Two years ago to-day I joined Blotanical. My tender new gardening blog had been up and running for exactly two weeks. Before joining Blotanical “Threadspider” had been marvellous at commenting on my blog – we also had another meeting place in our love of textiles, and she was a regular commentator on my textile blog.
After joining Blotanical more comments started coming … Big thanks must go to Shirl, Mr. McGregors Daughter and Kate Smudges for their early supportive and interesting comments, they made me feel welcome and included in this new venture that was Garden Blogging.
Special thanks must also go to VP – as I think she was one of the first bloggers who included a link to my blog in one of her posts. Amazing, someone actually read me!
The world of garden blogging has exploded in the last 6 months or so. So many good blogs and so little time to read them all.
When I first started garden blogging 2 years ago there seemed to be a scarcity of UK garden bloggers, it is a very different story now. I like to think of those UK garden bloggers who I first met two years ago as my chums – and hopefully I will be meeting some of them face to face at Malvern.
As I look at my google reader, I see that I have over 250 unread posts – I also follow 100 blogs at Blotanical – although some, (only a few!) of these are duplicated in my reader. It is Mind Blowing – and there is no way I can keep up with everyone and still have time to find new blogs.
My blogging habits have become sketchy and thoughtless – there are some blogs that I follow and I rarely leave a comment on them – the two that spring to mind are Gail and Frances. I look at the comments they receive and think, there is nothing for me to add, and I don’t. So how do Gail and Frances know that I have visited and know that I am still enjoying their words and images?
I welcomed Jodi’s (Bloomingwriter) post about Encouraging our Fellow Gardening Bloggers. Without those early comments from established writers, “An Artist’s Garden” would probably have sunk into oblivion by now. I am delighted to see that amongst others;- Rothschild Orchid / Wisteria and Cowparsley and Nancy / Soliloquay have embraced Jodie’s suggestions and are supporting new blogs.
I have been thinking for some time now that I would do away with my blog-roll with its long list of bloggers who, however hard I try, I could not keep up with. I have decided to give myself a list of about a dozen blogs that I could follow properly for a month or so and actually fully engage with them, taking time to read the posts and leave comments.
My reading list however, will be a mix of old and new. Of some folk that I enjoy, but have neglected. Of established blogs that I have not developed a “relationship” with although I would like to plus some “New to me” blogs – possibly some of the “new to me” blogs will be familiar favorites for you.
I would like to change my reading list about once a month – realistically I know that the days go by too fast in the spring and summer for me to remember what month it is – but that is my goal.
I have moved the long blog-roll to a separate page – it is in dire need of updating and organizing and I will be doing this over the coming weeks, so please don’t be offended if you are not there … it will be sorted soon.
I have updated my word-press template - so you can now respond directly to other peoples comments should you wish to do so – it will also make it easier for me to respond to all the great comments you leave for me.
I do want to just thank those of you who have supported this blog over the past two years, it means a great deal to me – and it has made the whole process so worthwhile on a variety of levels.
SO
The blogs I shall be reading in February are:
Meredith – Victory Garden Redux
Lesly and Robert The Hegarty Webber Partnership
They will remain in the sidebar until next month – then you can still view them on the “Monthly Reads 2010″ tab at the top of this page
I think we must have joined Blotanical at about the same time Karen and it was such a delight to find you and to see Threadspider had found you too
You’ve put into words much of what I’ve been thinking lately. I have so many places where I read blogs from and they’re not consistent with each other. I must sort them out into just one reader – there’s around 150 of them and so many more I want to read. And whilst I applaud your idea and what everyone else is doing to encourage new bloggers I can’t bear to let go the many people I’ve got a close virtual friendship with, imagine if we did the same to our real friends!
I know it’s going to be a real struggle over the next few months to keep both Malvern Meet and Veg Plotting going (not forgetting Sign of The Times), never mind visiting others. My inbox is full of unanswered comments already! I’m afraid I’m going to be a lurker rather than a commenter for a while, much as I hate doing that. But there’s a real life and a garden and an allotment to look after too, otherwise I won’t have anything to blog about!
