We interrupt this hiatus for an important message: on August 27th Cold Climate Gardening will turn five years old, and you’re invited to help celebrate. Last year, I interviewed several garden blog pioneers. This year, you get to interview me. Ask your questions in the comment section below, and I will answer your questions on the anniversary.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I still have a few lesson plans to work on. See you on the 27th!
About the Author
Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She gardens in rural upstate NY, which used to be USDA Hardiness Zone 4 but is now Zone 5. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002. Find her on Instagram as kopurdy.
In its own way, frost may be one of the most beautiful things to happen in your garden all year . . . Don’t miss it. Like all true beauty, it is fleeting. It will grace your garden for but a short while this morning. . . . For this moment, embrace frost as the beautiful gift that it is.
~Philip Harnden
in
A Gardener’s Guide to Frost: Outwit the Weather and Extend the Spring and Fall Seasons
Happy Anniversary!!!
Do you think keeping lovebirds in the garden will give face lift to the garden?
First, CONGRATULATIONS! You amaze me with all of your accomplishments.
My questions:
“Which do you find more satisfying – garden writing or garden blogging?”
“If you HAD to give up one, which would it be and why?”
Looking forward to our visit!
Your forever friend,
Cynthia
Hello – I’m not sure I’ve introduced myself to you yet but I’ve been reading CCG since before I started blogging in April of this year. Thank you for your work! When you started blogging did you have any idea how popular the medium would become and did you already have faithful readers to write to? (as opposed to sending your voice out into the ether not knowing if it would be heard) Also, do you ever feel caught between gardening and blogging? Which do you do when both are calling to you?
Happy Fifth Birthday!
No questions, just wanted to say that I enjoyed your blog very much, and hope it goes another five years.
Dear KP my adored CF,
You are to be heartily congratulated for leading the way, shining the light and encouraging the rest of us . You inspire me every day and I thank you for that. May you have another successful 5 and 50 years of Cold Climate Gardening. Can’t wait to see you face to face. Hey, and please answer layanee’s question, why blog?
Let me add my congratulations to those already bestowed!
Which came first, gardening or writing? Why blog?
Actually, I’m not so interested in the blogging as I am in the garden connection. Would you speak about where the garden was when you started the blog, and where it is now on the blog’s 5-year anniversary?
Also, how has keeping records for and writing the blog affected the way you garden?
Your friendliness, attention to detail, and above the curve tech ability in blogging has impressed me from the start.
I would like to know if you had an overall plan or if one developed in the making of your blog?
which came first- the blogging or the garden writing?
and how did you get started in garden writing?
along with Stu I’d love to know where you are taking your garden blog into the future. What have you dropped from the agenda and what do you plan to start in this endeavor?
Congratulations on your 5 years of blogging! You are an inspiration to me on many levels. Particularly because you keep us all happy with your gardening comments and have the great joy of managing a classroom as well.
One more:
As you have prepared for your upcoming talk with the garden writers conference, what have you learned most in your research and dialogue with readers?
Your faithful reader,
Robin (Bumblebee)
More good questions! And I never said anyone was limited to one question, so if you see one that hasn’t been asked . . .
You are a true pioneer, Kathy . Five years is a remarkable milestone in the world of garden blogs. Heartfelt congratulations on your many wonderful and enlightening posts which I have been delighted to read.
My question is : Would you do it all over again ? Given the time, effort and devotion it takes, was it all worth it ? Actually that’s two questions, but hey, whose counting ?
“In what ways has blogging been different from what you expected it to be, and in what ways has it met your expectations?”
Congratulations!
My question is about your writing style. Did you start out with a particular “voice” when you began this blog or did it evolve over the years?
Congratulations on your fifth year of blogging. I’m impressed and wonder how you first decided to blog at a time when blogging was in its infancy?
Hi Kathy!
Five years is an amazing commitment. I know people who don’t stay married that long!
Here’s are my questions:
1) What was your highest point–the most exciting and thrilling part of your blogging adventure?
2) And, part 2, what really got your down? What frustrated you and made you think of quitting?
3) Have you ever met–in person–people who you correspond with on your blog?
Your faithful reader,
Robin (Bumblebee)
These are all great questions! I find myself grinning as I think of answers worthy of them. Keep ’em coming, folks . . .
My turn!
What is your personal favorite post of the past five years on CCG? Or if you can’t come up with just one, what are the top 5?
Carol at May Dreams Gardens
Congrats, Kathy! Here’s my question: how have you avoided the burnout that happens to so many bloggers after a while, and not just garden bloggers? What do you do to keep blogging fresh and interesting for you?
Happy blogiversary! Here is my question:
“After 5 years of garden blogging, and countless more years of gardening, do you still discover new blogs and fresh approaches to gardening that delight you?”
Well…I’ll be first then. How do you see the next 5 years panning out, after the hiatus that is? What has been the biggest change that you’ve noticed over the past 5 years?
BTW – Happy birthday Kathy. 5 years in the blogosphere is almost legendary.