Bloom Tracking and Notes: Why You Should Keep a Garden Journal

There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing a plant you’ve nurtured come into bloom. But what’s even more powerful? Remembering when it happened. Not just for joy, but for learning.

That’s where a garden journal comes in.

Whether it’s a leather-bound notebook, a messy margin in your planner, or a digital list on your phone, keeping a journal is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to grow with your garden—not just in it.

Let’s explore why journaling matters, what you can track, and how to make it an enjoyable part of your gardening rhythm.

📝 Why Keep a Garden Journal?

🌼 Track bloom times and plant performance
Knowing when things flower helps you plan for better colour flow—and spot gaps in the season.

🧠 Remember what works (and what flopped)
That new Salvia that thrived in clay? Write it down. That Digitalis that sulked in dry shade? Also worth noting.

🌱 Support plant health
Journaling helps you spot patterns in pests, diseases, or stress—before they become yearly habits.

🎨 Refine your design
Over time, your notes will show you which combos looked magical, and which ones… didn't.

💛 Celebrate the little things
The first bumblebee. The bloom you didn’t expect. The way Amsonia turned gold in October. Journaling invites you to notice—and savour—it all.

🌿 What to Track in Your Journal

You don’t have to write a novel. Just quick, meaningful notes. Try tracking:

• First and last frost dates

• Bloom times (great for succession planting!)

• Planting dates and transplant success

• Weather quirks (droughts, storms, surprise snow in May)

• Pests or diseases

• What you planted where (because tags disappear, let’s be honest)

• Photos or sketches (your future self will love you for this)

• Wish lists and plant crushes (you will forget that cultivar name)

• Seasonal tasks you want to remember for next year

📒 Journal Formats to Try

There’s no one way to do it—just choose what feels right:

• A lined notebook – Simple, flexible, classic.

• A 5-year journal – Great for seeing changes and patterns over time.

• Bullet journal style – Creative, visual, and totally personalized.

• Digital spreadsheet or app – Perfect for plant tags, dates, and weather tracking.

• Photos + captions – Even a phone album titled “Spring 2025 Garden” is a start.

💡 Pro tip: Keep your journal somewhere visible—next to your pruners, in the shed, or by your morning tea.

🌼 Bonus: Journal Now to Plan Better This Fall

What’s blooming today? What looks bare? What would you love more of next spring?

Write it down now, and when bulb catalogues roll in (and your memory’s a bit fuzzier), you’ll know exactly where to plant that patch of tulips, or add another Geum ‘Pretticoats Peach’ where it really sang.

Final Thoughts: The Garden Is Talking—Take Notes

The garden doesn’t grow in a straight line. It surprises, stumbles, flourishes, and teaches.

Keeping a journal helps you slow down and listen. It’s not about perfection—it’s about presence. A few scribbles, a quick note, a sketch of a bloom you didn’t expect—these are the stories that build a deeper connection to your space, year after year.

So grab a pen. Jot a date. Snap a photo. Begin.