So apologies everyone if you don’t see me so clearly for a while – I am around and reading you. I just won’t be as chatty as usual and therefore will need make up for it at Malvern
VP´s last blog ..ABC of Weather: Clouds
I know what you mean about not letting go of certain blogs – I am sure that I will still be reading and responding to my “chums”. Although the thing about friends – is that even if you have big gaps between meetings – you just carry on where you left off.
I know you will have your hands full over the next few months – so lurk away – I for one appreciate what you are doing re Malvern
K
I have only been reading your blogs for a short while & I enjoy them very much. I do not blog myself but have signed up to quite a few to read & I sometimes find it difficult to keep up! Please keep going.
Mary
Mary – no worries – I will keep going for a while longer, I enjoy it all to much to stop
K
I am honored to be one of your February choices! May my humble blog prove entertaining and worthwhile for someone as busy as you. I know what you mean about reading and responding – time and lack thereof – especially during spring and summer months. Blogging is so enjoyable to me thanks to the people I’ve “met,” the cultures I continue to learn about, and basically linking up with Like Minds. I enjoy your blog as well but don’t always comment (bad Debi, bad!) but mostly that’s a time thing.
Debi´s last blog ..Thinkin’ Sunny!
Debbi – you are welcome – I have dipped in and out of your blog for some time – but really would like to get to know you better and take time to leave comments – I SO know what you mean about the “time thing”
K
Oh Karen what an excellent post and what a well organised lady you are.
You introduced me to Blotanical about a year ago, yours was the first garden blog I found and it opened a new world to me. So many thanks.
I have been really struggling to keep up since I started my Looking at Lyme Disease blog with a blog role even longer than my garden ones although not all for public view. I sometimes wonder if I should continue but with a consultant and a doctor encoraging me as well as several patients I must go on, particularly as one doctor has given my blog details to some of their CFS patients. So my garden blog and blogging friends have taken a back seat for now but they do help my sanity when I pop back for fun now and then.
I hope your back is improving and you will be ready for gardening again soon.
Joanne´s last blog ..ORCHIDS AND BUTTERFLIES
Joanne – I think my Mum would laugh if she heard me described as well organized
I am so happy that my blog was a doorway to a whole new world for you.
I am sure that your “Looking at Lyme Disease” blog will take up a lot of your energy – and it is so worthwhile, those of us playing in the dirt will always be here for you when you have time
K
You were one of the first folk who left a comment on my blog Karen when I first started and I must thank you for your encouragement
It was great to know that I was not talking to myself in cyberspace. Your February reads are a great idea – there are some there that are new to me so I will try to visit them soon.
Anna´s last blog ..‘Let Them Eat Cake’
Anna – you are very welcome – I do regard you and your blog as one of my “chums” and I am still waiting for you and “himself” to bring your camper van to my part of Wales.
Some of the blogs on my February reads are very new to me – so it will be interesting! Hope you find one or two you enjoy.
K
Hi Karen, Happy Birthday.
What with all your blogging, twittering, photography and everything else, I’m not sure how you fit it all in. As to the organised bit, you go outside to plant the lettuce seeds, but you see a plant that you simply must photograph that instant, then you realise you haven’t fed the fish. You might get to do the original job about six hours later! Someone did a blog on it last year, but I can’t remember who.
Well it is winter Dobby – this might all go pear shaped in the Summer
K
It sounds like a very good idea, as there are always those occasions where you just don’t have time to comment, but still appreciate the post! So perhaps concentrating on certain blogs every month is the way to go for some, especially as blotanical grows!
I am really great on Good Ideas Liz – its the following through that I struggle with, but I have got very bad about commenting on blogs I enjoy – one of which actually is yours – because I do enjoy yours.
