question about blogs

**J* D* <j*@xcountry.tv>**

I'm a bit late chiming in about blogs. I regularly read somewhere  
around 100 of them; not daily, of course, because some only post once  
a week, or do very short posts, or aren't talking every time about  
something that particularly enthralls me. I go through both a site  
called Blotanical (www.blotanical.com) which lists over a thousand  
blogs if I remember correctly, and through Google Reader. There are  
also new options in Blogger for tracking when your favourite bloggers  
last posted. I take my laptop in the living room with me most evenings  
while amusing myself watching something or other, and read while half- 
watching. I must add that I am able to read very, very quickly, which  
is a useful trait to have when one is in love with reading.

The past six months or so I was pretty erratic in posting to my own  
blog, which I regard in part as a way of giving back to the gardening  
community from whom I learn even as I (hopefully) share information  
with others. However, as I recover from surgery and ease back into the  
swing of things, I've started posting more regularly again. Normally,  
it's 3-4 times a week, depending on what has piqued my curiosity or  
what I'd like to start a 'conversation' about with other bloggers.

I've made some very good friends across the world via blogging; so  
much so that were I to shake the dust/snow off my shoes and go a- 
travelling, I could feel comfortable of places to stay in any number  
of states, provinces, and yes, even countries from Scotland to  
Australia. I learn a huge amount from other gardeners who blog. Some  
(very) few are professionals, either in the hort industries or in  
writing. Some of them certainly could be, because they write so  
compellingly. Regardless of profession or location, we all share a  
common love of plants, be they ornamentals or edibles, and tend to  
celebrate, commiserate and brainstorm together.

Blogging isn't to everyone's tastes of course. And it does take a  
while to figure out the ones that interest you that you really like  
enough to follow regularly rather than sporadically. But I have been  
blogging now for three years as of yesterday, and have learned all  
kinds of new things, from product reviews (unsolicited or supported by  
companies) to neat tips for getting better crops to lots of whimsical  
thoughts about gardening. Because those who blog about gardening do so  
out of a huge passion for it.

One more thing, if I may. If you want more traffic, read more blogs  
and take the time to post interesting comments on those blogs. (not  
just 'great blog!). Readers tend to read comments of the blogs they  
visit, I've learned in the past couple of years. They'll follow the  
commenter back to their home blog, and then offer to link or  
automatically link you on their own sites. Even though there are  
hundreds out there, I get a lot of traffic. Also take the time (when  
possible) to respond to comments on your own site, particularly if  
someone asks a question of you. It really makes a difference.

I'm sure Doug Green, who I regard as a fount of much wisdom where the  
Intarwebs (hah) are concerned, has all kinds of empirical data to back  
up some of the points I've made. His was one of the first I started  
reading. And he has some very useful articles about what HE's learned  
about garden blogging on his site.

I hope this is some use and not too verbose. I enjoy the list  
immensely as a source of great wisdom, even though I rarely post.

cheers, jodi

Jodi DeLong, MA
“Atlantic Canada’s Garden Writer”
My Gardening blog: bloomingwriter.blogspot.com

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