, Lisa!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Lisa, thanks for visiting my blog and the nice things you said about my journal. I have never been able to keep a regular journal...I am too inhibited to write down my thoughts. Blogging has been good for me. I've found I'm not as inhibited as I thought.
ReplyDeleteI think having a record of your year of gardening would be a nice thing to be able to refer back to. I started keeping a book of household repairs when I got divorced and realized I couldn't remember when the last roof was put on the house or when we bought the fridge. It would be nice to know approximately when I will need the $$$ to replace those things.
Happy New Year of Gardening!
My daughter gave me a pretty notebook, which I have used for my garden journal for 2 years now. I start out well, recording things like my winter sowing records, temps, frosts, etc., but by the time May rolls around I am so busy in the garden it gets neglected until fall. I guess I need a little more discipline in keeping it up. :-I
ReplyDeleteDear Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy you like the journal. Looking forward to 2009 and gardening with you and the bugs.
Namaste,
Sherry
It was great seeing your garden journals. Your new one is lovely. I have the same big green garden book ... if only I could actually keep to it for one whole year. I do quite enjoy finding entries from 8 or 9 years ago though ... just random writings. I hope that 2009 is filled with much creative endeavour and wonderful happenings in your life, garden and art.
ReplyDeletegosh this is amazing, and something i have never done. my thoughts and life flit about too quickly to try to capture them on paper....sigh.
ReplyDeleteIt's always interesting to look back and compare success and failure in the garden. I have my garden journals for years. Some years I am a very busy writer and some I am not (last year I wasn't ;-) !). I've got a lovely garden diary too from my best girlfriend and now I am motivated again to fill in the dates....
ReplyDeleteHave a good time and a lot to write in your new and very nice garden journal!!
Barbara