May 31, 2017

The Meme Had to Die Change
(And the Winner Is...)

milkweed seeds

The Garden Lessons Learned meme has reached a turning point. Because short, concise, illustrated social media posts now reign, it's time to change the format.

Also, when you no longer want to participate in your own meme--a meme you created--it's time to change. So...

From now on, I'll plan to gather "Lessons Learned" posts from around The Interwebs, as I find them, and post them under the Lessons Learned tab.

If you find a post, or write a post, with garden lessons...please let me know! I think there's still value in sharing the wisdom--it's just that trying to meet the confines of a regular meme is becoming less fun and more of a chore. Sometimes I want to write about garden lessons, other times simpler topics, and still other times inspiration leads in an entirely new direction.

Thanks to all those who've participated in the meme in the past, and those who'll share lessons yet to come.

Here's to new lessons and new directions! Oh, and happy summer to those in the Northern Hemisphere; happy winter to those in the Southern Hemisphere!

******************

And the winner is...

On my last post, I promised to pick a random name to award a copy of Kylee Baumle's new book, "The Monarch: Saving Our Most-Loved Butterfly." The winner is Jason at Garden in a City! Congratulations!

30 comments:

  1. Shouldn't do something that feels like a chore. I will look forward to other things you post.

    Lucky Jason.

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    1. Hey Lisa: Maybe I was a little too strong on the reaction. It was a fun meme while it lasted. I think it's just time to approach it in a different way. :)

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  2. Beth, I've learned some valuable lessons in my garden and I thought a lot about you and your meme. But, it's our graduation year. Both boys are about to fly out from our nest... Busy time, and I force myself to post on my blog, at least a month review. But, what I wanted to say - you made me look at my garden experience from that particular point of view: what lesson can I learn from this or that. As a result, I try to draw conclusions from my experience, whether it was good or bad, and introduce some changes into my gardening practice. And for that, THANK YOU very much!

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    1. Oh gosh, you are busy. It's all good: I think this new format will make more sense for me and others, too. People frequently post about "lessons learned," and it doesn't have to fit a particular time frame. Thanks for your kind words, and congratulations to your boys and your family!

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  3. Now that it is garden season, it is hard enough to post and comment. So I think it makes a lot of sense to take the pressure off.

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    1. Hi Linda: Yes, that is so true. Gardening season--particularly the catch-up weeks just after the last frost--is busy, busy. Personally, I'm finding it more fun lately to hop in and out of memes, and not feel compelled to participate regularly. If I feel that way, I can't expect others to feel differently. Memes are great, but there are so many...and so little time. ;-)

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  4. I like your change idea. I seem to forget a lot of meme dates so this is awesome. I've greatly enjoyed reading the lessons learned posts and look forward to continued learning at random times!

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    1. Hi Peter: Thanks for your support! I've enjoyed the meme, and always the concept of continuous learning. Happy summer!

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  5. goes to show you are in tune with things Beth - many blog visitors want something as brief as day lily blooms (though I am not one of them!) Good idea to keep going with the lessons learned under a collective guise and hence free yourself up - always a pleasure to stop by no matter how briefly.
    p.s. the milkweed seedhead is a work of creator's art indeed
    pps congrats to Jason who is evidently contributing much to the monarch trail

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    1. Thanks, Laura. Yes, you conveyed my thoughts so well. ;-) I still enjoy the long blog posts (both writing them and reading them). But I like the idea of leaving the timeline open, encouraging participation when the spirit moves.

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  6. Yes, if it's no longer fun, best to move on. Gardening blogs should be just like gardens - evolving. So long as I had a harvest, I participated in Harvest Monday for the past few years religiously, sometimes at the expense of writing other posts that may have been more on point in terms of what was happening in the garden. As things are so hectic this year, I decided to give myself "permission" to ease up a bit on that, which I think I will carry into the future.

    And congrats, Jason!

