Blog Survey: What Do You Want To Read?
Hello Subscribers!
This week I have a question for you: What would you like to see here?
I write weekly and I don’t run out of things to write about. Usually what I write about is what is in front of me, or in front of my mind at any rate, and that results in a range of subject material.
This insularity and personalization is one of the reasons blogging hasn’t gone away (not totally, at any rate). It feels like the world we inhabit—like what we might put in a diary, or admit to a friend. But publishing a blog can be like addressing a particularly spacious black hole. You think there’s someone out there reading—and comments and site analytics convince me of this—but you do wonder what readers want more of.
Usually, I write within six bonsai categories:
- There are technical bonsai posts: Shade Cloth Part IV and A Schedule For Repotting
- Travelogues: The Australian National Bonsai Convention and The Oaks Of Spain
- Book and course reviews: Suzuki And Vallejo Masterclass and The Essential Bonsai Book
- Unique stories: Pacific Bonsai Museum Excels and 3D Bonsai—Aaron Kupferman
- Development studies: Styling A Mountain Hemlock and The Patient Magic Of Michael Roberts
- Puzzlers: Why Are There So Many Right Flow Trees? and Why Do Trees Twist?
Do any of these rank higher for you?
Are all of interest?
Do you have suggestions of new categories, or of topics that I haven’t written about?
If you’d like to participate in this informal survey, please send me an email—crataegusbonsai@gmail.com—or leave a note in the comments!
And thank you for reading the blog.
31 Comments
The technical and development posts are of highest interest to me. I also enjoy the puzzlers and unique stories. I don’t not enjoy the rest, they are just of lesser interest to me. Thanks for asking!
Thank you Darrell for the response! Although there is a range, what you’ve noted here matches the majority of the responses in this survey. Cheers!
General seasonal guide lines for what you like to spray and feed, when, and how much.
Thanks Michael! These sorts of nuts and bolts posts have gotten the nod in this survey, and I’ll try to work them in!
Maybe some posts on Japanese design aesthetics astray apply to the art and practice of bonsai and what mistakes do we make as Westerns with regard to these could be interesting and fun.
Thank you Jeff! That would be a fun, involved post! Or series of posts. Thanks for the suggestion!
For me the balance is just about perfect. The variety brings a personal touch which I enjoy.
Much appreciated Steve! It does keep me engaged, the variety…
I have always thought you did a fine job of balancing it all. Your heart shows through it all and your knowledge has always been helpful. Thank You for it all.
Many many thanks Lee… I’m touched! I’ll keep on keep’in on!
I enjoy it all Michael and like the variety. I also appreciate your perspective from a different background and geographic location. Helps me put things in context. I’m too am a bird lover and really enjoy hearing the side conversation about the exotic birds you see.
Appreciate the comment Candace! I too like to hear bonsai stories from other geographies. Context is everything! And glad you enjoy the bird travelogues. Not for everyone but people who think birds are evil are…few.
I enjoy reading the development studies. Seeing the progress of trees is what interests me the most.
Thanks Ann! You are among many who commented on liking the progressional / developmental blogs. Will try to work more in!
I like them all. However, my favorites are the Development (particularly a series of blogs to show the tree progression), Technical, and Puzzlers. I really like how you and Jonas Dupuich revisit trees from previous postings to show how the tree has evolved and the next steps. Not many artists do that and I really like to point new club members to your blogs for that reason.
Thanks Marty! You are in line with what most appear to want, more technical and developmental. Also puzzlers ranked high. And thanks for the note that you like the revisits, that helps~
I will like see and read your thoughts on bonsai pots, although you have successfully distant some of your compositions from the traditional container, I believe you have good knowledge and background in this subject.
Thanks for the comment Paolo! I do go sideways at bit, and glad that is not off-putting. Will try to work in a post about bonsai pots, there was at least one more who requested that!
I enjoy the rotation and looking forward to each bog post.
Thanks Ayla! Mixing it up keeps me engaged so I’ll continue doing a bit of that!
Hello Michael, thank you for sharing all your experience. I like all 6 topics in your normal rotation, but I vote to overweight posts on technical topics, development studies, and puzzlers.
Best, Nate
Thanks Nate! Most responses echo what you say here, so I hope to at least satisfy the majority! I’ll keep doing what I’m doing, but will slant things in this direction.
I like the technical the most, even though they are all great!
Thanks for the response, Jeremiah! The majority have said the same, technical or developmental are tops, the rest came in lower.
Hello! I am new to the world of bonsai so I enjoy all of your posts. All six categories will be informative for me. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thank Micki! I had a number of responses that liked all categories. I’ll keep trying to mix it up.
“I’d love to hear more about the design principles that guide your creative process—particularly how you’ve integrated avant-garde display into your garden, whether through unconventional materials, experimental spatial dynamics, or bold thematic explorations. I’m also interested in how you present the garden as a cohesive, holistic artistic statement—how the placement of plants, architectural elements, circulation paths, and even performative or interactive features come together to express a unified vision.
Thanks Christian! Appreciate the comment——this would be an involved post, and I’d be curious to compose one that would cover this. My own garden is not a great example of a creative synthesis. Most of it is functional only because of the volume of trees I needed to get into the back half of a 1/3 acre parcel. There are other mossed areas that present the trees better. So, it’s a mix of needs. I could write about that…
Hi Everyone! So appreciated, all your comments… I’ve received 60+ responses in a few days, about 1/3 here, mostly by email, and will reply to all of them. And will take stock and rank your desires, and do my best to implement!
Without yet doing the math, I’d say I will keep doing what I’m doing, but with some shifts toward two categories in particular… and I’ll report more on that later!
Thanks so much!
In not going to be much help here, but I want to hear it all. I have been involved with Bonsai since the mid 70’s, and except for some heath pauses have stayed a dedicated student. This includes 3 years with an exceptional teacher now residing in Maine. Horticulture- styling- approach- your ways are all necessary.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge
I love your books and am reading Heresy for the third time
Third time through Heresy! Golly!
And thanks for your reply to the blog survey—