Web Journal Tips

by Jeff White

I've discovered 2 things that make life easier when using a bonsai blog or journal, pictures first and keywords.

1. Pictures First:
Buy an inexpensive digital camera and learn how to use it. As you work on your trees, take pictures. At the end of the day (or the following week), sit down at your computer, log in to your journal and add an entry. Start your entry by browsing for a picture to journal about. It works wonders overcoming the 'blank page' syndrome of not know how to start. I've tried journaling without taking the pictures first and I just end up wishing I had a picture. Sometimes I leave the picture off but then I'm stuck writing at least a thousand extra words.
2. Keywords help the search:
If you've read any of my journal entries you may have seen misspelled words. I don't worry too much about spelling but some of those misspelled words are intentional. Think about what entries you might want to find later. For example, you see a tree and it occurs to you to air layer it next spring. I've created a 'keyword' spelled ToDo. When I journal a task for later a start with ToDo. Then I can search for ToDo and those entries pop up. Try it. I'll probably expand it to include a month or season like ToDoMar, ToDoApr or ToDoSpring. I've also developed keywords for each specimen. My large Ashe Juniper is AJ1. My twin trunk Bald Cypress is BC1. It should be something that is readily meaningful to you. I could call my Bald Cypress TD1 but I don't think in Latin (yet). You can build your own lexicon of keywords. The idea is to think about why you would want to find an entry and then create a keyword that won't appear in normal text. Also you should keep a record of your keywords. There, now I don't ever need to worry about spelling again, those are keywords!
Bonsai should be fun. Journaling makes your bonsai better in the long run but it shouldn't be a chore. Have fun with it and maybe you won't find yourself asking "What was I thinking?". Whatever it was, it was probably a good idea. Go find it in your journal.