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    1. Hi Margaret: Sometimes it was fun, sometimes a chore. As I mentioned to Laura, I still enjoy the long posts, but on a flexible timeline. Yes, I know what you mean about writing to the meme--that's what I've found myself doing too often. I still have blog posts in waiting, that I didn't have time to write because of trying to fit memes, including "lessons learned." Time to open up the schedule and the creativity!

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  7. I'm feeling very lucky! Thanks for the book. As for the meme, I think it takes a lot of courage to try to get one started. If it stops working for you, then move on.

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    1. Yay for you! I hope you received it in the mail? Thanks for your support, Jason. The meme was/is fun, but I think a more relaxed timeline and format will be more enjoyable for everyone. :)

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  8. A change is as good as a rest! Are you going to Buffalo? Do hope so. So cold here the milkweed is just starting to show. Bunnies up 45 kale plants and coyotes (3 of them) have taken to visiting the garden. It'll be a day in the garden - finally like an eclipse warmer, sunny weather has collided with the w/e. Garden on.

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    1. Yes, change is good. And yes, I'm going to Buffalo--glad to hear you are, too! We had a weird mild-cool-mild-cool-hot-cool-mild-hot spring. Now it's warm/hot for the foreseeable future, and the Milkweed is large and forming buds. Dang rabbits. Garden on!

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  9. Thanks for hosting the meme while you did! It is hard to keep up with scheduled things like that, I know, when gardening season is in full swing and you have other things you would like to do. Enjoy the gardening season!

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    1. The meme was/is fun! I'm thinking a more flexible, less rigid time frame will be easier for everyone. :) Happy gardening, Indie!

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  10. This was a great meme Beth. I enjoyed reading the lessons others shared. But like things in the garden, everything has a cycle and when things aren't working anymore we have to change things up. I find it hard to keep up with all the ins and outs of social media. It seems just when I'm getting the hang of things, it's outdated and I have to learn a new way. It keeps us learning I guess. Thanks for creating and hosting Lessons Learned. Onward!

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    1. Thanks, Karin. Yes, changing things up keeps it all fresh. I've always been one to enjoy change. I agree: Change and flexibility keep us learning. Onward!

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  11. I tend to think in terms of "lessons learned" and I really enjoyed this while you were doing it. As for changing memes - it's futile to try to keep up. I will continue to write essays even if no one reads anymore! So there!

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    1. Yes, I enjoy the long posts and the short posts and everything in between. Changing it to posting lessons as they happen hopefully will make it more fun and easier for everyone. :)

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  12. I think blogging in general has changed a lot since I began blogging in 2007. Every person has to find their niche and understand why he or she blogs. I'm sorry your meme needed to change but I guess change is constant and that is not a bad thing. I applaud your desire to want to post lessons learned and you are certainly welcomed to use my lesson learned with a cover crop. Ha, that's the fun of gardening-you live and learn.

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    1. Thanks, Tina. Yes, I think blogging is changing, too. I'm not sorry it's time to change the meme; it just is. Yes, change is constant and change is good. Amen--live and learn! Thanks for allowing me to link to your post about the cover crops. :)

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  13. My motto - as I have gotten older - is Everything Changes. As long as you keep posting I'll be reading.

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    1. Good motto! Change is good. I've always felt that way. It keeps the mind and life fresh and growing. ;-) Thanks for your kind words.

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  14. I'll miss the Lessons Learned meme, but I totally understand. I really enjoyed reading others' wisdom--some funny and some very inspiring. But I know what you mean about something becoming a chore at times. I've been blogging less and less the last year; other things seem to be taking up more of my time. If I were to write a post on this topic right now, I think it would be that I'm learning I need to cut back on all my containers!

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    1. I will still add links to posts about garden lessons learned -- so check back (to the tab at the top of the blog). I just came across one today that I need add. That will be the challenge now--keeping up with the maintenance. ;-)

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  15. The need for change is the challenge that creates new inventions! That is true in the blogosphere, too. I always enjoy your posts. Best wishes!

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    1. Thank you, Deb. :) Change keeps us fresh and challenged. There are so many things to write and post--sometimes they fit a meme, and sometimes they don't. It's all good.

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