Our forum regulars

[ideasguy]

Its nice to see so many members contributing to Eric's Plant ID postings.

Its the forum regulars, and in particular those who post messages, who make the forum such a wonderful resource.
Imagine what it would be like if more of our many members could find a few minutes to visit each day.

Have you visited today? Please click the link in this broadcast and catch up. Lots of things have been happening, and lots of things are about to happen

Some of our recent members may not "know" Chrissie (the Gardener), and vice versa
so heres a little summary of information on "the forum regulars", by way of introduction.
Don't be offended if you aren't mentioned. Its only a quick message on my part, based mostly on members who visited the forum today.
It started as an "introduction" but I realised it might be interesting as a broadcast message.
If, as a result, we manage to get a few members joining us regularly then it will have been worthwhile.

Eric (palustris)
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/palustris/
Eric lives in England, on the Welsh border.
As you can see from his web site he has grown an amazing number of plants in his gardening career.
You folk are helping him to identify some of the plants in his photo collection. As you well know, we go out on a photo shoot and
don't always get the chance to document their names when we upload to the computer.

Kathy and Laurie
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/KathyLaurie/OurFavouritePlants/
Our most regular visitors on the forum. Relatively new to gardening,
but very keen and enthusiastic. They now have an exquisite range of plants in their garden.
I'm much indebted to Laurie for his support as Forum Moderator.

Lyn and Malcolm
http://www.lynandmalc.co.uk/
and the WPG Plants List
http://www.plantguide.lynandmalc.co.uk/
One word. Astonishing! Visit and enjoy.
Soon, you will be able to see their garden on TV:
http://www.lynandmalc.co.uk/bbcgw.htm
We are waiting for news of the broadcast date from Lyn and Malcolm

Phil (ROIphil)
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/gardenplantsbypost/
Our latest WPG user. Hes made amazing progress in a VERY short time.
A new project beckons as a result of Phils ambitions - to develop a version of the WPG to sell your plants on-line.
As a preview try the Ad to Basket buttons on Phils pages.

Tom:
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/DalcrossCastle/GardenPhotos/
As you can see, Tom is head gardener at Dalcross Castle, Inverness, Scotland
He is very interested in Collecting Rare and Unusual Plants and Trees.
In a recent email, he informed me that he had placed an order for a selection of Rhododendrons.
Heres looking forward to seeing more photos Tom.

Chrissie (The Gardener)
Another member I'm delighted to be able to say "I knew before they were famous".
http://www.thegardener.btinternet.co.uk/
and
http://www.bromsgroveflowerclub.org.uk/
Chrissie now writes a column in Garden Answers, a very good weekly magazine from the same stable as Garden Answers (monthly)
http://www.gardeningmags.co.uk/
I advertise each month in Garden Answers, and get a "voucher copy" of Garden News each week. I always read Chrissies column, of course!
Do any of our members buy this magazine? I'd thoroughly recommend it. Full of practical advice!

Peter (Peter1925)
Our Garden of Dreams: www.scn.org/earth/garden/page53.htm
What more can I say?
Heres a photo of our meeting at the Ideas Genie booth at the show:
http://www.ideasgenie.co.uk/boothphotos-4.html
Great to have you on the forum Peter.

André (GreenFinger)
http://www.softwarevoortuiniers.com/andredegeest/camellias/
André has been a Forum Moderator for a number of years now. As you can see, we have done a number of joint projects, too many to detail here.
Heres one of our projects - a web site in Dutch.
http://www.softwarevoortuiniers.com
We have exchanged hundreds of emails. Over the holiday period, he informed me that he doesn't have as much free time now as a result of his new career.
His project this year will be continuing the woodland border garden.

Paul (NewPlantsGuy)
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/meredith/Blooms_Plants/
Paul is New Plant Development Manager at R A Meredith New Plant Development, based at Bressingham, England
What an exciting job! Read about some of the introductions which have been trialled by Paul.
http://www.bloomsofbressingham.com/discovery.php
 
Pauls grandfather (Percy Piper) was Alan Blooms Hybridist - look out for Kniphoria 'Perry's Pride' and Campanula 'Percy Piper'.
When Malcolm published his list of plants I noticed he had Campanula 'Percy Piper',
I commented, but Malcolm wasn't quite sure if it was the correct name.
Paul confirmed that it was indeed the plant hybridised by his grandfather.
Paul has also identified a number of "mystery" plant on the forum.
Hope you find time to look in on the latest batch of postings by Eric, Paul.

John (JohnB)
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/JohnB/JohnBullivantGarden/
John is the Kitsap chapter president of the American Rhododendron Society.
He had a busy year in 2008. His garden was on the Bainbridge In Bloom garden tour in July and if that wasn't
enough,they hosted a wedding in the garden.
More info on this posting on our forum:
http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/ideas/forum/index.php/topic,553.msg3820.html#msg3820
Hope you get time to look in again John.

