Rumors about changes at Dave's Garden

You know you have something good going on when other sites try to steal your product. I have visited other sites in the course of searching for info, and found info in their databases that is word for word a copy of the DG Plant Files. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, therefore Dave's Garden must be THE most flattered garden site on the web.

Ditto "It Is The Best"
I bet this thread is going to break the record for view's, we all keep running back to see if we have any new new's:0) I think it is going to be great news when they come back & tell us they will be kepping Dave/Team & all in place:)Anita

I am the rankest of gardening amateurs, although I have always wanted to learn. A couple of weeks ago, my small fish pond developed a leak and I had to start over. I went to the internet to get some info on building a pond and happened across DG. After looking around at all the forums, I signed up immediately.

I have been on several forums where a newbie would post and no one would even bother to answer his questions. Or, if they did, they were unfriendly if not downright unkind. I asked a question on the water garden forum and got a number of responses, all very helpful and personable. I also found that to be the case on each of the forums on my "watch" list, mostly gardening and weather.

I don't know Dave and have never had any communication with him, but seeing the outpouring of love and admiration on this thread, speaks volumes about him and his character which obviously carries over on DG.

Like most of you, DG is now the first thing I do in the morning, the last thing I do in the evening, and several times during the day. So kudos to Dave, and kudos to you who have made DG the premier site that it is. I am proud to be a member and sincerely hope the new owners can appreciate that.

Don

I will not resubscribe if Dave doesn't have an active role in DG. If he isn't involved in the process, the site will lose what made it so special in the first place. When there have been requests or disagreements, , his common sense and thought for all parties involved have shone through.

24 hours chained to a work assignment and look at all I missed! Reading this thread certainly was a rollercoaster. I fell in love with DG two years ago when I moved to Florida and first got a chance to garden. It has been an invaluable treasure for a newbie who couldn't tell a hibiscus from a fern and a great way to learn about my new home state. It's been a joy, and there is nothing close to it on the Web. Dave, I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you and the administrators have created here. Without you, I'm outta here!

Welcome, Michael. A bit of friendly advice - pay serious attention to the wise words of those who have posted here, particularly the long-time members who are teachers and mentors for the rest of us (it's easy to tell who they are). Cherish and tend well the community that's been built here and you won't find a more loyal and responsive group.

Helen

I lurked in the shadows for a year and a half before subscribing to DG. Last October I renewed. Will I next October? I'm a cautious person. I live in St. Louis where InBev bought Anheuser-Busch. InBev made a lot of promises to get the shareholders to back the sale. And over time, after the acquisition, they broke a lot of those promises. DG is the number one go to for gardeners, and I have to say my gardening abilities and methods have changed considerably since I accidently discovered DG when it was mentioned in a magazine. That article made a significant change in my gardening life. When I get online, if DG isn't my first stop, it is my second stop. I hope nothing at DG changes, i.e., Dave, the administrators, and his Uber team. We are a community holding hands from state to state, country to country. I don't know of another website that provides gardeners with the resources one finds at DG.

Please don't change, prune or uproot a product, a community, that works.

Hear hear. How goes the cactus growing Hummer_girl?

I did not know ANYTHING about this until this morning. I have only been a member for a little under two years, but I have made some of the best friends and friendly relationships in the whole world. I will not go on a lenghty diatribe, but suffice it to say I echo all the above comments. Welcome Michael! This is NOT a website, this is a FAMILY....

Doug

PS: Michael if you go to the RU in CA, you have to take fudge to appease Jo (AKA Roadrunner)

Wow what a thread. I cannot possibly add any more. DG cannot be with out Dave.

The post by roadrunner really struck chord! I've made real friends thru this website from all around the world. And yes, we sometimes actually meet face to face and stay in each others' homes!

It's hard to explain to those who have not experienced the Dave's Garden community for themselves. They think we're nuts (we've all seen those looks) when we describe the generosity of these 'strangers' who send us seeds, plants, recipes, birthday gifts and Christmas gifts chosen with great care or made by hand that reflect our personal interests, cards and words of support when we lose loved ones whether family members or our beloved pets, encourage us to learn new things, send boxes of their quilting books and magazines in support of a new found interest, spend hours of their time making quilt blocks to swap, share their goat milk soap, share advice on planning weddings - even offering their heirloom lace for my daughter's wedding veil. They worry about those 'crazy people' we may be meeting for lunch while we are in their home town for unrelated business or coming to our home for those hard to explain gatherings we call Round Ups ........ I could go on and on and on. But they sure do get it once they join!

Oh yeah - and it's a great place to get gardening information, too!

This truly is a community built by Dave. Those of us lucky enough to be a part of it have our own stories of what it means to us. Just as the last time DG changed hands, it caused us all a little concern but, most of all, it caused a lot of reflection on what this site really means to us. Dave - THANK YOU. Michael - PLEASE LISTEN.

