My daughters have phones they call "Smart". When we are together and I have a question, they reply "Just a minute", and immediately they are on the internet with their phones, giving me the information I requested.
A Smart Phone would be nice to have at the garden centers when the labels are inadequate, and the workers are too. A few minutes on the phone would let me know if I needed to spend my money on a plant that is calling my name, or just wave and walk on by. But I'm not going to change from my old, dumb phone. I'll just have to learn if an impulse purchase will survive the old fashioned way - by experience!
I don't keep up with all those tech gadgets or "I" toys. I-Pads, I-Pods, I-this, I-that, it's confusing. Well, it probably wouldn't be confusing if I cared. But I don't need any of those things. At least that's what I thought. Until my husband got me an I-Pod!
Now I can rock out to all those old songs I used to listen to in high school! It's fun! And I love listening to it when I do housework. But the garden is a different matter.
I've always loved the peace and quiet that gardening provided. I love hearing the buzz of the bees, the chirp of the birds, the sounds of the planes flying over - wait, scratch that last part! Well, you know. Nature can be a wonderful place to get lost in thought.
Now, my husband also bought me some camellias. (No, he's not in trouble for anything. He's just a sweet guy.) Two Finlandia Variegateds (a white, pink-striped japonica), and a Bonanza (a red sasanqua). But for some reason, I wasn't too excited about digging holes. I needed a push. The rain and cold were coming, so the camellias needed to go in the ground - immediately - even though I'd rather stay inside in my warm Hoodie-Footie.
So, I thought I'd try gardening with my I-Pod. And it was fun, even though I'm not sure I heard much music, as I was still lost in thought most of the time. So, I probably won't use the I-Pod in the garden much, but it was great for jump-starting my motivation. The holes were dug and the camellias are safe and sound in their new homes - right before the rain started! Yeah!
These pictures are all from yesterday, too. My garden is still looking quite nice, though I'm not sure what it will look like after this cold front moves through. I admit I haven't been working outside much. I've been busy inside, getting ready for Christmas, and I'm sorry now that I've missed seeing what may be some of its last blooms.
I need to get smart (like a phone?) and make myself go out into the garden daily. I feel much better when I do. It's a low-tech pleasure - no I-Pod necessary.
Do you go out in the garden daily?
I take a daily walk thru my little garden, To me, it brings a sense of peace and serenity to an otherwise crazy world. It never ceases to reveal something interesting. All the photos from my blog are taken with my "smart phone" it accompanies me on my walk each day.
ReplyDeleteCute post, Holley.. We are sorta an "i" family --although, so far, we don't have a smart phone. We do have a pretty nice phone--which takes pictures, texts, and does most everything we want right now...
ReplyDeleteWe have had iPods for a long time --and love walking with them.. Invariably, when we round a curve and see a beautiful mountain top in the distance, some song will come on the iPod -- such as "Climb Every Mountain"... That is NEAT!!!!
Hope you enjoy your iPod. My hubby has an iPad and absolutely LOVES it. I am still using the laptop!!!! ha
Hugs,
Betsy
I garden from the window these days as our grass is either soggy or frozen. I've an ipod and I love listening to music as I weed though I do miss hearing the birdsong and the buzzing.
ReplyDeleteOh I have all those "i" thingys and more (need them for work) so for me, the garden is one place where I absolutely refuse to i-anything! There has to be a place I can escape from the "noise" of the 20th century :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. Sometimes it is hard to get motivated to put on my work clothes and go outside especially if it is cold. But I don't think I have ever regretted it, not once. I don't have i-anythings, I don't even have a cell phone. People are amazed I can even function!
ReplyDeleteYes, I take a walk through the garden daily. I have to see if there is anything new going on. I'm on the look out now for early sprouting bulbs. We are a very non techie family. Our phones are 5 years old but they work fine for our purposes. My son did buy me an iPod a few years ago. I recently started going for morning walks again, and I love listening to downloaded gardening Podcasts.
