Blogger Stats Update: Much Ado About Astilbe

Astilbe x arendsii 'Diamond'

What is going on in Europe?  There seems to be a continent-wide interest in this photo, originally published here on July 4, 2010.  I picked a white flower to go with my red, white and blue theme for that day.  Over the last few weeks, I have received multiple hits from Germany, France, Poland, Sweden and the U.K.  They are all due to image searches for Astilbe.  I know this because of the "Referring URL's" listed in my Blogger Stats.  I have posted many flower images here, but only this one has received such interest.  I would appreciate hearing from anyone who knows why this flower has been uniquely special to Europeans.

On July 1, Blogger in Draft announced Blogger Stats and I promptly signed up.  It became a daily habit to visit the Stats pages.  I am always interested in how visitors find the site.  A pattern of hits on this image was immediately apparent.  Blogger Stats has now gone system wide so everyone can enjoy this valuable tool.  My experience with this photo should illustrate what an important tool it is.  Windows Live Spaces, are you listening?

Since we aim to please, here are a few more white Astilbe photos.  Live it up, Europe.