Out at dinner last night with friends, Mrs Buster asked, “What is the point of a Garden Blog?”
Good question – which stopped me in my tracks! – and stayed with me all day to-day.
What is the point of my garden blog? Does there need to be a point to it? And why do I do it?
Why do we bloggers blog?
I suspect that each of us will have different reasons, and perhaps more than one.
I have kept dairies and journals off and on for years. Ranging from the self conscious “I hate so and so, they are a cow” mutterings of the teenage years.
Then I have sketchbooks / journals for my textile art, which are more work in progress with life notes.
Also “Morning Pages” as advocated by Julia Cameron, in the “Artists Way” where you write 3 pages of anything that comes into your head in long hand – these pages are not meant to be read – but I found them a wonderful tool for times in my life where I have been stressed or uncertain. And just needed to clear my mind – and find my path again.
Google the question – “What is a blog” and the first part of wikipedia’s response it:-
“A blog (a contraction of the term “Web log”) is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary …..”
My garden blog started as a personal garden journal for the garden here, as we were doing so much work on it – I wanted some kind of record of the gardens development, it started as a celebration of this garden. Plus a visual reminder that we were making progress
Then – of course, “Strangers” visited, and left comments. Which was lovely, so here I am today – this is my 101 post – and now it is so much more than simply a journal for me to record the changes we make. (Edit; It is my 101 post on my original wordpress blog “An Artists Garden” which had duplicate entries here during the change over period of October)
The first thing I noticed about blogging is “the kindness of strangers” I see evidence of this over an over again and it is an aspect of blogging that I appreciate, all be it in a rather bittersweet way. How easy is it for me to be supportive to some one 100’s or 1000’s of miles away – but neglect to make time to be supportive within my local community. Although sometimes – I suspect it is much easier to share things with strangers rather than burden friends, family or neighbors.
The other thing I enjoy is that some of the commentators – have become “blogging friends” and I do so enjoy a friend popping in to say “hello” without having to tidy the house – or get out of my dressing gown for that matter!
So why do I write a blog?
Simply because I like it.
I enjoy photographing the world about me, I like thinking about things to write. I get a certain amount of satisfaction from actually turning up at my blog dashboard and writing a post - it has become part of my week.
Why do you blog?
If you would care to share why you blog – do leave a link here to your post.
If you don’t blog – perhaps you would care to share why you read blogs.
I really like this layout. Much easier get around. Who is about to jump down the chimney? Was it Eric? I don’t mind being alone for a while. It’s quiet nice to have to to myself!!!!
Hi Dobby – Thanks for testing out this site. It is quite interesting as you have the same little monster on this site as you did on the last blog! Yes it is the architect looking down the chimney.
Karen
Sorry I have not responded sooner than this but it has been a very tiring week at work and to tell the truth, I lost this page. I was trying to access from the moonsong page and when I could not find it I reckoned that you had taken it down to update or something. Only when I backtracked today did I realise my error. Great photographs and I really am looking forward to following the progress. The weather seems to have been quite reasonable so have they started to re-slate by now? I hope so as it must get very cold at night. My multifuel is due to be delivered on Wednesday so hopefully I too will be able to keep warm when it is my turn. How did it go with Eric during the week? What did he have to check up on? Speak soon. xx
Hi Sandra – I have e-mailed you.
Karen
Blogging has greatly improved my gardening. Knowing that I’m posting pictures for the world to see motivates me to do a little more weeding and other chores that I might not do otherwise. It is fun to see how much the garden has changed when it feels like it hasn’t changed at all. I read garden blogs to see what others are doing and to steal shamelessly any good ideas I can find. I’ll steal some of yours, I’m sure!!
Hi Wicked Gardener –
You are so right about a blog being a good way to record the changes in a garden. Thanks for visiting
Karen
My blog started simply as a garden journal, but I quickly realized it was a means of finding and communicating with other people who share my interests and concerns. Those encounters remain rare.
Because I always post with photos, usually of my garden, I find the act of publicly posting makes me focus more closely on what I’ve done and what I plan to do with the garden. It creates a critical environment that keeps me on my toes, so to speak. This also affects my choices in development of new areas of the garden as well as plant choice.
I wish fellow bloggers were more inclined to offer criticism. I think we all could benefit from the critical eye of other gardeners. I much prefer that to vague effusions (“oh, what a beautiful garden!”).
I echo James… I started out thinking it would be a gardening journal, where I could keep thoughts and photos together all in the same section. However, now it is a community for me–the commiserating, idea-generating garden community that I don’t seem to have here at home. And I also enjoy the idea of it being a critical environment to help me crystallize my own thoughts on my garden, frame plant and design choices, etc.