I'm hoping you will help me answer this question, as I will be speaking on this topic at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show on March 7. (Linda from Garden Girl, Gina from My Skinny Garden, and Mr. Brown Thumb will be speaking about other aspects of blogging.) Hard as it may be to believe, my non-blogging gardening friends don't read garden blogs. Robin, of Bumblebee, in her Garden Examiner blog post about influential garden bloggers, quoted from some commenters about why they read certain blogs. I have several very good reasons why gardeners should be reading garden blogs, both local and national, but I want to have as many reasons as possible, with examples to back them up. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I write a post about it after the garden show.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Why Should Gardeners Read Garden Blogs?
I'm hoping you will help me answer this question, as I will be speaking on this topic at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show on March 7. (Linda from Garden Girl, Gina from My Skinny Garden, and Mr. Brown Thumb will be speaking about other aspects of blogging.) Hard as it may be to believe, my non-blogging gardening friends don't read garden blogs. Robin, of Bumblebee, in her Garden Examiner blog post about influential garden bloggers, quoted from some commenters about why they read certain blogs. I have several very good reasons why gardeners should be reading garden blogs, both local and national, but I want to have as many reasons as possible, with examples to back them up. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I write a post about it after the garden show.
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For me its about the community. I think as gardeners we tend to be fairly solitary souls - each in our own garden. Through blogger you get to make friends, learn things, discover new plants, planting styles and help out others.
I think Helen said it well in her comment. ...When I first stumbled upon blogs I was looking for information and ideas..but it didn't take long to realize there was more then information available...there was an entire community of gardeners with a wealth of experience, with great ideas, who were encouraging and also wanted ideas, help and encouragement. It has been a great deal of fun, wonderfully rewarding and very enriching... What more can a gardener ask for ... good friendships with the bonus that you guys never tire of talking about gardening!
Gail
I echo the sentiment of the two comments above about what a wonderful community of people write garden blogs. As well, I've gleaned a wealth of information about many plants and garden designs. There is a veritable library of information available in garden blogs, there for the reading!
Hi MMD, this is great. I can't wait to hear you all speak and hope that we don't have to pick one to listen to like in Austin, I want to hear you all! Before becoming a blogger, I read the far fewer blogs available because I love gardening so much and just wanted to hear about it all the time. Magazine articles were the only other alternative and they didn't have new material every day. The personal stories, photos, and information on growing things, design, new plants, etc. were what made me keep coming back for more. The very first blog I read was Michele Owens, now with
Garden Rant's blog, Sign of the Shovel. Funny, lots of good advice and photos. Perfection. Now that I blog, it is about keeping up with old friends, and making new ones, learning about garden stuff along the way. It is an addiction, but a pleasant one.
Frances
I too, agree with the comments above. Ideas, information, friendship and passion for the same interest. Not to mention, I have found that gardeners are unique people with a "deep rooted love for nature" some things others do not understand, like how good fresh soil smells or that first little green shoot peaking up from the ground in early spring. The shared sadness when we stumble and the extreme excitement when we succeed!
To learn. The friendliness and community aspect of blogging came about after I learned about blogging as kind of a side effect. But one of the best ones!
What a great idea posing this question on your blog MMD! (I may have to borrow this idea for my topic too!)
When I first started my blog last year, I had no idea there was such a large, vibrant, welcoming garden-blogging community. I can only echo everyone else in agreeing the friendship, shared values, and sense of community are all excellent reasons to read garden blogs.
Also, gardening is one of those subjects that no matter how much you know, there's always more to learn. I've learned a lot in the past year, and expanded my horizons beyond the tried, true and familiar in my gardening 'comfort zone' by reading garden blogs.
I agree with the previous comments. Unless you blog in solitary, not commenting and not acknowledging comments (are there such people?) then you do it for the sense of interaction - on so many different levels.
I would be interested to know how many non gardening bloggers read garden blogs. I can't imagine it would be long before you would want your own blog if it were possible. Perhaps I'm wrong in assuming that.
We live on an amazing planet, and what better way of discovering the true nature and beauty of the world around us than through a wonderful network that we are afforded with garden blogs.
I vividly remember the first time I had a visitor from my blog who resided outside of North America! I was thrilled that a tiny shade gardener in Ontario, Canada had attracted the attention from someone so 'far' removed.
It was a true testament that gardeners are all connected by a deeply rooted passion for all things related to gardening. While it is a solitary adventure, it is so comforting knowing that there are so many new and wonderful friends who are always 'rooting' for one another!
Great topic.... will be returning to read more fascinating responses!
When will your talk be on the 7th? The CF&GS website is no help.