I don’t understand why comment love never recognizes your blog (puzzling that)
I am tickled pink to be a February read for you! It’s a nice list of bloggers to be included among, too! Not being able to blog/comment as I have been has been an eye opening experience and opportunity for me to re-engage in activities that got shuffled aside. What a fantastic confluence of energies this past week has been with Jodi’s thought provoking post, posts like yours, my own epiphanies, and that ’so much’ that’s hard to describe! Anyway, I wish you a peaceful week with delicious weather! gail Just as an aside, I was sitting in my office listening to a client and there was your lovely work across from me. It was a sweet place to rest.
Gail´s last blog ..Don’t You Wish!
Gail, you are always on my reading list – I am just going to practice thoughtful comments on your blog, so you know I have visited. (I am so bad). I am so delighted that you have my piece of work in your office – therapists are amongst the biggest fans of my textiles! Glad it still gives you pleasure.
Happy Blog-birthday, Karen! Two years seems to me to be a huge milestone. I’m not yet to six months, and I must tell you that your kind comments and welcoming attitude on Blotanical have given me a lot of encouragement to continue this experiment. I couldn’t believe that I made your first monthly list, and can you sense me blushing from over the pond? Thank you for your kindness.
It is amazing to me how very many blogs there are, and I am struggling with keeping up with them all, as well. Some of them seem particularly worth the effort. I don’t know if you realize, but I’d already subscribed to you in my feedreader a couple of months before I joined Blotanical. I was a lurker for quite a while.
Don’t remember now how exactly I found you, but I’m glad I did.
(One thing I want to try soon, and I’m working on it behind the scenes, is a format that allows a blog roll. When I began my blog, I had no idea that blogging was partly about cross-pollination, and the lack of flexibility in my theme has begun to irritate me. I can’t even have banners.
Soon perhaps I can return the favor and put you on my blogroll… cross your fingers!)
Meredith´s last blog ..irresistible
You are very welcome Meredith.
Although I love your wordpress template (I toyed with it for the turning year) it is irritating that it is so limiting in terms of widgets and blogrolls etc. – but then it is I guess one designed for photoblogging – perhaps wordpress will bring out a different one soon
K
Happy Blogaversary! Yes, it’s a conundrum with the blogroll. We try to include only blogs that CA Native Plant enthusiasts might like, plus a few extras. I change them all the time. I don’t always read all the posts. I don’t always read everything that my Blotanical Fave’s write.
Hey, it’s my hobby and I don’t get a bad grade or fired. That’s part of the fun about being a garden blogger!
LOL – thanks Town Mouse for saying it like it is – true – I wont fail the class for not following everyone on my blogging list.
K
First of all, Happy Blogiversary!
Your idea of putting up your “reading list” for the month is an excellent one. I always enjoy my visits here!
Nancy Bond´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Hyacinth
Thank you Nancy – you are also one of the bloggers whose early support meant a great deal.
K
Karen, I so know what you mean about wanting to keep up but feeling like you are spread too thin. I too feel like keeping up the blog relationships is important, but where is the time? I love that you are being disciplined about reading a select few and deepening your conversations with their authors. I have not read all on your list so will have to check them out! When there’s a spare moment, of course… Happy anniversary, long may An Artist’s Garden live!
Karen´s last blog ..The “It” Trees of the Garden Show
Karen – thanks for taking time to leave a comment – I always welcome your visits. Feeling spread to thin is exactly right, although by the time the summer comes, well other things in the garden just take priority
K
I think this is a very sane approach to the keeping up with blogs problem. Like you, I like to check out new blogs at least sometimes, too, and it’s just not possible to do it all unless you can make it a full-time job.
I like the solution you’ve worked out for yourself, and it’s a valuable thing to have on the board here. We’re all working out how to get some kind of reasonable balance in our lives.
Pomona Belvedere´s last blog ..Harbingers of Spring
Hi Pomona – Yes I often find myself striving for balance, I am not very good at achieving it, but it doesn’t stop me trying. Thanks so much for visiting and joining in with your views.
