Celebrating 8 years of a garden-blogging love affair
Eight years ago today I started this blog, eager to join the small but growing garden-blogging community that I’d been following for two years. Eight years later, I still count it as one of the best decisions I ever made, leading to creative fulfillment, professional opportunities, and many wonderful friendships.
I’m still in love with Austin’s exuberant, creative, South-meets-Southwest gardening scene…
…and, well, gardening scenes everywhere.
I’m still in love with spiky plants (did you doubt it?) and native plants.
And after 8 years I haven’t run out of things to talk about — yay!
Looking forward, I’m curious to see where blogging is headed. Since garden blogs are so dependent on images, and since the next generation of bloggers will be coming at it from photo- and video-sharing sites like Pinterest, Tumblr, and Vine — and whatever’s still just an idea in some programmer’s head — I expect to see more snapshot blogs and video blogs (vlogs). Meanwhile, I think we’ll see the inclusion of more video clips on traditional blogs, as Shirley Fox at Rock-Oak-Deer did in this post.
What will blogs evolve into over the next 5 to 10 years? How will garden bloggers define themselves as the traditional blogging format changes? Will future Garden Bloggers Flings be attended mostly by video bloggers, or by single-photo bloggers using Tumblr? Will writerly voices still have a place in the blogosphere? Considering the pace of technological change, and the fact that the younger generation has grown up online, garden blogging is poised to evolve into something different than the website-style blogs that are popular today.
But no matter what it becomes, you can bet that YOU, the reader, will be the beneficiary of all these new voices and new regions that are now enjoying their day in the sun (more than just the Northeast and West Coast gardens that U.S. home-and-garden magazines have traditionally featured). My own world has certainly been expanded by reading garden blogs. I’ve learned so much about gardening locally and been intrigued by the experiences of those gardening in regions far different from my own.
With so much gardening enthusiasm being shared online today, the hardest thing is not spending all your time on the computer! It’s a wonderful time to be a garden blogger. Whether you’re a reader or a blogger yourself, I hope you love being a part of it as much as I do. And, as always, thanks for reading Digging.
All material © 2006-2014 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
You have taken Garden Blogging and done an outstanding job Pam. I always look forward to reading what you have on mind. I have learned so much and have been so entertained by garden blogs. I hope they never go away.
Me too, Lisa. Nothing ever stands still, but whatever blogs become I think there will always be a place online for individual gardener’s voices. —Pam
Love all the love. You are awesome my friend!
Shawna
Right back at’cha, Shawna. Happy “love” day! —Pam
keeping a wary eye on future developments in garden blogging. This year I’m busily editing old posts to give a fresh focus.
I’m trying to like video clips, but I’d so much rather read words and pictures as you and I blog.
Saw a brief video from Matt Cutts advising ‘older’ established blogs not to rest on their laurels – or we’ll be swept aside as readers prefer newer ideas.
Thanks for pointing me to Cutts’s website advice, Diana. I’ve linked to it for anyone else who’d like to watch the video. —Pam
PS a very happy 8th blogaversary!
Thanks for blogging, Pam, and for starting the Fling! I get lots of ideas from your blog, and love reading it. Happy Blogaversary!
Thanks, Alison. I love reading your blog too and can’t wait to attend this summer’s Fling to see what gardening Portland-style is like. —Pam
Thank YOU for being an inspiration for me to start my own garden blog. I SO look forward to meeting you in Portland! Blog on, Pam!
So glad you’re blogging, Tamara. I look forward to meeting you this summer! —Pam
Always enjoy your blog. Happy anniversary!
Thanks, Marian! —Pam
Awww, a little link love on Valentine’s day. Thanks Pam and congratulations on eight years of great Digging.
Of course blogging will change to fit the times and technology. It might take a while because I often find photo sharing sites lacking information so I prefer blogs where the writer shares such mundane details as the location and relevant meaning of the photo.
Having recently celebrated just two years of garden blogging I didn’t even realize there was a question about adding in other types of media. I’ve even seen surprisingly anxious discussions on whether non-gardening posts belong in a garden blog. Why set limits?
I will enjoy seeing where the changes lead us.
You’re on the forefront with your video shares, Shirley, and you didn’t even know it! I agree about letting a garden blog go “off-topic” from time to time. Letting one’s personality come through helps readers get to know you, and non-gardening posts are a good way to give a new perspective. But I can see why some bloggers debate how much non-gardening content to include, especially if concerned about SEO. Personally too, I tend not to come back to a blog that isn’t primarily about gardening. —Pam
There will always be pioneering blogs and vlogs leading the way into new territory. But.
In my heart, it will always be the writerly blogs with clear photos and good design advice that I find the most inspiring (like yours!). Happy Blogiversary and Happy Valentine’s Day! Looking forward to the next 8 years (at least!).
