Iris unguicularis ‘Walter Butt’
Well who would have thought it! I had a message from WordPress this morning congratulating me on 7 years of blogging! If you had asked me the other day how long I had been blogging for my standard answer would have been 5 years but then I never have a very good perception of time.
I remember distinctly starting out on this journey. It was a cold January and I was bored and frustrated because I wanted to get outside. I also felt a need to connect with others who shared my interest and I was struggling to find something locally. I’m sure it was the weekend and I remember reading a gardening magazine which had an article in it about the new phenomena of garden blogs. Being a real fan of the internet I was intrigued and when I saw the ‘starting a blog tutorial’ on My Tiny Plot I decided to have a go (sadly the tutorial no longer seems to be there). I remember throwing various names for the blog around in my head for 24 hours, wondering whether I should really have a go, after all what did I know about gardening being a mere novice but My Tiny Plot’s blog was all about learning and sharing successes and failures so why not.
I had to ask my eldest to help me set up the blog – it was really a hand holding exercise but in less than 24 hours I was off. After about a month of seeking out other gardening blogs and being frustrated because all I seemed to be able to find were UK veg growers and not ornamental gardening blogs I discovered Blotanical which back then was a rapidly growing network of gardening bloggers from across the world. I relished reading Pam’s Digging blog – all exotic and exciting plants in her Texan garden and Dee’s blog showcasing her beautiful American cottage style garden. There was so much choice and diversity, plants I have never heard of or seen. I started to attract readers to my blog, the blog stats rocketed and I haven’t looked back since.
Sadly Blotanical seems to have closed down; a victim of its own success I suppose but those friendships made 7 years ago continue. Since then I have found UK ornamental gardeners who share my passion for plants, I have met many bloggers including some of my US friends, I have had opportunities that I would never have had before such as helping build a Chelsea show garden, being on the radio etc but most of all I feel I have found my voice and confidence.
Blogging is now part of my life. Sometimes I think I’ll take a break because I haven’t got anything to say but after a day or two I find myself missing the act of writing even if it’s waffle. I have found it a great comforter over the last five years helping me work through my grief at losing my sister, Dad and a close work colleague. At these times there are always readers who offer comfort and support and you find yourself lifted out of the dark despair to feeling more positive and finding a way forward. I have been inspired with all sorts of ideas over the years and in some ways blogging and reading blogs has given me permission to do what I wish with my garden far more than any television programme or magazine could.
So thank you WordPress and my readers for all your support over the last 7 years….I wonder if I will still be blogging in another 7
