I use Wordpress for my own blog, and I like it a lot. A lot of people use blogger, which is owned by google. However, if I wanted something really simple where I could post photos, I'd give tumblr a try, it's very easy to use and takes seconds to set up.

http://www.tumblr.com

Here is a link that might be useful: tumblr.com

I've never heard of tumblr, but if it's "very easy to use and takes seconds to set up", I'd try it. I use blogger which was not very easy and took a lot more than seconds to set up. Maybe I'm slow. With Blogger there no limit (I post a ton of photos) and it's definitely free. If your operating system is Windows 7 (don't know about Vista) and you have the Live Photo Gallery, within it is Live Writer which allows you to build your post in it. Then it uploads it (after you have set up your blog). It's a lot easier and more cooperative than writing the post in Blogger - at least a while back anyway.

Have fun with it, Sally, and give us the link when you get it done.

Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...

Try weebly.com.
http://www.weebly.com/features.php

It is very easy to set up, has a drag and drop interface, 100's of templates and is free, and it doesn't put an ad on your page.

Here is a link that might be useful: weebly.com

I have been on Blogger for four years, and I find it to be easy to use, very flexible, and the best blog platform for interracting with other bloggers. My blog is my garden journal, my soapbox, and my way to share photos and stories. If you'd like some advice on setting up your blog, blog etiquette, etc., I will be happy to help you. PM me through my page at GW.
Connie

Here is a link that might be useful: Hartwood Roses Blog

Thanks folks, I sure appreciate the feed-back.... and Sherrie and Connie, I was inspired to investigate a blog mainly because I watch and read yours, the way it links to your posting and you don't have to keep putting pics each time someone wants to see your garden, the way one does w/Photobucket... the pics are gone after a short time,'way back in the messages..... yes, I have Windows 7- and will take a look at the ones named, and will prob. have to get my son to help me...he's like all the newer generation, he is surgically attached to his little device and says it only hurts when he Tweets! (just joking of course).. but they do have their phones attached to their umbilical cord when born, and understand all this stuff that is Greek to us old fogies!! I'm still back in the era of the hand-crank telephone, so it will be a challenge for him..... I appreciate the advice, Thanks again, sally

I have one on blogger and am happy there, i might start another, on roses and such as my other is on quite a different subject matter. I like what you say, saldut, about being able to post pictures here easier, I haven't been able to figure this out...

I have two on Blogger, thinking about starting a garden only one.

One of mine is photo related and the other is more fixing up an old old property

I have a Tumblr and use it everyday but I wouldn't use it as garden blog. Consider WordPress or Blogspot.

Tumblr is very easy to use and there are a few garden blogs there (such as the NYBG Tumblr). There's a free mobile app for it too. Everything about is simple. But the blogging atmosphere there isn't as traditional like say WordPress or Blogspot. I think of Tumblr as a photolog where expression in words is usually minimal (although there's nothing stopping you from posting text). The community there is more about reblogging images of pop culture, artsy things and such with little regard where the content comes from or ownership. For instance, if you post a picture, another user can reblog it and it will remain in that user's blog even if you delete your post. The comment system on Tumblr is a little lacking as well and you will have to be somewhat technically-savvy to append a comment system (the NYBG Tumblr uses a 3rd party comment system).

Here is a link that might be useful: New York Botanical Garden@Tumblr

I have been too busy to follow some of the new websites, Pinterest etc.

I personally would be wary of a website that allows you to take other peoples work and post it on your own pages as though you own the work. In the example of a photo, it belongs to the person who took it, even if they decide to show it to the world on their own website. Unless they give you permission.

Like others, I'm a Google Blogger....but I have no rhyme or reason as to why except it was easy and free. Beware, though, it is an addicting hobby!

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Musings

Kippy, I'd love to know the URL for your blog ... one old house fixer to another.

Not a blogger myself, but I love reading garden blogs. One thing that's been noticed that some blogs pop up right away and some take a long time to load. What drives that and is that something that would be helpful to address?

Roselee, it is most likely because those other blogs have too much content such as ads, flash, etc for your computer's hardware to handle (I have to deal with this too). Many blogs on Blogger also uses Google's web font API that allows you to view fancy fonts embedded on certain sites without having to download and install that font; This feature combined with ads and such can compromise performance on a lower end or older computer.

Back in the early 2000s, we were all considerate about the 56k warning for those with low speed internet connections. But now that nearly everyone is on a broadband connection or better, many web designers cram so many things onto one page because these things should load up instantly with most connection speeds today but no consideration is taken into those with lower end hardware unfortunately.

Musaboru, thank you for explaining how that works.

I also use blogger and have found it easy to use. My daughter uses wordpress for her blog and she likes it. I do like that most of the rose bloggers on this forum use blogger and that makes connections between them a bit easier. It is a great way to share your garden with others.

Best of luck and if you have and questions just ask any of those who have shared their blogs here - they are great people.

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Dirt Roses

I started out by blogging on Blogger, but then switched to Wordpress.com. I then found that the free wordpress blog (wordpress.com) places ads on your posts which you can't see when you're logged in, unless you pay a fee. So I switched to a self-hosted site and used the wordpress.org software. It costs a bit more, but it's customizable, etc, and I use it for business as well as hobbies.

But for a free blog, I think Blogger works really well. Blogger is integrated well into marketing since it's owned by Google, so it pops up pretty frequently for me in searches.

I also think that Blogger or Wordpress work better than Tumblr or Pinterest for posting original blogging content, if you're at all worried about people using your images without permission, since they both make it easy to repost your content. But if you don't really care about that, they work fine. Pinterest and Tumblr also seem to be more picture heavy, rather than written content or a combination, in my opinion.

There are no "best" blogging tools, just ones that suit your needs better than others. That said, Tumblr and Pinterest are clearly more social media tools than blogging tools; they promote resharing of existing material (mostly images), whereas Blogger and Wordpress are designed to create original content of the text-plus-photo type.

Personally I dislike Tumblr and Pinterest (especially the latter) for the fact that they encourage little more than resharing of existing material; I regard them as quasi-parasitic, since they allow and encourage redistribution of other people's intellectual property, a practice with dubious merit.

As for Wordpress loading your pages with ads when you are not logged in, I have looked into this and seen no evidence that this happens. (at least not on my Wordpress blog it doesn't) Wordpress gets my vote because of its robust "theme" options, most of which are very attractive and function beautifully.

Well, I guess I'm partly on my way, I mentioned to my G-D that I wanted a blog, she went home, and next day came after work and proceded to install it on my PC, she has a killer camera and walked around the garden taking pics, so hopefully in a few days it will be up and running... ever the optimist ! I do have to get another addy because my present one is limited in pic capacity, so my S is going to help w/that.... and I want to thank all the great folks that have given freely of advice and help, you are the best... thanks again, sally