Jul 11, 2012 / General Advice & Pro Tips

Focus On: Nature Blogs

When you’re enjoying a solitary walk through the woods or rowing across a placid lake, it’s likely that blogging is not the foremost thought in your mind. But perhaps it should be! Why not share your rambles and adventures with your readers? You can bring some of the outside world to them, even as they sit in their fluorescent-lit office cubes.

Here are some ideas for great posts about nature:

  • Take amazing photographs. This tip comes up with many topics we cover, but when it comes to the natural world, photography is particularly important. Vary your techniques: alternate panoramic shots of the mountain tops with microscopic close-ups of cool bugs and lovely flowers.
  • Learn about what you see. If you photograph a Pine Sawyer Beetle, give us some facts about it, too. Interesting geological formations in the caves near your house? Curious behavior by the squirrel that lives in the tree outside your study? Take note of anything that sparks your curiosity, and do some research to find out more about it.
  • Get active. Any outdoor sport or activity is an excellent source of material. Are you a rock-climber or a gardener? Do you like to hike or bird-watch? Do you kayak or horse-back ride? Take us along!
  • Give practical tips. If you know (or are learning) how to find potable water in the mountains, how to grow a perfect tomato, or what flowers to avoid, share that knowledge with your readers. Even those readers who will never need to use the information will be impressed by your outdoorsy expertise!
  • Contemplate. From Walden to Tinker Creek, we have a literary tradition of learning about ourselves through interaction with the natural world. If you are so inclined, nature posts are the perfect jumping-off point for philosophical musings, reminiscences, or even (gasp!) poetry.
  • Develop a series. Are you rafting every river in your state? Will you hike a certain mountain once a month to see how the view from the top changes with the seasons? Coming up with a regular segment will make creating content a snap for you, and it will also give your readers something to regularly anticipate.

Do you ever blog about nature? Do you have any tips for remembering and recording outdoor adventures?

Side note: I hope you’re all enjoying reading the Focus On series as much as I’m enjoying writing it! I’m running to the end of my list of blog topics, so if there’s a certain topic you’d like to see covered, please let me know in the comments.

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  3. Thank you for this, Elizabeth – there are some fabulous blogs here that I will certainly check out in more detail. And that prompts the question of how you happened on to me! I’m flattered by the shout-out, and feel really out of place among these terrific photographers you highlighted. Thank you much for including me here!

    Sid

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  5. My blog focuses on travel and nature and I go heavy on the photography such as with this photo of a dragonfly: http://www.aroundtheworldineightyyears.com/dragonfly-photos/

    I’m working up a series of “guides” for places in my area. But I dont review or give suggestions if I havent been to the place several times and really got an understanding of it. I’m just getting going but, take a look: http://www.aroundtheworldineightyyears.com/resources/travel-guides/ I’m open to suggestions.

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  6. I so enjoy these type blogs because I can’t travel everywhere plus I learn a lot about nature from those more knowledgeable.
    Thank you for all the great writing help.
    Alexandria Sage

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  7. I really enjoy your “Focus” blogs, especially this one about nature. I write books about my travel adventures, in places like the California mountains, New Zealand lakes, Russian rivers, and Turkish Mediterranean Sea coves. I take photos to match my books, and I love posting on my blog! http://lonnalisawilliams.wordpress.com/

    Have you featured Travel Sites? How about sites that focus on writing stories?

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  8. My blog is always about nature – or walking in it. I bring a notebook along to help remember the details. My husband’s picture help that memory – provided he snapped what I suggested.

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  9. Great post. We often get beautiful nature photographs, but the posts are about more than just nature. We are a collective of photographers living with or affected by mental illness, sharing photos and stories to support each other. We get a wide range of photos from a wide range of people, with everything from occasional anxiety or depression, to bipolar, to borderline personality disorder and on. http://brokenlightcollective.wordpress.com/ The nature photos are great, but we truly love them all.

    Perhaps you could do a post on mental illness related blogs? Cause blogs? Or collectives/group blogs? We would be happy to help in any way possible.

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  10. I’m enjoying your Focus On Series, too, Elizabeth. You offer lots of great tips, not matter the blog topic. I think I like it because my blog does not have a specific topic other than my own life perspective (former Minnesotan). Though it is discouraged to write a blog with so many topics, I like blogs like that. What to call them? Life blogs? General blogs? I’m not sure, but this might be a topic to add to your “Focus on” list. Other ideas: Have you tackled parenting blogs yet? Author blogs or writing blogs? Business specific blogs (I write blog entries for an insurance company and my own photo organizing company)? Interior decorating blogs (I know you covered personal style, but maybe home style would be a separate topic)? Art blogs (there are some amazing blogs out there that are light on words, heavy on non-photographic images like drawings/paintings/felt art/murals)?

