Faire Garden takes out Blog of the Year
The Blotanical Awards have finally come to an end for 2008 and it's awesome to see such a diverse range of winners. But the kudos must go to the Blog of the Year winner, Faire Garden, and Blotanist of the Year, Carol.
These two awards deserve the most accolades for they demonstrate the respect given by their Blotanical peers. Amongst nearly 1000 other blogs, Faire Garden (a relative new-comer on the garden blogging scene) stood-out amongst the blogging faithful as a blog of distinction. Whether it's the photos, writing, enigmatic style of owner, Frances - or a culmination of all three - Faire Garden is a worthy recipient of this inaugural title.
And, if Carol from May Dreams Gardens needed any introduction then you possibly haven't been around long enough. The creator of Garden Blogger's Bloom Day and the most sought after hoe specialist also took out the Best Blog Writing category.
Without taking anything away from Carol's win, it was a little devastating to see that Crafty Gardener missed out on the Blotanist of the Year, as I was sure that she would clearly take it. Crafty Gardener has been a stalwart of Blotanical since its inception and the fact that she is still miles ahead of anybody in points clearly illustrates her commitment and devotion to the site. Kudos Crafty and all the best for next year's awards.
As for the rest of the winners, place-getters and nominated finalists you can view them all here.
While this has been the first Blotanical Awards it is certainly not going to be the last and I'm still keen to hear your feedback about anything to do with the Blotanical Awards. BTW - it pays to suggest a category. Mr Subjunctive from Plant's are the Strangest People complained bitterly...lol :-)...that we introduced a Best Indoor Gardening Blog category which he she later went on and won - it pays to ask.
PS. I'm planning to get some banners out to the winners during the course of this week.
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Comments
re. Your comments about Crafty Gardener - perhaps that's a clue towards another category for next year . . . a Mr Blotanical's Special Award . . . You could then give an award to someone you think has been missed out by surprise, or un-noticed but brilliant, or doesn't fit a category, or came second but it was a near miss . . . or whatever you felt like at the time.
It's been fun.
and . . . p.s. thank-you to those who remembered ESTHER IN THE GARDEN despite a long gap in posts.
Esther Montgomery
Posted by: Esther Montgomery | September 29, 2008 3:44 PM
I like the idea Esther and it's prompted another one - maybe a GURU's pick for top blog and top Blotanist?
Posted by: Stuart
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September 29, 2008 4:11 PM
I came to Blotanical as usual early this morning and was reading messages in my plot when I noticed my name on the sidebar! What kind words, Stuart, thank you. I know you have worked very hard on the site and the awards and the feed problems all at the same time. I hope you can take a rest now, or is there no rest for Mr. Blotanical? ;-> All winners and nominees are fantastic blogs and bloggers, congrats to all.
Frances
Posted by: Frances | September 29, 2008 6:16 PM
"She?"
Not that it matters so much on the internet, but I am male.
Posted by: mr_subjunctive | September 29, 2008 7:06 PM
@Frances - My pleasure. A break...not a chance, now I can concentrate on getting some new features out....
@Mr Subjunctive - My apologies. I assumed that you were until I read in your last post this comment, "Until then, the husband and I will just keep eating frozen pizzas." Then I re-thought my thunking processes and re-assumed that you must be female. Sorry...must be time for bed...
Posted by: Stuart
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September 29, 2008 8:00 PM
I like the ideas for Mr. Blotanist's Pick and a Guru Pick as well. :) Mr. Blotanist -- that's a perfect fit, Stuart. ;)
Posted by: Nancy Bond | September 29, 2008 9:10 PM
I was surprised at some of the choices too. I think there might have been a misunderstanding on a couple of the awards. Some of those chosen for best Blotonist, don't really participate in Blotanical much at all. Crafty definitely should have won that one. Oh well, there's always next year.
Thanks for all you do, Stuart.
Posted by: Robin | September 30, 2008 12:10 PM
Initially, I thought Blotanists were people who belonged to Blotanical but who don't have blogs.
This connects with another, more day to day, confusion. New Blotanical members often think to 'fave a member' is the same as to 'fave a blog' - especially because the member-fave button is more prominant than the blog-fave one. They think they'd made a 'fave' - then wonder why it doesn't appear on their lists.
Back to categories - although I was pleased the geographical divisions meant people from smaller areas were 'in with a chance' I found sheer numbers made it difficult to chose between blogs in the U.S.A. category. Could the U.S.A. be divided a little next year?
And finally (for the moment!) I found the word 'best' difficult to interpret. Some blogs are streaks ahead of others in terms of presentation, photography, gardening knowledge and expertise . . . all sorts of things . . . but some of my favourite blogs are much less well polished . . . there's simply something else about them that is engaging. I got myself into tangles about this. In fact, there are some blogs which I would definitely fit into the 'best' category but which I don't read as often as I do some of my 'favourites'.
Please could we have a 'favourite' blog category next year? I'd find it hard to chose one but at least I'd know what I was doing!
Lucy
Posted by: Lucy Corrander | October 1, 2008 5:14 PM