Tina (TinaW)
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/Tinas-Garden/Circle-garden/
Tinas garden was featured in a 3 part series by The Herald in Everett, Washington.
It began on May 17th 07, as part of the Home & Garden section.
The topic was perennials. They did a write-up with lots of photos using using Tinas garden as the backdrop.
All very exciting! .
Hers is the link Tina gave us in May 07:
http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/07/05/17/100hg_hg10perennials001.cfm
Now working today. I hope its only temporary.
Is the article still active Tina?

Jessie (3Fren)
Jessie, our friend from Singapore, is a lady with a very special way with words. Theres a warmth in her emails - genuine, sincere and with feeling.
Ive learned from Jessie that people in Singapore speak English but they call their dialect "Singlish".
I have to say the translation from "Singlish" to English works very well, Jessie.
Jessie works at the Singapore Botanical Gardens.

Lydna (Lynda of Spain)
http://www.ideasforgardens.net//LyndaAdlington/SunkenTerrace/
Well, shortly to be Lynda of Malta. Lynda announced recently that they went over to Malta, and ended up buying a property there.
If you fancy snapping up their current home in Monda Spain (Costa del Sol), check this out:
http://www.livedifferently.co.uk/
Both Lynda and her husband Alistair have published books.
http://www.themenopausalgardener.com

Finally last, but certainly by no means last.
Toby (BossGard)
Its rather special, a short "blog" of the trials and tribulations of learning Ideas Genie Pro, and being a "teacher"
 - continued on the next posting in this topic.

[ideasguy]

Toby (Bossgard) The special one...Toby (BossGard)

Our special friend from WA, USA. Keeps us amused on the forum, and me on my toes!

I can tell you he is a star! He had me in stitches with his emails when he was going through the Ideas Genie Pro learning curve.

We had a running drama, which lasted for a number of episodes, through the early learning curve to the final episode in the first series (theres much more Toby) .

A few extracts from Toby's MANY Emails:
23 Oct 07 I have a digital camera to work into Ideas Genie, which I am just starting to use
24 Oct 07 George: I made it, finally! Didn't know for a while if I wanted to throw the computer out the window or the programmer
31 Oct 07 Your request for photos! Dream on, dreamer, dream on!
11 Dec 07 You almost went out the window, again
14 Dec 07 Don't you wish I would go away?
15 Dec 07 When you gonna start the seeding lessons? Come on man, get off your **** - spring is already here - remember there IS 24 hrs in day!
11 Jan 08 You idjit, how do you expect me to print a photo on the back side of a label that has the adhesive on it
11 Jan 08 George: This will be a miracle if this gets to you.
(It did! - an attached pdf file)
18 Jan 08 Wow! That help (?) button is really a going machine. I have been playing with it. (Methinks- now why didnt I suggest that sooner!  )

I suggested he has a go using the WPG to build a web site
30 Jan 08 Me, ready for a website. Ha! What I need is a video with sound, of ME doing all that research on the labels, and ME pounding the key board putting in all this data, and ME telling you all about my troubles along the way.
I'd be the star of the show! Ha! (LOL) You could be my assistant, if you had the time.

But!! As you know, I'm a persistent old so and so. I KNEW he could do it -  alittle more time (and persuasion). The first sign of a turnabout in going for a WPG project
18 sep 08 Now have FileZilla installed, have investigated and am ready to proceed.

19th Sept 08: George: I think I did it!! I am totally shook! Did I break anything at your end? Did I wipe out the whole internet?

Yes, indeed he did do it, and he didnt wipe out the internet.

So, (fanfare) heres a wee glimpse of Toby's landmark website:
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/bossgard/toby/

In between times, Toby and I worked together to design a number of label designs for labels available in the US, for use with the Labels Program GA048. I hope to do this for UK labels in 2009.

Didnt we do well!

[Lyn and Malcolm]

We had a running drama, which lasted for a number of episodes

And you still have some hair left ?  You have in your photo George.

Many thanks for the help you have given us all.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

Ive probably got more hair left than Toby 

As you can see, I'm especially proud of our Bossgard!
It was a pleasure to work with him. We both learned a lot!!

I had to cut short as I'd spent quite a lot of time "researching" through old emails and forum postings to put all that together.
I may need to do a Part II for omissions

[Palustris]

After reading this I think I had better watch my p's and q's in such distinguished company!

[ideasguy]

Absolutely no need for that on anyones part Eric!
We want everyone to feel relaxed and at ease here.

The message was more to let others see that we do have a wide range of expertise and experience here in the members who visit regularly, and that they are willing to answer questions raised by other members.

[roiphil]

Phil (ROIphil)
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/gardenplantsbypost/
Our latest WPG user. Hes made amazing progress in a VERY short time.
A new project beckons as a result of Phils ambitions - to develop a version of the WPG to sell your plants on-line.
As a preview try the Ad to Basket buttons on Phils pages.

Thanks for mention come and press my buttons, you wont get any plants but you wont have to pay for them