“It’s not gardening season anyway.”

Yes folks, that’s what I was told when I asked why my gardening column wasn’t appearing in it’s regular spot in the local paper. I was also told that strict space limitation requirements were being put into place that would, figuratively speaking, shove my column out into the cold gray snowy and lonely winter landscape!

My column has appeared regularly for the past seven winters and even though some may think that “it’s not gardening season anyway” there are many interesting things to be said about the winter landscape. The simple explanation is this: the editor of the paper is pissed off at me and is getting revenge by not publishing my articles. I have upset someone and I think it’s caused them to omit my column. Of course proving such an accusation would be next to impossible. But it’s probably not an uncommon consequence when editors and their freelance writers get into a disagreement.

I suppose it’s time to move on, seven is my lucky number and the new year is only days away! My writing is good enough for any newspaper, gardening magazine, or book publisher and if it ceases to be included in my hometown newspaper, I’ll find a new home for it!

It’s official

I’ve initiated myself as an official garden speaker/lecturer. The momentous event occurred this past Saturday, April 9 –  I was the keynote speaker at a gardener’s conference sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Clarion County, PA. I also presented two other programs during the all-day conference. No others are aware of the monumental title, except for those who might be reading this. I didn’t announce it in the “Happenings” section of the local newspaper, or write about it in my gardening column. I mentioned it to a few friends, but they seemed uninterested in knowing that I was soon to become a famous garden lecturer. And now I’m even thinking about joining Great Garden Speakers, a website listing “Premier Speakers on Gardening, Nature, Horticulture, and Design.” I’ll have to decide if the $60/year membership fee to create my listing on Great Garden Speakers would be more beneficial than my $85/year membership fee in the Garden Writers Association; since I’m not a famous garden lecturer yet I can’t afford membership in both.

(I’m not entirely new at garden lecturing, but the event mentioned above was what I consider my first “major” speaking gig.)

I’m also very proud to say that I’m a contributing writer for the new Pennsylvania Gardener magazine! One of 15 states with their own gardening magazine published through State-by-State Gardening. Each magazine is dedicated to providing state-specific gardening information. Pennsylvania Gardener’s debut issue was January/February, 2011.  Each of the state magazines has its own website and Pennsylvania Gardener is in the process of getting their’s up and running, and also their enewsletter (which will feature an occasional article by your’s truly!). These publications are savvy to using local experts as contributing writers and I think that’s swell!

The Write Gardener‘s blog is also being considered for linking on State-by-State Gardening‘s website. I think that’ll be cool and might even help me arrive at the “famous garden lecturer” status a little quicker.

Speaking of being famous, did y’all know that my book “Through the Seasons with The Write Gardener” is now available for purchase online? Just click the “Buy Now!” link in the left-hand column and buy it now! Or if you prefer a personalized copy, shoot an email to: tc@thewritegardener.com and I’ll be glad to get you one The Old Fashioned Way!

As a way of sayin “Thanks for Reading my Blog!” the first person that sends me an email with the common and botanical name of the flower pictured below wins a free copy of my book!

Congratulations to Kylee Hartwig Baumle for winning the free copy!

Kylee correctly identified the plant as common ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata).