Why I still blog after 15 years

When I started my blog in late 2010, Austin writer Pam Penick and her blog Digging were one of my earliest influences. I knew nothing about gardening in Central Texas (and not much about gardening here at home), but I immediately related to Pam’s writing about her own garden and others she was visiting. At that time, Pam already seemed like a veteran, with five years of blogging under her belt.

Fast forward to 2025. Embarking on her 20th year of blogging, Pam recently invited a few other veteran bloggers to share their thoughts on what keeps them going:

• Carol Michel – May Dreams Gardens, Indianapolis, Indiana (21 years)
• Susan Harris – GardenRant, Greenbelt, Maryland (20 years)
• Dee Nash – Red Dirt Ramblings, Guthrie, Oklahoma (18 years)
• Gail Eichelberger – Clay and Limestone, Nashville, Tennessee (17 years)
• Loree Bohl – danger garden, Portland, Oregon (16 years)
• Denise Maher – A Growing Obsession, Long Beach, California and Tillamook, Oregon (16 years)
• Beth Stetenfeld – PlantPostings, McFarland, Wisconsin (15 years)
• Lee Miller – A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, Long Island, New York (15 years)

and, yes:

• Gerhard Bock – Succulents and More, Davis, California (15 years)

All nine of us answered the same questions, including what motivated us to start a blog, what opportunities or connections blogging has brought into our lives, and how blogging has influenced our gardening practices and our feelings about our own gardens.

While we live in different climates and have different gardening styles and preferences, we’re united by many commonalities: We blog not for money, but because of our passion for documenting the beauty of gardens and nature. Even though the digital landscape has undergone seismic changes, the essence of blogging — sharing knowledge, fostering community, and personal expression — remains the same. As the focus has shifted from text-driven stories to fast visuals for consumers with short attention spans, our continued dedication to our blogs underscores the unique value of long-form content in building lasting connections and preserving personal narratives in the gardening world.

Want to find out what makes the ten of us tick (nine interviewees, plus Pam)? Grab a cup of coffee or tea, lean back in a comfy chair, and dig in.

© Gerhard Bock, 2025. All rights reserved. To receive all new posts by email, please subscribe here.