This Blog Laid Bare

It’s been nearly a week now since I first published this blog. Being new to the world of blogging, I wasn’t sure what to expect. One thing I thought highly likely, however, was to go unread for quite some time and not get any comments for quite some time after that.

In this, I have been pleasantly surprised with my first comments arriving yesterday. Actually, “surprised” is something of an understatement; I was visibly thrilled when next to my first post there appeared a brand new shining “1 comment” link. My refresh button also breathed a sigh of relief having taken an anxious beating over the past few days in the quest for my first comment. (Thanks go to Barbee’, Zoë, and Nigel for this.)

Suddenly, my meandering memoranda had some kind of point, beyond the enjoyment of the writing itself. Indeed, one comment suggested that my writing was of some actual interest. Next, someone may claim to find it useful…sorry, must have slipped into a day-dream there.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about blogging, in the past few days, and reading a fraction of the thousands of gardening blogs that are out there. There’s some fantastic stuff and a huge variety too.

All of this has got me thinking about this blog and what I want it to be. On this, I devoured Kate’s blog that recently asked what it means to her (and received some 72 comments and counting in the process!) and agreed wholeheartedly with the conclusions that she reached: that her blog is for her, not to attract the largest numbers of readers.

At the back of my mind has been this niggling thought that every one of the blogs that I’ve read are so knowledgeable about gardening and the horticultural world. How am I to deliver on that?

Then I realised that sincerity and honesty in the blogging world are far more valuable than knowledge alone. (At least as far as this blogger is concerned.)

So, I have decided to let the circumstances of my horticultural life drive this blog. Namely that I am not only new to blogging, I’m new to gardening too!

Since moving out of a flat and into a house (with a garden!!) a year and a half ago, I have been getting increasingly interested in the subject. This has resulted in: a weekend course; money spent on shiny new tools; too much money spent on gardening books (books on various subjects being a passion of mine anyway); subscriptions to gardening magazines; membership of the RHS; enrolment (but little participation as yet) in a distance learning garden design course; one bed of bulbs planted at the end of 2006; some containers; and, a far-too-long-running patio build at the top of the garden, that is finally nearing completion!

As you will note – not much actual gardening as yet. But the enthusiasm is there.

And that’s what I think this blog will be…an enthusiastic view of gardening through the eyes of someone that’s new to it all. My garden is a blank canvass, having gone neglected for several years, and I will share its development with you all as I go along. There will be plenty of mistakes I’m sure, but hopefully some laughs along the way too.