    Keep the “Focus On” series coming!

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  11. Great post. It’s funny because sometimes I’ll observe something for a few days, like a creature in my backyard that I’d never seen previously, until it finally dawns on me, “Hey, I should write about that.” Also, thanks for the good suggestion about developing a series. It’s almost my one year blog anniversary and I’ve never done that. P.S. My blog is http://natureintheburbs.wordpress.com

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  14. I really like the connection you make between nature and contemplation and even…poetry. I try to do that on my blog, and I find it extremely rewarding. It’s amazing what a photograph of the natural world can inspire! I’m not so good on factual data, however, as I think that would slow me up. But it is a goal of mine to try to work some more factual data into my posts – even if I return to them later and edit them.

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  15. I’ve enjoyed reading your Focus On series. I write about urban wildlife, and am fascinated by the emerging patterns of animal adaptation and behaviour as our suburban sprawl encroaches more and more into wilderness areas. I’ve found other bloggers writing on the same subject… and have gained insight through such blogs as ‘outwalkingthedog’ and ‘natureintheburbs’ of similar experiences even though we’re at opposite ends of the globe. Although you’ve covered nature, i wondered whether ‘wildlife adapting to urban areas’ could be a future subject? http://natureontheedge.wordpress.com

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  18. I love nature and take a huge amount of photos. But I dislike teaching or preaching so I tend to connect personal stories and emotions to my photographs, preferring to think that people can always look the subject up if they want to know more about the flower/tree/creature I’ve shown. Also, I’m way too flighty to keep to a series and my imagination is too no limits to keep to one focus.:) http://veronicaroth.com/?p=1262

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  19. Funny you should write this. My next blog post is about my daily two-mile walk in Amish country. Pics will be included.

    All excellent suggestions by the way.

    Bruce

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  20. Great post, I am pleased to find completely by accident I have followed some of your suggestions, particularly the series idea. I have done two trips to Australia and visited zoos and wildlife sanctuaries while I was there and took HEAPS of photos, so to fit them all in I did a series of posts for each place. They are some of my most popular posts, they get a lot of search engine traffic 🙂

    http://lensaddiction.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/australia-zoo-part-3-%E2%80%93-cassowary-barn-owl-and-other-native-australian-birds/

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  21. Just a general reply to say thanks to all of you for your suggestions for future topics! I can’t promise to cover every one of them, but you’ve definitely given me some great new ideas. 🙂

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  24. I hike, bike, camp and enjoy the great outdoors. If I’m blogging about a trail or a hike, I try to include a map or link to a map in blog post. I also include how many miles it, is it used for cycling, running, hiking or is dog walking allowed. Then readers can print off the map and prepare for trek. I’ve learned to research what wildlife inhabitats the park or area prior to starting a trek; I can prepare and trek safely.

    A picture of a bear or cougar can make a great photo or it make you a meal.

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    1. A picture of a bear or cougar can make a great photo or it can make you a meal. It’s important to check out the weather conditions prior to hiking, especially when you are in the hills or mountains.

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  25. this is beautiful..i have just joined word press, and i write about my life in poems and other things..hope u will check to see any thing that interests u..thanks..faithapril3.word press.com

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  27. Thanks for the link to my hawk post! I am looking forward to reading some of the other ones you linked to. Nature is a constant source of inspiration for me, and I’m glad what I wrote resonated.

    Cheers!

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  29. Great post! I blog about nature and many different kinds of outdoor adventures on my blog. I also have a son with special needs and hope to use my blog to inspire others to get outdoors and explore–no excuses. We hike, camp, kayak, canoe, cave and travel. We believe adventure is for all 🙂 Can’t wait to check out the blogs you mentioned.

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  30. I believe I should share my blog here as it also focuses on nature. I have fallen in love to nature ever since I started traveling as it opened my eyes to how beautiful the world truly is. I hike, I camp, seek other alfresco adventures and wander to seek truth beyond tradition, beyond definition, and beyond the image.

    Life Lessons From My First Solo Travel To The Most Famous Cove In Luzon

    The most important lesson that nature taught me is that there is still so much to be saved on the earth’s surface. This is the reason why I also promote environmentalism via my blog as I believe it will help Mother Nature in her battle against environmental degradation.

    “Shooting The Roughly Blazed Paths” To Pagsanjan Falls

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