Do you designate a folder or a notebook (online or physical) to save pleasant experiences you don't want to forget?
As a blogger, I often set aside photos that capture "magical" moments I'd like to remember. They're hard to put into words or fit into a blog post. I'm sharing a few here that remind me of special days and unique experiences during the past year.
I've placed them roughly in the order they occurred. The first six, including the top photo of the bumble bee exploring White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba), greeted me on one of those partly cloudy, perfect days in mid-June. The final three are early October memories, when the garden, nature, and local harvests were full, colorful, and plentiful.
There are many more memories, of course, but these were specifically placed in my "Miscellaneous 2025" folder.
A stem of Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea), about to pop and declare the joy of summer.
Blue Flag Iris, at peace within its marshy home. I believe this is Southern Blue Flag (I. virginica), because it displays more yellow on its sepals than Northern Blue Flag (I. versicolor). Both are native here.
A redwing blackbird nestled among the grasses and forbs of its favorite prairie.
Oxeye Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides), ready to burst in the warm sunlight.
The solid, yet graceful and fascinating structure of Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis).
Bird's Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), declaring the growing season extending a bit longer into autumn. Introduced here, this plant can be invasive in some settings. But it certainly is bright and cheery on a warm autumn day.
Locally grown apples (Malus varieties), crowned by a delicious apple cider donut.
And finally, a bright Zinnia bloom (Z. elegans 'State Fair Mix'), started from seed in the sunroom in late March and sparkling through October.
Do you have special memories of gardens and nature from the past year? Please share them!
A folder for photos such as these is a great idea Beth. I'm always inspired by bloggers who do an end-of-year recap and wonder how much time they're spending going back through their posts. But if I was smart enough to collect the photos as I went, well that's a game changer! I love the bumble photo and the zinnia has me longing for summer.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know what you mean, Loree--about digging through all the files of photos from the past year. I admit I need to be more disciplined with my "miscellaneous" folder throughout the year, but maybe it's better to have just a few to consider. LOL.
DeleteNice post, Beth and these photos are lovely in the cold and dark time of year! Wishing you all good things this December--and beyond! Tina
ReplyDeleteHi Tina: Thank you. :) Thinking about the more pleasant days of the past and the future do help me get through this season (my least favorite here). I guess it's good to have a couple of months to read books and do indoor things, but memories of warmth are good therapy. Tee hee.
DeleteI have loads of photos saved. I have never journaled or kept a diary, but can see the value of that. I will have forgotten a lot of the pleasant memories from this past year.
ReplyDeleteSo many photos, right? ;-) I used to keep a diary/journal when I was younger, but I find that blogging is more fun! Best wishes with your memories and plans for the future, Lisa!
DeleteNice images, I enjoyed scrolling through them. Still contemplating an apple cider doughnut. A.melia theshrubqueen.com
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amelia. :) Oh, yes, the apple cider donuts are incredible--especially paired with coffee or milk!
DeleteI like the idea of setting photos aside as the year goes by, so you don't forget. This is sweet.
ReplyDeleteI'll need to set up a new folder soon. Maybe I'll be more disciplined about it in 2026. ;-)
DeleteI save a lot of photos I don't immediately plan to use but I don't keep them all in one place. Sometimes I remember which folder I've tucked one or another in but more often they remain lost in my fuzzy memory. Your approach is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteHey Kris: Yes, there are so many photos and memories to store during the year, aren't there? I need to set up a folder for next year, and then I must be more disciplined about adding to it throughout the year.
DeleteThat was a lovely iris.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was. There was a little bee buzzing around it, too. You can see it above the Iris, but I didn't get enough photos of it. The Iris blooms, however, were such a lovey shade of blue.
DeleteBeautiful memories! Eliza
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eliza. Blessings for the transition to a new year!
DeleteI enjoyed this Beth. I like the lighting with the apples and donut.
ReplyDeleteVery creative and fun idea.
Carla
Thanks, Carla. :) Those freshly picked, locally grown apples are the best...and the donuts are yummy, too!
DeleteHai ragione! Ci sono sempre immagini che devono essere mostrate e che durante l'anno sono sfuggite! L'inverno è sempre perfetto per questo genere di post.
ReplyDeleteUn caro saluto!
Thank you for stopping by, Gabriel. It's fun to discover little odds and ends at the end of the year. Happy winter, as we transition from 2025 to 2026!
DeleteAh, this was a sweet post to encounter on a rough and tumble morning. I particularly enjoyed the bumble bee and the thought of an apple cider doughnut with coffee! I don't save all of my special photos to a specific folder, but perhaps I should. It's a good idea!
ReplyDeleteHi Jerry: Oh, I hope your day was pleasant after the "rough and tumble" part. Those apple cider donuts are delicious! I need to start thinking about setting up the 2026 folder! Happy Holidays!
DeleteI'll have to looks for white indigo, I've only seen the yellow wild indigo. This year, I had a lot of beardtongue volunteer in my wildflower garden. Lots of pretty images in this set!
ReplyDelete