I agree with so many of the above posters. It's really not just about the gardening. It's about knowing that other people love gardening like I do. Most people I know aren't really that interested in talking about plants. I love seeing other real peoples gardens and how beautiful all their hard work makes their gardens. I love learning about plants that don't grow where I live. I also like that people appreciate the work I have put into my garden. I have also enjoyed the feeling of starting to "get to know" other bloggers and enjoy their personal style of blogging and gardening.
Like the others, I love being part of the garden bloggers community and making new friends from all over the world. I've moved many times in my adult life, and each time I would try to find gardener friends - with more or less success. Now I've got a gaggle of gardening friends that I can take with me anywhere - as long as I have an internet connection available. I love that!
Regards, VW
Garden bloggers share their ideas. Something that one person has done in their garden might work in mine, or then again might not work. Each idea shared is a seed of another thought to be planted in my garden.
Wow! So many reasons. Lets see if I can narrow it down to the best.
I started blogging for my family members that live far away. I started reading other blogs because it was so nice to find people that are as passionate about gardening as I am. Then I started really learning a lot- so that was a big plus. I tend to be a sponge when in comes to info- need input...must have input :) Sharing information back and forth with other gardeners that are as passionate about gardening as I am is very enjoyable. I love to help someone out by passing on good information, what has worked for me and what hasn't. Another thing that is so great is I know that if I run into a problem, I can post it and gardeners will come running to the rescue! The support is amazing. I have not experienced that with anything else online. In general gardeners tend to be good peeps! When you share a passion with others- you are connected in a special way. And lastly, I read other blogs to support and encourage other bloggers.
Hope this is helpful, coming from a fairly new blogger :)
I used to be addicted to gardening magazines. But they became repetitive and unreal to a large extent. Bloggers are real people who have first hand experience to share. I love visiting their gardens. And I get to see the changes they go through...something you don't get with magazines. Also...reading garden blogs is free!
I have to agree with everyone else's
comments about this subject.
As for the Spring Fling, since My
Mother Carolyn Gail from Sweet Home
and Garden Chicago is on the committee I thought I'd attend this
event. I do like reading all the
gardeners blogs.
Congrats on your speaking engagement for the Chicago show!
I believe one of the most important aspects of blogging is amount of unfiltered information you can glean from one another, gardener to gardener. Its all about getting down to the dirt, so to speak, without having someone edit the writing. I want you to tell me exactly what you think of blahblah hydrangea, not try to sell it to me. Tell me what is REALLY working in your garden, not what should work. Tell me about your exotic plant picks and why you use them. Give it to me straight!
Why do I read garden blogs?? Well, the main reason is to feed the passion I have for gardening. I took the Master Gardener's course in our county because I thought I might meet someone that I could "talk" gardens with. Well, that didn't meet my expectations. In the blogasphere there are so many like-minded people that like to "talk" about their garden as much as I do. I love to share bits of knowlege that I aquire by doing certain projects. I like to get feed back from people about my projects. I enjoy reading about other people's projects. Hearing about their triumphs and failures. We all have both and we can learn from them. Then the bonus is the friendships that grow from seed...literally. Those seeds of advice, encouragement and sharing. There is rarely a squabble. No competition. You can just relax and enjoy the show or jump in with both fingers. After finding blogs about two years ago there are still some where I lurk. I wouldn't miss a day reading their blogs but don't feel I would add anything by commenting. Time often being a factor. Just not enough time for all the wonderful blogs out there.
I love reading blogs because of the huge diversity of voices that they make possible. I certainly don't have the same gardening challenges here in the Northeast that people do in other areas of the country but I still find them fascinating. And (as others have noted) the passion for plants comes through both in the individual "voices" and in the great pictures. I haven't begun my own blog (because I am not sure I have something unique to say) but feel greatly enriched by other people's willingness to share. Kristi
So many great comments here already, MMD, I can only echo what has already been said. For me, most of my close friends, with the exception of Beckie, aren't really into gardening that much. Blogging gives me a chance to "talk" with people who share a common interest. Also, I have learned SO much from blogging. You can read gardening books, magazine articles, and web articles about a plant or how to handle this or that gardening problem, but it's so much more helpful to hear from real people who have learned from trial and error.
Seeing your photo also suggests another idea, if you have time, and that is the features of Blotanical. Although I joined Blotanical, I visit it only occasionally. I still haven't figured out how to do "picks," and I would like to.
Looking forward to your talk!
Great news, MMD. Please let me know the details about you and the other garden bloggers speeches at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show. I couldn't find it listed on the program.
I agree with the others, especially Lisa. I don't consider myself a writer, but love to talk. In real life I get interrupted a lot. I probably interrupt others when they talk, too. With blogging, you get to have your say about your favorite topics, and read what others have to say. You do it at your convenience. You don't have to leave your house, and you can stop (if you're not hopelessly addicted) whenever you want to.
