Garden blogging for the last 18 months has really expanded my knowledge without me really realising that I was absorbing so much information. However, I realised today that my knowledge has recently expanded even more since I started writing a week post on gardening for Yell.com.
I hadn’t really thought about how I would find things to write about each week. I suppose I just assumed that it would be like writing my own blog. But when someone is paying you, you start to think that maybe you should make a bit more of an effort to write something coherent and useful. On top of this I have to find photos to accompany my posts and they have to be my photos or ones I have permission to use. This wasn’t so bad when I started back in the summer but with winter fast approaching I am beginning to struggle to come up with ideas.
So my gardening books have been dusted off especially those that take you through the year and I suspect my garden is going to be the better for this. This week I was at a loss what to write about. I had already done berries, autumn colour, grasses, planting bulbs etc. So there I was leafing through one of my books and I came across tidying up the wildlife pond for winter.
Now I wouldn’t say that I don’t tidy up my pond but it is something that that gets neglected and I put off especially on a cold damp day. But a photo was required so I set to taking a before photo of my congested pond. I have some water forget-me-not which had taken over. After an hour I was very pleased with how much better the pond looked despite the muddy churned up water.
Pond after tidy up
On top of this beneficial hour of industry both for me and the pond I also learnt from the book that I could overwinter my water hyacinths. I hadn’t thought of this before but it makes perfect sense. So I fished them out of the pond, washed the duck weed off and put them in a tub of water. For some reason the book said there needed to be a layer of earth at the bottom but didn’t say why so I dutiful followed instructions. The tub is now in my frost free greenhouse and I am really pleased with the idea that my water hyacinth will overwinter.
So garden blogging is actually improving my gardening knowledge which is quite funny as I am meant to be providing hints and tips – talk about learning on the job!!!!!.
You can access mine and other Yell.com gardening blogs here
agreed!
I soon found looking at blogs through blotanical was more entertaining than Gareners World a program I have watched avidly for nearly 30 years.
Apart from learning so much about plants and gardening I am also improving my IT skills and photography skills and in order to take better photos I tend to look at the garden in a different way which helps me to enjoy more detail.
Blogging for Yell.com must certainly keep you on your toes as well as sharpen the old grey matter. I imagine that winter topics are probably more of a challenge but I am sure that you will not run out of things to say
Glad that you have rescued your water hyacinths.
PS I have just noticed that I can see my hand waving at me
I am nine posts into my career as a garden blogger, and all I have learnt (/confirmed) is that my capabilities for procrastination are almost limitless. 20mins to write a post, the rest of the day wasted checking to see if anyone has read it, and all those leaves to sweep. Oh well, back to my home page I guess
Agreed, Helen. I think the blogging, and reading others’ blogs, has had a big positive impact on my gardening, too. And reading other blogs has given me quite a few magazine article ideas, too.
There’s always so much to learn, so many new ideas and new plants to try. I feel blogging is a great way to expand your knowledge and keep your creativity flowing, particularly during the cold dark months.. Jules. http://www.jules-gardens.co.cc
It is absolutely amazing what I have picked up through blogging, blog hopping, and visiting with other gardeners from around the world. I am pleased that I began but regret that I don’t visit with my cyber friends as often as I used to. What wonderful resources we have now!
Helen, I read your post with interest. I’ve just started a paid blogging gig on the topic of gardening of well. I share your same feelings about wanting my posts to be relevant to large numbers of people. If you get a chance, please check out my blog (I only have a handful of posts so far). You can find me at http://gadaboutmedia.com/category/home-and-food/gardening/
Water hyacinth is a truly terrifying invasive alien here. But it does have beautiful flowers. And the excess makes good compost!
I was wondering about getting some winter hyacinth and didn’t realise you could overwinter them. It is certainly worth a try.
You are right. I have learned a lot and absolutely enjoy reading what works for others and what doesn’t. Your pond clean-up post was really helpful, even though I don’t have a pond. I enjoy dreaming about it.
I would love to visit your blog more often, but I find the black background makes it very hard to read and the writing isn’t very sharp (even with my glasses!) but your photo’s are lovely.
I was about to say about the same thing MaryDelle did, so just read her comment again. LOL
I’ll have to check out the link.
So true Helen! I had to come back and comment on this post after learning from your comment on mine that cimicifugas/actaeas have a nice scent. I’ve never noticed the scent since it’s so cool here when ours bloom. I had to check, and discovered they have a lovely scent – Thank you for the comment, and for teaching me something new today!
Hi, I just started my own garden blog last month, and I know what you mean about absorbing so much info. It is especially great to be a part of blotanical and to share with gardeners from all over the world. I loved this post on your pond clean-up.