Helloooo…are you still there, friends? It’s been awhile since we last chatted. I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to stay away for such a long time, and I hope you’re not upset. Instead, I think we’ve reached that point in our relationship where we’re like old childhood friends: silence for months, then chatting for hours when we’ve caught our breaths from life. It's like we were together just yesterday, our words tumbling out in a rush, giggling as we finish each other's sentences.

Truly, my absence wasn’t intentional. It’s been a busy spring. I've missed you. Since we last chatted, there's been much happening here:

Birthdays…

The girlie's horseshows...

Greenhouse and farmers' market duties, plus freelance writing work…

Travels…

And of course, the garden. That’s why we’re here, right? To share our love of gardens, to celebrate their beauty and support one another through the challenges.

While I hate our culture’s endless addiction to “busy-ness,” I'm afraid that's been my downfall recently. I won’t bore you with the details. Still, when a well-known garden blogger literally gasped when I told her I hadn’t posted here in two months--quickly asking how far my numbers had fallen--I realized how different our priorities are.

To me, Garden Delights isn’t about stats. It’s about connections. Friendships. Helping one another through good garden seasons, while building one another up through those sometimes-unfortunate months where nothing goes right, both in the garden and in the heart.

It’s about sharing inspiration, learning from one another, and having meaningful conversations, while relishing the pleasure of new friendships.

I’ve met some of the most wonderful people through my blog, and many of them have become dear friends.

Blogging, to me, will never be about numbers and Klout scores. I don’t write to attract Facebook fans or Twitter followers. If the numbers happen, lovely—more friends to meet and enjoy! But as I tell our children, as long as you have a few, true friends, consider yourself fortunate. Many people with a large circle of “friends” are very lonely.

Life is calming down a bit. Market season, for me, is over. Tomorrow is the last day of school for the kiddos, and my volunteer duties there are through. The gardens, while never done, are planted, and soon the greenhouses will be cleared for the season. We’re in maintenance mode here, and it’s time for summer fun.

Plus, I am now the proud owner of a laptop! All of the hours I spend waiting for the kids can now be put to good use. Hopefully, my writing absences will be less lengthy. (I’m typing from Kristen’s riding lesson right now—finally, I can be productive in the three hours I sit at the barn, waiting for her.)

While I've been gone, I've been thinking of you, collecting stories to share. From chaperoning Kristen’s 8th grade school trip to NYC, where I conned the girls into visiting the High Line Gardens, to a wonderful return trip to P. Allen Smith’s Moss Mountain to a dream dinner featuring spectacular American Grown Flowers to a road trip through gorgeous towns in Arkansas, as well as a tour of a haunted hotel… I have so many stories to tell you.

And I want to hear yours. Will you share?

Over the next few weeks, let's block out some time to catch up, shall we?

I promise—I’ll be back much sooner this time.

Until then...tell me, what's new with you?

XOXO ~

Julie