I cannot believe that 2008 is all but over. It has been a whirlwind year with lots of news and goings on. For Landscape Juice, it was the year that woke the big boys up to its presence.
I hope that you have enjoyed the site over the last twelve months and I look forward to another cracking year with you being part of it.
Here I take a look back at some of the stories.
January saw the launch of the disease resistant Elm by Dorset based Knoll Gardens nursery with the American strain Princetown.
Also in January, British onion growers faced a wash-out after heavy rains destroyed valuable crops.
February brought more stupid claims of global warming from journalists who are stuck for things to write about. With this winter being more like the good old days (with another very cold spell imminent).
Sudden Death Oak Syndrome hit National Trust for Scotland properties, re-igniting the debate amongst gardeners about the increasing threat from the disease.
March saw me warn of the dangers of listening to music while you work and the good old Strasberry made a comeback.
April, with spring in the air saw the launch of the extremely successful Landscape Juice Network and I interviewed photographer Tracey Rich about here life behind the lens.
In May I showed you the changing face of some of the tools in France and Landscape Juice continued its heady climb as a favourite garden site.
June was a disaster for many vegetable gardeners after the weedkiller ingredient aminopyralid was found to be residing in manure. The problem remained high profile for much of the year and gardeners were warned not to spread manure or slurry.
For me, great delight when Landscape Juice was featured by Typepad.
July witnessed the discovery of the Ghost slug which terrorised Wales, the Credit Crunch claimed more garden victims and the Landscape Juice Network reached its one hundredth member.
August brought concerns for the bee keeping industry when it was revealed that the Asian Varroa Destructor mite had decimated bee colonies.
The Association of Professional Landscapers responds to my criticism and accuse Landscape Juice of being antagonistic and mis-representing the APL.
September sees Tony McCormack pop in with a message to re-assure his followers after Paving Expert gets lost in cyberspace. Meanwhile, I interviewed Christine Walkden from the One Show.
In October, I highlighted Gardeners'Royal Benevolent Fund and ageism reared its ugly head when groundsman Keith Pope was forced to retire.
In November Wyevale Garden Centres insulted gardeners with this lowly pay offer, Garden Writers recognised blogs for the first time and renewed warnings of the dangers of Lyme Disease did the rounds.
December saw the release of an old wartime book from Penguin Books advising how to keep rabbits and chickens on scraps reflecting the current yearning for the return to sustainability and self-sufficiency.
Haymarket Publishing lay off fifty staff and take two publications exclusively on-line - further strengthening my belief that the print industry is in deep trouble.
RHS President Peter Buckley died after a short illness and so did Blec landscaping equipment after a long and distinguished life.
I hope that you have enjoyed my short review but please, feel free to peruse the Landscape Juice archive at any time - the link is in the top menu bar.
From now on. you do not have to miss a thing - just sign up to my weekly newsletter.
Thank you all so much for the support I have received this year and I look forward with you all to a safe and happy 2009.
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