K
Happy Blog Birthday Karen! I found your blog just about a year ago soon after I began blogging. I was very inspired by you! I find blog-rolls very helpful in discovering new blogs, for when I find a blog I value, I always look at their roll and visit new sites that way. It can be overwhelming and rewarding… I think to concentrate as your are a great idea. Thank you for honoring me! I hope to deserve your readership over this next month!! ;>))
Carol´s last blog ..Wolf Moon Sails From Month to Month Musings of Winter
Carol, I am very glad that you found my blog – and left comments which in turn lead me to your beautiful blog. I have to mention also that I think the comments that you leave on blogs are well considered too – and I always appreciate the ones you leave here.
K
Hi Karen and a very happy blogaversary to you! Thanks for the mention and for reading, if not commenting. By the stats page I can see that there are more readers that do not leave comments than do, but not who they are. The links thingey seldom works right on Wordpress showing who has linked to your blog, sadly. Trying to keep up is impossible, with all the good articles written by so many. It is nice to see the high numbers from all over the world joining blotanical too. Malvern sounds so much fun, we expect lots of posts from everyone in attendence. Remember, people pictures, not just flowers!!!
Frances
Frances´s last blog ..Moss
Frances … There will be people pictures never fear
K
Karen , very well done keeping up the frequency and quality of your interesting blog these 2 years. Great comics and great labelling of your wonderful photographs. Luv and sympathy to shedman Ken c
Ken – I didn’t know you read my blog! Lovely of you to take time to leave a comment
K
Congratulations on your blogaversary! Thanks for the shout out, you are very welcome. I’m glad I was able to help & encourage you. I haven’t been able to do the same recently for new bloggers, so I must now try to remedy that. I like your idea of monthly featured blogs.
Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..The Great Houseplant Census of 2010
Hi Mr.McGD – and thanks.
I think the idea of a monthly feature will work for me as I can mix up the old and the new.
Thanks for taking time to leave a comment.
K
Only 2 years – it seems longer! I’m thinking of getting rid of my blogroll – it hasn’t been updated for ages and I’m not sure I’m ever going to get round to updating it on a regular basis (and this is the quiet time of the gardening year)
easygardener´s last blog ..Blooming Friday: February, week 1 – more new blooms
Hi Easygardener, yes 2 years, sometimes it does seem like for ever, and sometimes I cannot believe its been going 2 years. Your blogroll is handy for visitors, I quite like following blogrolls, well, when time permits.
K
Happy Birthday! It Has to be a common problem – that there are so many wonderful bloggers/blogs out there to visit. I cannot keep up and don’t have the time, either. However, I enjoy visiting you from time to time. Keep it up!!
Shady Gardener´s last blog ..Wednesday Was a Day of All Days!
And I enjoy your visits Shady, I also enjoy visiting you – not as often as I would like I am afraid – time, not enough of it to go around!
K
Just to thank you for selecting us for your feb list and also to thank you anyway for those opening encouraging words. Yes new bloggers do need encouragement and people’s comments mean a great deal! Good on you!
Best Wishes
Robert Webber
The Hegarty Webber Partnership
Thanks Robert, I have enjoyed the few visits I have made to your blog – and find it refreshing to see garden blogging from your slightly different view of garden designers.
SO – I am looking forward to my February visits.
K
Happy two years, Karen, and here’s to many more! Thanks for the encouraging support and for supporting other newer blogs…I like that idea of choosing a few new ones each month. I should try that too because I’m getting to have such an enormously long blogroll and I hate to miss out on anyone’s. But with the book to do, there’s going to have to be some reining in for me. Then I discover one more and another and another…
jodi (bloomingwriter)´s last blog ..Skywatch Friday: The World’s Highest Tides…and a little history
Jodi – thanks must go to you for voicing what it would seem one of two of us were thinking and not doing anything about! You certainly started the ball rolling.
K
Happy blog birthday! You have a wonderful blog that I have just discovered. I guess it is like that song…Make new friends, but keep the old.
I have been on Blotanical for about 7 months and there are so many good blogs to look at it is overwhelming.