The voice is key for me too, TexasDeb. I love looking over a good photo blog, but context is key. I too want the author to take me on the journey with words, not just images. —Pam
Thank you for sharing your garden and thoughts with us for 8 years! Your blog was one of the first I read, and has given me such good inspiration for my garden. I can’t wait to see where the future takes us!
I’m glad you’re blogging too, Renee! —Pam
I do, I do and have you to thank for introducing blogging to me. WIll I be able to keep up with the new trends? Maybe not. I have no idea how to link to anything so maybe no one will visit my blog anymore. A lovely Valentine Day post. Your creativity just blows me away.
Aw, thank you, Jenny. Your garden has inspired many a post on Digging! —Pam
8 years!? I went by fast I bet? I’m coming up on 5 and I can’t believe it’s been that long.
By far the best part about blogging is the people I’ve met. So many friends that I would have never known if not for our blogs. Thank you for all the inspiration you’ve given to this community, and for the biggest blog party of all…the Fling.
Yep, the people one meets are the best perk of blogging. I’m so glad to have met you thanks to blogging too, Loree! —Pam
I’m so glad you started blogging. You’ve done so much for the Austin blogging community and beyond. Finding your site is what led me to the rest of the Austin group, which has made my gardening so much more rewarding. I love how you keep your topics fresh and informative. Keep at it!
Laura, I’m so grateful for our Austin garden blogging community. Let’s keep going! —Pam
Eight years! Wow! Congratulations.
You were one of the very first blogs I read. And, your blog inspired me to start one.
I have learned so much from you, and other garden bloggers….not just about plants, but design, photography, and even places around town.
Keep up the good work.
Linda, I am so happy to know I helped inspire you to blog. (I’m such a blog pusher.) Thanks for putting your garden experiences out there for us to enjoy. —Pam
Congratulations on your blogaversary! Thanks for eight years of sharing garden wisdom, inspiration,and a healthy dose of fun! Thanks also for dreaming up the fling! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Thanks so much, Peter. See you this summer! —Pam
Congratulations! Eight years is a long time to inspire and share. Thanks for all!
Thanks, Tina. I’m glad you’re blogging too. I’ve learned a lot — and gotten a number of nice plants! — from your garden. —Pam
I for one am very glad you started. When I was gardening in Dripping Springs, I read your blog to help me learn how to garden in central Texas.
Now I still read it, even though I don’t get to do much gardening, because it is so well written and interesting.
Thanks for blogging. And thanks for writing the book, Lawn Gone. Replacing a lawn with pollinator and bird friendly plants may go a long way in saving our planet’s current life, including us.
Marilyn, thanks for your kind words. I appreciate your visits! —Pam
Happy Anniversary. Quiet lurker but I love your site and all you have shared. You are so inspirational.
Welcome, quiet lurker! Thanks for your kind comment. —Pam
Happy 8th blogaversary! And thanks for always thinking about what’s next and how to spread the sense of community among bloggers and blog readers. Yours was one of the first blogs I started reading regularly, long before I started my own blog.
Thanks, Kris. I really enjoy your blog too. I’m so glad you joined the blogging community. —Pam
Congrats Pam! I am entering year six myself and really enjoy what you do, though I certainly comment much less these days. Your thoughts on the future are interesting but I must admit I am still such a words/print junkie. Too many pretty pictures without info (and botanical names) gets to be a bore. I think so much depends on whether one is a true hands-on gardener as to what sites work for each of us. I figure folks find their home somewhere among all the searches!
Yes, there’s definitely something for everyone. And if not, it’s so easy to create your own! I’m glad you’re still blogging after all these years too, Linda. —Pam
Hi Pam,
Congratulations on 8 beautiful years of blogging. I remember the 3 blogs that got me started on my blogging journey and yours was the first I ever read those many years ago! I didn’t even know what a blog was until I arrived at yours. Nowadays, I feel like you save me the 150 mile drive to Austin each time I get to see your garden and the many others you showcase each month! We go green each time we view the screen!
Ah…the question of where blogging is going is a good one.
The video thing will definitely be a part of it all, but I still like the writing, the photographs, and of course, the personal touch that are the hallmark of blogging. Just like the author of books and the captains of ships, somebody runs the thing, chooses the exact words, and gives it all that special flavor. This is why reading your blog is so much fun.
David/:0)
Thanks so much, David. I’m sure you know that I feel the same way. Hearing the gardener’s thoughts is half the fun of the photogenic virtual garden tour. So glad you’re sharing your garden in the blogosphere too! —Pam
Congrats! Thank you for introducing me to the idea of garden blogging. Your blog was the very first garden blog I started following. From your blog list I was able to locate other bloggers nearby. Thanks for all the info, inspiration and making gardening fun:)
It’s been my pleasure, Steph! I’m so glad you’re sharing your garden online too! —Pam
Congratulations Pam! Your blog was one of the first I ever read, and I still read it (though usually a few days late).
I’m glad I’m not the only one running late these days. But I always get to my favorite blogs eventually, and yours is definitely one of them, Les. —Pam