In case you were curious, I certainly was. These were the 11 posts written in 2011, that had the most page views. I was surprised that so many of them have to do with Barbados, not quite sure why I was surprised, I guess because I feel like my blog is about my garden, although now it feels more like about my life. And my life is now in Barbados, it least for the next two years. And I only like to write about personal things, not take a picture from the internet, and write a brief paragraph about it like some bloggers do. My blog has become a journal, a snapshot of what is happening in my life at this time, and that certainly includes Barbados.
I was surprised this one was the number one post of 2011. I wrote 2 posts on my trip to Trinidad, but the post about the seven amazing houses was the most popular. It was certainly one of the most interesting things for me, I am sure you all know I love old houses, look at Kilbourne Grove.
2. Gardening in a Cold Climate
My visit to the amazing garden of Brian Bixley was sparked by reading a review of his book by Kathy Purdy on her website. Luckily I was in Canada for his first open garden of the year (you all know I love bulbs), and took a million photographs. Kathy was kind enough to post a link from her blog to mine, and she became my second largest referral site in 2011. Thanks Kathy.
After gardening (and floral design) for soooo many years, it is disconcerting to live in a country where I only recognize 10% of the vegetation. It is fascinating for me (and I hope you) to discover new plants.
4. Gotta Have It: Bougainvillea
I have long loved bougs, and was super excited to find them in full flower when we moved here last December. The flowering seemed to go on and on and on. Luckily, I was given one for our terrace here, and have found it a super easy plant to grow, just wish they were hardy in Canada.
5. It’s my blog and I’ll cry if I want to
What I left behind!
This post was a bit of a moan for me, sorry about that. At the time I was feeling a bit unhappy, leaving my friends, family, job, home and garden, to live in Barbados. When we moved to London, I was beyond excited, but that was LONDON, I could work, travel to Europe, and I am a bit of a city girl at heart. However, after spending most of the spring and fall in Canada, when I wanted to be there, and spending the winter in Barbados (who wouldn’t), I have adjusted.
Back to point number one, I love old houses. And Barbados has 2 of the 3 Jacobean houses in the Western hemisphere. St. Nicholas Abbey was sooo gorgeous.
7. Drax Hall
Funny that the second Jacobean house in Barbados was the next most popular post. This one is not open to the public, so we were only able to see the grounds.
8. Ah, Life!
For some reason, some of you wanted to know a little bit more about me, so I gave you a lot more, more than you asked for, sorry about that, I do like to ramble. Here is the story of my thoughts about moving to Barbados.
Frank Kershaw was my garden design teacher at George Brown College and he opened his garden to the public. There was so much to see, I had to break it down into a couple of posts, but his pots were the most popular.
Barbados has its own National Trust, and during the ‘season’ a number of homes opened to raise money for it. This was the only home I visited in 2011, but hope to visit more this year. I was surprised more people did not read Part 2, where I talk about the garden, that is where my true love lies.
11. I’m going home
Not sure why this one was so popular, unless you were happy to see me head back to my ‘forever’ home. I certainly was.
There you have it, my most popular posts in 2011, what will 2012 hold…
I am a floral designer living in a tiny condo in downtown Toronto, Canada's largest city. But on the weekend, I am a gardener/frustrated architect trying to keep up with a 3/4 acre garden in Owen Sound, Ontario, a warm (to Canadians, Zone 5b, and a cold (to Americans, Zone 4b) garden.
Green Theatre 
Pauline Mulligan said,
January 6, 2012 @ 6:26 AM
What a lovely selection, not surprised they had the most hits. Have enjoyed looking at your earlier posts from before I started blogging, what wonderful memories you will have of Barbados when you eventually return to Toronto. My husband too was a Banker before retirement, why didn’t he get posted to somewhere like Barbados, we were posted to Devon!!!
kilbournegrove said,
January 10, 2012 @ 8:05 AM
They will be very nice memories, (just as our England ones are), when we return. It is wonderful having the blog and a more permanent record then my own, very unreliable memory. I too, have gone back through your earlier posts, love reading about the back history.
Garden Walk Garden Talk said,
January 6, 2012 @ 8:26 AM
You moved to a place many of us will never see. I like traveling even if I never leave Niagara Falls and I like where you are living right now. I think that is why all the interest, we are seeing plants we never saw too. Plus the architecture, I so love your posts in the buildings.
kilbournegrove said,
January 10, 2012 @ 8:06 AM
I am glad that you are enjoying them Donna, I will post more, now that I know people are interested.
Heather @ what's blooming this week said,
January 6, 2012 @ 8:33 AM
Thanks for the look back, Deborah. I smiled when you said that your blog has become about your life – I’m thinking that happens to most of us over time.
It must be hard to travel so far for work, but the excitement of discovering new things must keep you going. Enjoy the sunshine and warmth and hurry back to Canada to tend your garden in the spring.
kilbournegrove said,
January 10, 2012 @ 8:07 AM
As always, I am looking forward to my return, you know how much I love spring.
Elephant's Eye said,
January 6, 2012 @ 1:56 PM
We’ve grown accustomed to your … When I first found you it was a top of the range city florist, and we’ve just done 10 of these … Then the forever garden at Kilbourne Grove, which I feel as if I’ve visited, and shared your anguished gardener’s heart at the distance. And the new life in Barbados, we get the fun, and the problems are at one remove. You give me what I want of the very best blogs – as I read your post, I step into your life.
kilbournegrove said,
January 10, 2012 @ 8:09 AM
This is the nicest compliment I have ever been paid, thank you so much Diana. And I ppromise, I will try to post an arrangemnt designed with Barbadian flowers,just for you.
Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening said,
January 6, 2012 @ 8:30 PM
I really think Brian’s writing should be more widely known, so it was my pleasure to share your experience of his garden. (Something I have yet to do myself!) Best wishes for the coming year.
kilbournegrove said,
January 10, 2012 @ 8:10 AM
Thank you Kathy, I do hope to visit his garden again this year.
Jess said,
January 6, 2012 @ 8:50 PM
I too am always shocked at what ends up being the most popular for the year. Some posts which I lovingly create get ignored and others zoom through the web. Shows how much we know.
kilbournegrove said,
January 10, 2012 @ 8:10 AM
I have found the same Jess, obviously I know nothing.
Marguerite said,
January 7, 2012 @ 12:02 PM
I can’t speak for others but I’ve never been to Barbados so your posts from there are always intriguing to me. Seeing exotic plants and different architecture is always a thrill.
kilbournegrove said,
January 10, 2012 @ 8:11 AM
I am glad to know you are enjoying them Marguerite, so I will be very happy to show you more.
Anna said,
January 8, 2012 @ 3:34 AM
The stats fairies produce such interesting information Deborah and often unexpected 🙂 WordPress seems to excel itself in this department – Blogger does not provide an annual state of affairs report 😦 I enjoyed reading about your blog’s top posts. I am not sure whether I saw the one about pots so will have to have a peek later 🙂 Oh and a most Happy New Year to you – may it treat you and those you love kindly xxx
kilbournegrove said,
January 10, 2012 @ 8:13 AM
Thank you Anna, the same to you and yours. I do love WordPress, (although I have never tried Blogger), and I especially love stats, they are so very interesting.