How fitting that in this week of Thanksgiving, I have reached a major blog milestone: 1,000 followers!
I am humbled and grateful that 1,000 of you have found something here worthy of following.
When I first started this blog over three years ago, my goal was to provide gardening content, along with photos of nature’s inspirational beauty. In the early days, a new follower was a cause for great celebration – a thrill of validation!
Sure, I felt twinges of envy for those who started blogging after I did, quickly racking up huge numbers of followers. “Wow, 1,200 followers in three months!” As tempting as ego-boosting stats were, they were not my priority. I was determined to produce my best work and not seek numbers that genuinely did not reflect my earning them.
Soon, of course, I realized blogging is much more than what one posts. It involves ‘meeting’ other like-minded souls, being inspired by their creativity and humanity. Over time, the exchanges develop into relationships that grow into firm bonds of respect, admiration and friendship.
So, it is with humble gratitude that today I bless and celebrate my WordPress community – long may we grow and prosper!
Eliza Waters 
Congratulations! I really enjoy your photos and our three years of friendship!
Many thanks, Ellen. It has been a pleasure!
Many congratulations Eliza – what a fantantic milestone. And I am not surprised either. It’s always a pleasure reading your posts, admiring your lovely photos and seeing your creative side. Here is to the next 1000!
Thank you so very much! Sharing this journey with you makes it all the more pleasurable. 🙂
Wow that’s a huge milestone. I’m hardly hitting a hundred. I’ll definitely watch out your space for more- 😉 congratulations 🎉
Thank you, Naiha. Your numbers will rise, stay with it, you have a great blog. 🙂
Thanks. 🙂
Congratulations. Great photography, and I appreciate your thoughtful. comments.
Thank you very much, Victor.
Congrats!
Thank you!
Congratulations, Eliza. You deserved it. I am grateful for all the photographs you publish. They open a new and beautiful world to me.
So kind of you to say, Archita. Many thanks!
Eliza: congratulations to you! 🎈 These past months have given me much enjoyment, looking forward to and enjoying your photographs and descriptions. It’s so nice to “meet” caring, concerned for our earth people & find other bloggers to follow. Looking forward to the next years of garden & flower photos. Thanks to YOU!
Humble thanks, Alice. 🙂
I am thankful for your blog. Congratulations Eliza.
Thanks so much!
Congratulations Eliza and thank you for you and your lovely blog 🙂
Many thanks, Ann. Same back at you!
Thank you Eliza.
Congratulations, Eliza. You are such a positive contributor to the blogging/wordpress community and your posts always bring joy into my day. Here’s to another 1000 followers … and more! x
Aw, what a sweet compliment, Rebecca. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Well done and well deserved, Eliza! You have a fabulous blog here, and thank you for sharing! What a magical image you have chosen to celebrate with!
Thank you very much, Pete!
Granratulations and I agree with Pete’s sentiments regarding your image.
Many thanks, David.
Congratulations Eliza – I really enjoy the chance to witness your way of seeing the world through your writing and photography.
Thank you for your kindness and sharing your lovely world, too.
Fantastic! Good for you and well deserved, it’s always a pleasure hearing from you and seeing a new post 🙂
Thank you, Frank!
So nice to have a friend in the neighborhood, especially one who lives in such a different world.
Oh, forgot to say WooooooHoooooooo to Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Thank you, Micheal! ❤
Congratulations… Glad to have joined your group of followers wnd looking forward to stay on the great road of communication via our blogs. Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving.
Many thanks, Louise!
Congratulations Eliza. I so enjoy your posts and our exchanges!
Likewise! Thanks, Belinda.
😊
Congrats! You should be proud of your wonderful posts and the connections you’ve made. Much love, Kate
Thank you kindly, Kate!
You are your blog are far more than worthy, more liked wonderful! Happy Anniversary & keep on blogging!
Thank you so much, Cindy. 🙂
Yay! Congratulations:)
Thank you, Gigi!
Wowzers, Eliza! I was just being amazed at my own 200+. You’re right, I think, in that the blogging community is a relationship. There are people I would contact to meet in person were I in their neck of the woods and that’s a nice feeling. Congratulations on your following. I think the quality of your blog makes it richly deserved.
Thank you so much, Lisa. Blog friends make the shared journey a pleasant one!