Amy/GoAway, I’m Gardening!´s last blog ..Are You Going to Send Out Invitations?
Amy – Thank you leaving a comment – I am not sure that I have visited your blog – so I will have to remedy that in the next couple of days.
K
What a nice surprise to be selected for your February reads! I think your solution to being able to keep up with all your blogs and also get involved with new bloggers, is rather perfect. I must admit that hours can fly by as I read blogs and find new ones on blog rolls, so many wonderful blogs out there. I have to remind myself that I really do need to spend some time in my studio too. And the garden later this spring. But that said, I am still in awe of all the inspiration I find and all the fascinating people all over the world I can meet virtually. Very often, I find the time well spent.
Helen at summerhouse´s last blog ..Getting Lucky with Amaryllis Bulbs – Second Time Blooms
Ahhh – the studio – yes that is one area I have neglected, and I am rather sad about that. But it will always be there waiting for me, when I am ready, I guess it all comes back to balance. I shall enjoy following you during February.
K
Dear Karen, First, thank you so much for selecting my Journal to be part of your February reading list. I very much appreciate it.
Congratulations on your two year anniversary – you have clearly seen a great many changes over the time, not least the huge expansion of Blotanical. I have been struck, as I enter my fourth week of being part of Blotanical, by the kindness and encouragement I have received from so many people right across the globe. It is indeed a community of like spirited minds.
Edith Hope´s last blog ..A Private Eden? – The Laskett
Edith, I am so happy that you have Blotanical a kind and welcoming place and you are very welcome – I have enjoyed the posts that I have read so far on your blog – and judging by the comments, so do a lot of other folk.
K
This is a very good thought Karen. I struggle with finding time to read new blogs (new to me) when there are so many out there who I regard as friends and who I really want to keep up with. I might have a think about doing something similar!
I know Elizabeth – it is hard to get the balance right, and then of course, when I visit your blog you have a lovely blogroll full of interesting reads …. so many blogs, so little time.
K
Two years! Impressive record.
I find the easiest way to maintain my blog roll is to set it up so that the latest posted are at the top. On occasion, I check the list and lop off the bottom anybody who’s not active, after I look to see if they left a ‘going offline for a while message.’ Rarely, I go through the whole list to make sure they’re still relevant. It doesn’t take as long as you might think, because I can skip the ones I read daily.
Nell Jean´s last blog ..Ike’s Big Camellia Adventure
Nell Jean, thanks for taking time to comment. The one thing, the only thing that I think that blogger does better than wordpress is the blogroll which shows the latest post and a little picture – I suppose I could do that here but it would just be text and mean I have to set it all up by hand, but I can see how it would work well on blogger blogs.
K
Happy 2 yr birthday, Karen. It’s been a joy connecting.
joey´s last blog ..WINTER’S SUBTLE WHITE SECRETS ~ WINTER WHITE CHILI / WHITE CHOCOLATE & MACADAMIA NUT COOKIES
Joey – Yes it has been a joy connecting, thank you.
K
It is hard to keep up with all the blogs that we read, but you know, I enjoy it too much to give it up. So…..I am giving up housework, after all, who loves that?
Jen ~ Muddy Boot Dreams
Jen´s last blog ..February’s Page
(giggle) Jen, what is this “housework” please explain!
K
So many great blogs and so little time
It is difficult to keep up. Thanks for leaving me a comment, I do appreciate it. I hope you found some frogspawn in your pond too. 
Christine, thanks for visiting – no I am afraid there was no frogspawn in any of the ponds
K
Congratulations Karen! Happy 2nd Blogaversary!! You are a very well regarded blogger and completely deserve your long list of comments here. I am delighted you are continuing to blog for another year
Gosh… I had no idea that I was part of your early blogging. Thank-you for listing me there – I am delighted I helped you in any way
Oh dear… especially embarrassed now this morning as I missed this posting. However, in true blogging fashion despite that you have been leaving supportive comments on my weekend marathon postings. Thank-you!!