With people in the flesh, there are expectations of you to do this or that, but with your blogging friends, you just keep up the best you can, and leave comments to encourage them on the way. Also, by commenting on other blogs, your blog gets found and read.
Have fun speaking to the group. I hope it goes well.
MMD, Great question! Why should gardeners read garden blogs? You have many sold, helpful comments for your use, already. I'm just going to add my 2 cents worth. ;-)
1) I read to be able to visit people's gardens! I love to do this in person, and the internet makes it possible to travel places I may never be able to physically visit.
2) I learn so much about plants and their care, and gardening in general! This is especially valuable when I read the blogs by people in my zone, with my soil conditions, etc.
3) I am inspired to stretch into new areas/venues of gardening and landscaping! New plants, new techniques, inspiring landscaping ideas, etc., etc.
4) Gardeners I visit display a wonderful variety in gardening style. They are as varied as the gardens I love to (and still desire) to visit. On-line, I can visit gardens anytime my time allows!
5) Garden bloggers are real people. I have found a network of wonderful people with whom I can visit and "converse." We can share ideas, e-mails, and even seeds (and more!). There are people that I feel I am getting to know and appreciate more and more as time goes by. It's almost as though we're friends in "real life?"
Perhaps that day will come for some of us!;-)
MMD, Re: my second sentence. A slip of the finger, and instead of the word "solid," I find I typed the word sold. (Didn't you wonder what I meant by that?) ha!
I started reading garden blogs for that peek over the hedge into other people's gardens; for local, real-life dishing about plants and climate; for beautiful images to inspire me; for info on good nurseries or public gardens to visit; for design inspiration; and ultimately, esp. once I'd started my own blog, for the community of other gardeners who never get tired of talking about plants.
Good luck with your talk at the Garden Show!
SURPRISE! Reading gardeners blogs is for the surprise, you never know what you are going to get! I have a library full of garden books, all the latest and many vintage as well, when I choose them there is no surprise. Magazines, I have read them all, seldom is there any surprise. To garden is to connect with nature, to anticipate creation, the gardener thrives on surprise that is why they should and will enjoy exploring garden blogs. The variety of information and inspiration available is exciting! Jacque
Interesting topic. I'll say ditto so many of the comments above. Garden books and magazines--even those dedicated to regions--seemed to be awfully broad in the demographic they were trying to reach. You can find a specialized blog that shares your climate or your interests in specific plants or style of gardens. I also like the idea that a blog can be more of a conversation than a person on a soapbox. As a transitional Boomer/Gen X'er it's a style of communication I'm more comfortable with. So in the end the information you encounter is important, but so is how you access it.
I like it all and wouldn't know what to do with myself all winter if it weren't for the blogs.
For me, it's a wonderful well of inspiration. I learn a lot by reading garden blogs and my mind drift away for a few minutes while I take great pleasure in photos and texts. On top of that, I get to know peoople a little, and that's nice too!
Katarina
MMD, Oh I hope we(Rose and I) get to hear some of the talks at the garden show!
Reading garden blogs for me is just as so many others have said-a chance to talk about something I love with others of like mind. Seeing new plants, learning how they perform, ideas on how to cope with bugs and drought are some of the things I look for when reading. The seed sharing has also been such a joy. Most times you only have to mention you would like to try a plant and several will offer to send you seeds.Garden Bloggers are some of the most generous people when it comes to sharing ideas, suggestions, and of course seeds. They have given me support when times were bad and shared in my joys when things were good. I could go on but you get the idea. :) Hope we get a chance to see you at the show!
I think everyone has all ready said it very well.
My initial response to your question was
For a view beyond the boundaries of your own garden
When America migrated to the cities and the small family farms vanished we lost so much knowledge. Reading other experiences, the things they have learned, the new knowledge or old knowledge rediscovered, is like chatting over the fence or on the front porch. It is how garden/farm knowledge has always been shared only global, and you can read more blogs than you could ever have neighbors.
I subscribed to the follow up comments, and after reading the last batch, wanted to come back and see what I wrote.
I did not even mention my main reason for visiting blogs, but others did-to visit gardens. My favorite part of blogging is looking at pictures of flowers and gardens. Those who know me from the ivillage cottage garden forum, where I hung out before some there introduced me to blogging, know I love to see pics from different perspectives and distances from the plants and beds.
Well stated reasons for blogging, everyone!
For us northern gardeners, it gives us a chance to talk about, think about and look at gardens during the indoor season. Yesterday at Fairegarden the Hellebores were starting to bloom, which is a good two months away in my garden. So I got to look at pix and dream while it's cold and snowy in WI.
Also, Pam at Digging is working on designing her new garden. On a recent post, a number of us suggested how she might solve a problem with her children's trampoline. And she's now trying out those ideas. So she may come up with the perfect solution for her Texas garden from someone miles away that she may never meet!