ReplyDeleteI go out into the garden most days. Often I go out to hang out the washing and then notice a weed that needs pulling or a shrub that just needs a bit of a snip, nothing that's worth changing my clothes or shoes for, just something to do quickly on my way back to the house. Two hours later I finally make it back inside, hot sweaty and dirty and wondering where the time went. As for technology,I have an old no-frills mobile that was my daughter's first one. She is now on her fourth. I have an MP3 Walkman, but like you, listening to music in the garden is a bit of a waste for me because I'm always thinking and plotting and planning when I'm out there. Like Dorothy, I take it for walks and listen to Podcasts on it. Either gardening or book shows.
ReplyDeleteredneckrosarian - I am always amazed when I find out a picture is taken by someone's smart phone - the photos always look great!
ReplyDeleteBetsy - What a great experience to have songs correspond to what you are experiencing! Maybe I'll give the I-Pod another chance. I bet I'd weed faster with it playing some music with a fast beat!
leavesnbloom - Maybe I should use the I-Pod for things I don't necessarily enjoy - like mulching, and do the enjoyable garden chores where I can hear nature.
Gardening Blog - So smart of you! I think everyone needs to get away from technology for some time during the day. Glad your garden is your escape.
Carolyn - No cell phone? I thought I was the last hold out! haha I could probably do without mine, but I do like the feeling of security it gives me when I'm out in my car somewhere. I remember (before cell phones) having to walk to a pay phone when the car had a flat once.
dorothy - Downloaded gardening podcasts!!! I didn't know about such things! I'll have to check into that!
Lyn - I try not to go outside in my 'regular' clothes just for that very reason! I have really been missing out on these Podcasts things!
Your flowers are so lovely!
ReplyDeleteAt this time of year when it's cold it feels like a real chore to get out in the garden but when I do get out I'm always glad I did. There's nothing like digging in the ground to make me feel happier with the world.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I love my smart phone and have taken about a third of my blog photos with it. Very cute post!
ReplyDeleteYou will enjoy the podcasts, especially the price. I also enjoy listening to books on my ipod while in the garden. It gives me a chance to get some good listening time in. I do also enjoy being in the garden with my own thoughts too. You are way smarter than me I don't even have a unsmart cell phone. I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather.
ReplyDeleteLovely roses as always!
ReplyDeleteMy husband loves anything made by Apple. He upgraded his iphone recently and gave me his old one since my simple cell phone was dying. He sold me on the idea by telling me I could use it to take pictures for my blog when I'm out and about. After half an hour of frustration after trying to use it for such an event, I have found that the old iphone is terrible for taking closeups of what I want it to. Ah for a simple emergency cell phone again..
You have such a sweet husband you buy you I pod and camelia! He knows you well!
ReplyDeleteReading your post made me smile today :) Here's me thinking I spend too much time on my 'smart' phone, that I'm already straining my eyes looking at it's small screen several times during the day.
ReplyDeleteI try my best to go out in the garden everyday. Not a problem during the summer but in the winter when daylight is short it can be tricky but I still go out, even for just a few minutes :)
Mama Zen - Thank you. I am so pleased they have bloomed so late in the season.
ReplyDeleteMarguerite - I feel exactly the way you expressed it. It feels like a chore going out into the cold, but I'm always glad I did!
GirlSprout - I think that's smart! I think a lot of photos are taken by phones, and readers may not realize it!
cohoctonriverrockminifarm - I am so glad to learn about podcasts! I really think I'm going to enjoy those. I am amazed at the number of people that don't have cell phones! I bet your life is much more peaceful without one.
Indie - A cell phone that just calls home and 911 would be perfect for me. I could probably use one that's designed for children!
Malar - Yes, he is very sweet - a keeper!
Mark and Gaz - Oh, I just hate it when the days get so very short. Some days I don't realize how late it's getting, and it'll be already dark! Throw in the cold, and I'm not a big fan of winter!
I agree Holley..I have an iPod Touch that I use instead of a computer to check blog, email and the like but in the garden i frequently want the sounds of nature only...now that is music...
