Beneath the surface I agree with Craig. I try to leave comments that expand the dialog. I too am an introvert and I prefer intense conversations with a few than a chat with many. I never played a part to be popular in high school and so I must remain true to myself on my blog–even if it means few comments.

I write to learn. So I appreciate people who write back with tidbits of information from their own gardens and their own experiences. Blogging makes it possible for us to compare notes and that’s what I love most about it.

I need to have an interest in the post. Too many garden blogs and postings are simplistic or passing on misinformation. I’m looking for something more than a daily diary, dissing people and organizations, or hawking a product. I’m not going to leave a “lol”, “way to go”, or “me too”. I prefer substance or an interesting point-of-view and I won’t comment if I don’t have it.

I’m a fairly introverted person and the public nature of blogs is intimidating. Many of the commentators are too aggressive for me.

Non-response from the bloggers. The comments I make are usually to offer a thought or give an alternative perspective and hopefully start a conversation with the blogger and the other commentators. The conversation doesn’t happen very often so it makes me wonder why do I bother, is the blogger paying attention, have I upset the blogger, and why am I being ignored. The silence bothers me.

Kathy and Melissa are the only bloggers to have contacted me and they are at the top of my reading list. I no longer read many of the gardening blogs, including some very popular ones, because I realize I am not their audience. They have their fans and groupies but I’m not one of them.

“I envy those blogs that have regulars who comment on every post.” I’ll ditto you there… although getting more now, I had fallen out of th ehabit of checking my garden blog for comments ( before the hiatus). I think comments encourgae the blogger to keep posting regularly, to know someone cares.

Maybe garden bloggers in becoming more numerous are also noticably more gregarious now???

Unlike most of the participants here I write about other topics besides gardening. I get the most comments when I post pictures of cats, especially my tortoise-shell. Gardening topics elicit more comments than my ramblings about environmental matters or historical topics, however.

I envy those blogs that have regulars who comment on every post.