I do hear lots of what has been said here and can relate to much. I do want to meet new bloggers too. Like you, I do see most of my blog links as friends (exchanging emails often too) and even though comments aren’t regularly exchanged I can’t bring myself to not include them. As for deleting bloggers who haven’t blogged in many months (I have left some for a year) I hate deleting them from my lists. I have done it though
Being honest, I feel like an old blogger today although it really was some time after I first began before I was brave enough to leave comments on garden blogs. The birds and wildlife ones were fine as I was completely new to that. However, after browsing some of the brilliant garden blogs then I wasn’t sure my garden or what I’d have to say about it was worthy. I needn’t have worried… the garden bloggers would have welcomed me with only a window box
Mixing old friends with the new is tricky and I like the balance you are trying to achieve there with yours. I’ll be interested to hear how it goes. Perhaps you could review this in a posting for us in a couple of months? Perhaps this is a tad long and I should have emailed you instead… but then again you’ll know how long my emails can be too
shrl´s last blog ..Time to saddle up…
Shirl, comments and/ or e-mails from you are always a delight – and as you know yourself, a few weeks, or even months will go by when time doesn’t permit comments or e-mails, but true blogging friends don’t mind this at all.
Thank you for the idea of doing a follow up post – I will put it in the diary for a few months down the line.
Your marathon of posting this weekend has been a joy to read.
K
This is a wonderful idea, Karen. I’ve been fooling around with my ‘blogroll’ lately and it’s just WAY too long! I had taken it off the blog for a couple months, then just put it back, after reading recent posts discussing what’s on our blogs, etc…Today I decided to list some that are local to me, in VA. But I still have the long list below it, which I’ve got to figure out what to do with. So many nice blogs, so many nice people, etc….what to do? How do they know we ‘like’ them? It’s tough!! Happy blogoversary…I missed my first one, it was in Nov.’2008. I remember you were one of the first people I met. I enjoyed your post. Jan
Jan (Thanks For Today)´s last blog ..Monster Snow Storm, and more on the way!
Thank you so much for the mention of my blog on this list. I’m just getting started and the help and interest of experienced and talented gardenbloggers like you is great. Thanks!
Laurrie at My Weeds Are Sorry´s last blog ..Dry Creek Bed
So glad to be mentioned and to catch up again. I’m thinking of doing away with my blog list too-as you explained so well it becomes impossible to do a long list justice. Many congrats on two years-I am pleased to have been nearby at the “birth”. : )
Judith´s last blog ..simple pleasures
Karen,
Happy Blog Birthday to you! Your blog was such an inspiration to me when I was starting out, and continues to be so. I think your monthly reading list is a wonderful idea, and I thank you for making Green Mountain Gardener part of your February list. The beginning of this month has been very busy with school, and my blog has suffered, but I am looking forward to the opportunity to fully engage in the weeks ahead. There are so many wonderful blogs out there, and not enough time to discover them. I think it is wonderful that you are featuring some each month, and introducing us to some new ones.
Liisa´s last blog ..A Time of Celebration
A very late happy birthday to your blog! – I am having trouble keeping up with all the blogs I read too, so I’ve only just seen this. I think I’m going to have to cut down on the blogs I read as well – currently there are 229 unread posts on my akregator – but it is so difficult to delete any. Your idea of reading a few every month seems very sensible.
I always enjoy reading your posts and looking at your lovely photos, even if I don’t always have time to comment, or think that I have nothing to add to what everyone else has already said. And your comments on my blog have meant a lot to me too, so I return the thanks for your support!
Juliet´s last blog ..The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring
Karen,
You have brought such a unique and creative adition to the garden blogging world. Reading your story, about starting up a blog, gives greenhorns (like myself) inspiration. Cheers!
Happy second blog anniversary. Where did the time go? It seems like yesterday that I first read your blog. Thank you for the mention! The garden blog world is so big now ~ it has grown so much since I was regularly blogging. I like the idea of concentrating on a few blogs each month.
Here`s to many more years of enjoyable blogging!