ReplyDeleteTechnically I have a cell phone that I carry in case of emergencies--sometimes I even remember how to turn it on... I could see music being a good motivator for the drudge-work tasks, though somehow I still hold out against it outside. Maybe that's more because I don't want the neighbors to hear me singing along! Until yesterday I'd have said that I do go outside in the garden at least for a few minutes every day, but now it's cold and windy, and looking out from the toasty inside is just fine.
ReplyDeleteI have an ipod that only gets used on road trips. I just never think of plugging in to it, especially when outside. I have a dumb phone, also, but it is smart enough to find a Starbucks when we are traveling - and that's smart enough for me!
ReplyDeleteJennifer@threedogsinagarden
ReplyDeleteI have an older cell phone too. It is good enough for emergencies and that is fine with me for now. I do love my MAC though and couldn't imagine being without a high speed internet connection. They may not help with "gardening", but they do connect me with the gardening world at large.
I love my iPhone, but don't use it to listen to music while I'm gardening. I love the sound of nature -- don't want to drown it out. But my phone does come in handy when I need some plant info on the fly. Or to take a picture of a plant tag when I don't have a paper and pen or when I need to make a list of garden chores to be done at my church landscape maintenance -- I can use the notes page to write notes to myself as I walk around and survey the property. It really has been very helpful for me, I have to admit. Sure makes things easier for me!!
ReplyDeleteDonna - What a nice way to put it. I agree the sounds of nature are the sweetest music on earth.
ReplyDeleteStacy - Thankfully I don't have neighbors close enough to hear my singing, but my husband rolls his eyes when I start dancing to the music!
Cynthia - That's a pretty smart phone if it can find a Starbucks!
Jennifer - That's about the only reason I have a computer, too - for garden blogs and ordering gardening books and bulbs!
Toni - You utilize your phone very well. I would never be able to figure out all those functions, even though "plant info on the fly" sounds lovely!
You have a great DH who buys you smart phone and lovely flowers. Good to keep up with technology but maintain a balanced life with nature. Smark lady indeed!
ReplyDeleteI mean 'smart' not smark. Sorry for the typo error.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a smartphone, either or even an IPod although I'm of a generation that loves all things computer-ish. I rarely even watch TV. But I absolutely love my computer. :o) Your roses look beautiful! I have two that are trying to bloom but it's just too cold.
ReplyDeleteAutumn Belle - I hadn't thought about the oppositions of technology and nature creating a balance, but I love that! And I make plenty of typos, so I knew what you meant!
ReplyDeleteCasa Mariposa - I think I would take the computer over the TV, too. As for your roses, I hope it warms up enough for them to open up. A rose bloom in December is a wonderful thing!
I'm new here and I was just wondering the name of your roses in this post. Are they fragrant or not? My fave on this post is the yellow one.
ReplyDeleteWhile I am techie enough to get by and I do have a "smart" phone and love the ipod I don't want these items in my garden. The garden is a place of peace and I love to hear the birdies, to be at one with Mother Earth - I love the books for garden reference and I do use the internet for research - that said nothing replaces being in the garden.
ReplyDeleteI see your garden is quite beautiful at this time of year, I'd rather look at yours right now and not mine!
Bama Girl - The roses are: Mutabilis with the bench, Souvenir de St. Anne - very fragrant, Appleblossom carpet roses, Gee Whiz looking more pink than orange, and your favorite (yellow) is Julia Child - and you'll be thrilled to know she's quite fragrant!
ReplyDeletebakingbarb - There is a feeling of peace that only the garden seems to give. It would be a shame to ruin it with too many distractions.
I like the peace and quiet of the garden too-no technical stuff! Your roses are beautiful!I hope we have an early spring!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos Holley! I have a solar powered radio that I sometimes take in the garden if I want help ignoring the neighbours, but generally I prefer peace and quiet (as long as it actually is quiet). I'd love a smart phone but when it comes down to it, I'd rather spend the money on new plants than a new gadget :)
ReplyDeletemississippi artist - I'm hoping to have an early spring, too. In fact, I'm going to start planning for it! ;)
ReplyDeleteRuth - Yes, new plants win over gadgets every time!
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