I’m lucky to get a few:)
Sounds like humble gratitude… 😉
(Zig Ziglar could help you with that. 🙂 )
Congrats Eliza. I took me about 3 years to get over 1,000
I guess we’re on par then! 😉 Although to be honest, your photos far outrank mine!
That photo is glorious!
Thank you, Fi. 🙂
Holy guacamole! That’s quite an achievement. Congrats, congrats!
Congratulations Eliza! I do love your posts, and feel the same way about blogging as you. When I started I got around six viewers a day for a while and was over the moon that six people were looking at my posts! LOL! May your blog grow and prosper for many years to come! 🙂
Thank you, Cathy. I’m proud to have you as a blogging buddy! 🙂
Congratulations Eliza 🙂
Thank you, Irene!
Wow that’s a lot!! Congratulations… and I love the sunny photo!
Thank you, Noortje. So glad to have found your site – your work is lovely.
Well done Eliza! You have selected an exquisite image to celebrate with too 🙂
Thank you kindly, Anne!
Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
Thank you for reblogging!
Quality over quantity any day. Congratulations. 🙂
Thank you!
Congratulation Eliza. you’ve earned your readership with your assiduously regular posting and participation in commenting on other blogs.
Thank you, Christina. I’ve been blessed with this great community. So glad to a part of it!
You’ve worked hard & stayed true to your creative voice so bravo! Always a lovely posting. Glad to be celebrating Thanksgiving with you!
Thank you, m’dear! I appreciate you so very much! ❤
Congrats on reaching that impressive milestone. 🙂 I don’t look at stats ever. My pulse quickens when I see a familiar person has left a comment. The blogging community is a really welcoming place where ideas can be exchanged and new things can be learned – I love it. Thanks for being part of my blogging world, and its my pleasure to be part of yours. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you, Judy. I appreciate you and everyone so much – a great community. Hope your Thanksgiving was pleasant. 🙂
Congratulations! Yours is an email I always open, because I can count on a serene place that celebrates nature and gardens and beauty to heal my weary soul from doing environmental activism all day!
Aw, thank you, Judy. Glad to know my work is enjoyed. And I appreciate your tireless work on behalf of the planet!
Congrats! I am so happy I found my way to your most excellent corner of the Internet and can count myself as one of those 1,000 (and count you as a great blogging friend!).
Thank you, Sarah. The feeling is mutual. 🙂
Well done Eliza. You show the way!
🙂 Thank you, Alison!
Congratulations Eliza! Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving too.
Thank you, Kris!
Congratulations!
Grow, live long and prosper Eliza 💛
🙂 Thank you, Val.
OH!!! Congrats!! Eliza, I am so happy for you! I am just so thrilled your path has crossed with mine. May you and your family have a wonderful wonderful Thanksgiving! Bless you! ❤
Thank you, Amy. Hope your T-day was relaxed and bountiful. 🙂
Congratulations, you have followers in the blogspot community as well.
Good point! Very true and I am very grateful for it. 🙂
Congrats for those followers and that image which is fantastic!
Muchas gracias, Maria!
On top of your followers, I’m sure there are plenty of lurkers like me. I don’t formally “follow” any blogs. But, oh, I treasure my little blogging community–those who regularly comment and with whom I feel a bond. Thank you for being part of that community. And congratulations on the milestone–it is well deserved.
Thank you kindly, Brenda. You are one of my best ‘non-followers’ then! 😉
Congratulations, not so for the 1000 followers, but rather for the strength to continue blogging for 3 years. May you keep at it for … at least another three ☺! And by the way, the photo is AMAZING!
Thank you very much!
That’s an extraordinary photo! It’s great to have you on WordPress. Happy blogging and congrats!!!!
Thank you, Nataly. Ditto!
Congratulations, Eliza! It’s good that it happened around Thanksgiving too. Very appropriate! Incidentally, that’s a wonderful photograph at the top of your post.
Thank you very much, Bun!
Well done Eliza; so enjoy your posts and the view through your lens.
Thank you, Liz, much appreciated!
How exciting! Congratulations 🙂
Thank you, Heather. How’s things going in your neck of the woods? 🙂
Beautiful light!
Thank you, that was taken on one of those rare mornings when you notice the light and run outside in your bathrobe! ;-D
Ha ha! That is totally what I would do !
😉 I thought you’d relate.
Congratulations Eliza, that indeed is a super milestone to reach. I’m sure we all appreciate your fine photos and telling commentaries. May you go on to reach further heights and milestones!
Thank you kindly, Denzil!