I'm doing weekly posts on the history of designing my two gardens, so I can share the process and tips with others but also I will have a written history when I'm done. So there's my two cents worth. Can't wait to hear/read your results.
Gardening can be a very solitary activity. I can count on just two fingers the number of friends I've had who shared my passion for it. So to find such a community of supportive, interesting, passionate, and kind people, who know exactly what you're feeling, it's almost miraculous!
And I do enjoy seeing how different the experiences of gardeners can be in different parts of the world. What they're dealing with, etc. It's opened my eyes and enriched my own gardening.
Because garden blogs are about real people and real gardens. Not those too perfect gardens you see in magazines, ones that you can never ever have in real life. In blogland people talk about their mistakes and mishaps in the garden and are not afraid to show them. They are real, down to earth, fun, supportive, unique, interactive and at times surprising. I don't read garden magazines anymore as I find them simply too boring.
Well, it's that slightly different take we have on things that's a draw isn't it? The personal touch instead of the passive voice, the immediacy of response, the fun, friendship and support. Reactions from many people instead of just one. Questions that really make you think, a conversation with people across the globe. The knowledge that if a problem is aired (and I mean gardening ones here), it's not only shared but you'll have all sorts of offers of help. You're communicating with a much wider range of people from garden expert through to humble people like me.
That's just a fraction of what it's all about!
Good luck with your talk MMD - you tell 'em :)
OMG--such a response. I think its all been covered, but I'm going to comment anyway..LOL Blogging and reading other blogs has made me aware of my surroundings. I look now for things to blog about, I take a lot more pictures than I used..all of which helps me garden better and pay attention. I love to visit other blogs, they have insight that I may not, they have pictures that show combinations that I hadn't thought of, they give me ideas I would never have had, they show me what NOT to do, they let me know what is going on in different parts of the world and show me things I never would have seen otherwise and most of all the comraderie is essential to my well being. How can someone not read garden blogs? You must change that ...
I started writing a garden blog to educate other people about gardening. I have also found that I learn from the people who read my blog. I learn more because the people that I communicate with are in every zone and different parts of the world.
That gives me alot to learn!
Debbie
Garden Thyme with the Creative Gardener
Because, where else, even in the depth of winter, or the smackdown of 100 degree summers, can you find hope?
No matter what the economic times are doing, planting a seed and waiting for it to grow takes hope.
It's possible to come to a hundred different places in this wide world and discover that you're not the only optimist out there. Others are also full of HOPE.
Things will get better, things will grow, things will change and we'll all manage to make it through.
And, we're all realistic enough to know that it's going to take work.
Besides, none of us has all the room and money to buy and grow all the things we'd like to. While reading someone's blog...it's like borrowing it for a virtual walk.
Oh, and y'all are all...NICE. You are nurturers at heart and always have enough love and kindness to share it with someone who might need it.
What else... too many other things to mention in a comment string!
Wow, what a response! Thanks, everybody for offering your opinions & insights. You've given me a lot of food for thought (and talk). The garden bloggers' panel is scheduled for 3:30 on the 7th.
Rose & Beckie - I have to meet you 2 at the show! Let me know what time you're going to get there.
Like a sprouting seed, one awakens in the 'Garden of Eden'.
Hi MMD, please forgive my misreading that you were speaking at the garden show, not the bloggers meet up. In my haste, as they say.
Frances
Why should people read garden blogs? Because it shows how gardening really is, how exciting it can be, how hard it can be, but how easy it can be.
And they'll hopefully not only learn how to garden, but will meet many passionate, obsessed, avid gardeners who enjoy gardening and sharing their gardening information with others.
They'll find immediate information, like who has crocuses blooming right now, not the kind of information that was dreamed of three months ago, written, edited, printed, and shipped out in a magazine. (Magazines are good, too, and can be very inspirational in their own way.)
They'll see real gardens on the blogs, attainable gardens that anyone can have if they are willing to roll up their sleeves, get outside, and garden
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
This is coming very late in the day but I did want to add something. With the explosion of blogging, you can visit new and different sites every single day and get fascinating insights into not only gardening but into the people composing the work. I also like the diversity and the possibility of seeing another person create something special. These are all personal, pillowed by manners and mutual respect. It would be pretty doggone hard to find a better milieu, anywhere...for anything........than in the wide world of gardening and landscaping bloggers.
Very beautiful, honestly. I can relate to what you do, at least somewhat haha. I love all things that grow so that's why I try as hard I can to help revive this planet in the most efficient way that I can possible. You never know when one day you'll wake up and really smell the smog from your kitchen window or living room. Family to me is really most important, and with people like us trying to at least help the planet even just a bit, will most definitely help one like myself sleep better at night knowing that my family's next day waking up feels a bit safer :)
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