Garden blogs and newsletters
/I’m not ashamed to admit that I lose hours scrolling through garden-focused Instagram accounts. I am endlessly inspired and informed by the generous sharing of growers from all corners of the world, and wholeheartedly encourage gardeners of all ages to explore the positive connections that float around at your fingertips via these sharing apps!
In saying this, social media can also be fickle and frustrating at times and I do enjoy veering off the fast-moving, rotating feeds to explore lengthier content made by passionate amateurs and professionals spanning the gardening industry across the globe.
Robyn Kilty’s fabulous Christchurch garden is the basis for her great blog.
As a blogger of 14 years myself, I have a soft spot for independent publishing and voices online. I like that the blog format allows for unlimited word counts, lots of full-size images and interesting links to associated information to support and benefit the reader. Like social media, blog platforms allow people with something to say the unbounded opportunity to share their experiences and interests in detail.
Whether it be the local gardener sharing their seasonal bounty or a top designer breaking down a project’s planting plan, the potential to find entertaining reading matching your own interests is infinite. Yes, the writing and grammar can range wildly in quality, but it’s the ability to hear the writer’s voice that has always attracted me, unbridled by the restrictions of commercial media.
As the giants of social media are constantly tweaking the way they present posts, often making it difficult for users to maintain a connection with their audience, the concept of the email newsletter has seen a revival. Newsletters are a great form of connection, offering easy online sign-ups and the following content dropping directly to inboxes without the risk of being missed. I’ve also found great benefits from signing up to magazine and garden centre newsletters that are often packed with terrific local tips.
With this in mind, I thought I would do a round-up of some of my favourite garden-focused blogs and newsletters that I enjoy inhaling, particularly when missing the vibrancy of my summer garden.
LOCAL
Tikorangi – The Jury Garden
Over the many years of garden-focused google searches seeking answers for my own plot, time and time again I found myself landing on terrific blog posts by Abbie Jury of Tikorangi garden near Waitara. Her passion for experimentation rewards all readers through her generous sharing of discovery in planting here in New Zealand and the backlog of seasonal articles will offer hours of reading! Look out for the box to sign up for the newsletter too.
www.jury.co.nz
Sage Journal
This is beautiful online magazine produced by Hawkes Bay writer and gardener Emma Sage. With a lot of consideration put into the photography, locally relevant tips and garden features, it is both a treat to explore the site and sign up for the seasonal newsletters.
www.sagejournal.co.nz
Robyn Kilty
Robyn mixes useful information about her flourishing small urban garden with romantic, seasonal observations. She has a beautiful way with words that all gardeners will respond to and be reminded to enjoy each phase of growth and decline that slides by out the window. Readers can visit her blog or sign up to receive each new post as a newsletter.
www.robynkiltygardens.co.nz
Sarah The Gardener
Sarah O’Neill shares regular posts detailing the development of her rural 10-acre property on the west coast of the North Island. Her posts are deliciously candid, with lots of imagery sharing each new project she undertakes as well as planting and harvesting from her expansive vegetable garden. There are years of posts to explore as well as a sign-up to receive them by email.
www.sarahthegardener.co.nz
INTERNATIONAL
Dig Delve (UK)
Dan Pearson is one of the most well-known garden and landscape designers in the world right now. Amazingly he has also carved out the time to create Dig Delve, a seasonally issued online magazine with high production value featuring the progress in his own garden as well as valuable articles on projects, books, food growing and cooking. There is so much to be explored here paired with stunning photography.
www.digdelve.com
Garden and House (UK)
Former Gardens Illustrated editor and author Lucy Bellamy has recently launched this fabulous newsletter where she channels her experience into attractive and information-laden articles profiling plants and projects. Hit the subscribe button to receive them directly to your inbox.
www.gardenandhouse.substack.com
Floret Farm (USA)
Erin Benzakein has arguably led the resurgence of independent farmer-florists across the globe. Extremely generous with her information, beyond her sold-out books and workshops, she also regularly posts valuable advice on flower growing on her blog. Despite not being a flower farmer myself, I have learnt so much from the archive of her articles and recommend all bloom lovers to take a browse.
www.floretflowers.com/blog
View from Federal Twist (USA)
James Golden has captured the hearts of the garden world with the transformation of his shady, wooded property into a roving naturalistic garden scape. Through his blog, he explores his passion with interesting interviews, garden book reviews and highly regarded guest writers.
www.federaltwist.com
This is an expanded version of the article featured in my Stuff ‘Homed’ gardening column for beginners , The Press, Dominion Post and other regional papers on June 6th 2022
All words and images are my own, unless otherwise credited.
