So we garden bloggers were wholeheartedly ignored by the Bloggies. That's all right. We're a niche. And a bit of a quirky one, at that. But it doesn't change the fact that there are so many garden bloggers out there who put a lot into their blogs. We all have those blogs that we check every day, the ones we look forward to when we log on. And there are thousands of blogs out there that I haven't had a chance to visit. I think---no, I know---that it's high time that we had our own little recognition ceremony.

So, I started the Mouse & Trowel Awards.

I've had this thought in my mind for a while now. What always held me back from actually doing it was the whole thought of "who am I to start an awards program?" Who am I? I'm someone who loves garden blogs, someone who has found many kindred spirits out there in the blogosphere. And while I may be the one "hosting" the awards, the awards will be given to garden bloggers by their peers. That's right. You get to nominate your favorite blogs in eight different categories, as well as some of your favorite gardening web sites. After all of the nominations are in, we'll narrow each category down to three finalists, and we'll vote. As in any field, being recognized by one's peers is something to be proud of.

I know none of us does this for recognition. We do it for love, or for obsession, or for something to pass our non-gardening time with. But here's our chance to show our fellow garden bloggers how much we appreciate them, or, maybe even earn a Mouse & Trowel Award for ourselves

So, go ahead. Get nominating. I'll keep a badge in the sidebar that will take you to the M&T web site. We want as many nominations and votes as possible, so, if you'd like, I'd love it if you'd spread the word.

I need to stop here and thank my husband, who built the web site and made sure everything worked for me. I gave him literally three days, because by the time I finally decided to do this, it was already spring. I want these to be held in the spring, when I'm in gardening mode (I know my friends in the southern hemisphere are going into fall, but it's a fun way to wind down the gardening season, too ) I'm insanely lucky to be married to a man who goes with me on my many flights of fancy, who throws himself wholeheartedly into these projects of mine only because he loves me. I truly don't know what I'd do without him. All I can say is that I'm blessed

Okay----start nominating!!! And if you have any questions, drop me a line on this post so I can answer it for everyone to see. Thank you