Debra

Michael, thanks for posting. We understand a bit more now. One thing I would like to let you know is that DG is not just old women. There are a lot of gardeners of every age and sex. One of our favorites here was a fellow from Espoo, Finland who was about 14 when he joined us. He is now in college.
Being old is also a matter of personality and changes from person to person. We have very few fuddy-duddies. I think gardening helps to keep us young and optimistic (especially in the spring). Tell us more when things settle out a bit.

Unbelievable, the number of posts on this thread! This is a testament to the community Dave and other devoted DG'ers have built.

We should all be apprehensive at the potential for change. I would be first to say DG is perfect just the way it is. We can look back at many examples of companies and organizations that folded because they lost focus. However, I must say I am open to new ideas, perhaps new website functions, etc. My only caveat is that Dave and all of the original staff be given positions respectful of their experience, wisdom, and relationship to this wonderful garden family.

Michael, welcome! You have already shown care and wisdom as you tread carefully among us loyal DG'ers. I look forward to being a DG'er for years to come.

We are counting on you to do the trusted, right thing and move Dave's Garden forward in a positive manner** that will include Dave and his staff**, all of which make this site flow rather effortlessly for the community here at Dave's Garden.



Ditto!!!

I have a question? How will Dave's garden club be Daves' garden club without Dave? I just payed for a whole year membership and now it's changing?
joy

Do you remember???
The "friendship" box that you all sent to me when my husband died?
The personal and monetary support we gave when Katrina hit some of our "family"?
The things we sent to our wonderful friend, Dinu, in India?
The seeds that one of our members in Brazil traded to us for support of another DG project?
The handmade quilt that folks here made and raffled off to aid our "Garden Angel Fund"?
The "virtual" baby shower we gave to badseed for the newest member of her family?
A bench at a church in IL we bought "In Memory of " our friend DJM?
AND...
All those lovely bulbs we sent to be planted in honor of a beautiful little girl that has been adopted by another of our great members?

There has been much more...but we are FAMILY ...I hope we can stay together. Jo

Dave there is not much I can say that has not already been. I just know we need you for this to be Dave's Garden.

You are right Jo, we are family, I don't know what I would do without my Dave's Garden friends.
Josephine.

themoonhowl: My cacti pot garden was insignificant until I found DG because I didn't know anything about growing succulents. In fact, I joined DG because of the Cacti Forum. I have since gone cacti crazy, and never would have thought about growing cacti from seeds, going to a cacti show (we only have one in my area), driving 2 hours to a remote cacti nursery, or known some cacti are hummingbird pollenated, before joining DG.

I am also hummingbird crazy, fuchsia crazy...just plain plant crazy. And nothing feeds my addiction to plants like getting online and sharing with other DG members, asking questions, researching to help others (and myself), sending seeds cross-country...

We need t-shirts declaring we are DG members. If all the nurseries can advertise their association with DG, which helps bring in new customers and more sales, I would wear a t-shirt advertising my loyalty. But please, not a white t-shirt. Too pedistrian. Forest green with gold lettering would be my color choice.

You know, there are so many areas of DG I haven't gotten to, because of my specific addictions, there may already be products for sale. If so, please point the way!

http://www.zazzle.com/davesgarden*

UH...I just 'got' that Michael - da newcomer - is part of the new 'owners'. Well, Michael...I hope you are impressed with the number of people supporting Dave and DG in the first 48 hours of the news. The rest of them haven't heard yet...

You are now part of a great community that circles the globe and provides companionship, information, help, solice and sense of community for many many wonderful folks...

Aloha

That was a great story roadrunner.... it really summarizes what Dave's Garden is all about and what it means to so many people here! Thanks for sharing!

The baby shower was awesome! So was the sleepover when Roadrunner, Carol and Calalily came to visit! Dave's Garden gave me a better family than genetics did. :)

Thank you Lord that it's not owned by Monsanto

There are some things money just can`t buy . Karen

Michael

Welcome to DG

paul

Dave's Garden....................Priceless!

Edited to say "Welcome" to Dave's Garden.

Joy

This message was edited Jan 22, 2010 1:04 PM

Dorothy!!!

I'll add my voice here, welcoming Michael and giving him just a bit of what DG has meant to me. My house was one that Calaliy, Carol and Jo stayed at, and the porch is still waiting for Jo to come - woops! the veranda - sit on it again. My 'separated at birth' sisters, Melody, Sharron and LISA in KY, who look out for my wandering child down there, are part of my family because of DG. My northern garden grew a tiny elephant ear and very short papyrus one summer because of DG member Weeds. My rose addiction has been fed, my seed addiction has been fed. Dave's given me the opportunity to share my poetry and farm stories with a lot of people who don't even belong to DG, yet. Dave and I have never met, but we have friends because of his Garden. Ha! I even got to know Shoe and Potagere. What could be better?

We helped some soldiers grow grass and other things while they were protecting us a half a world away, and they became part of our family, too. This is a long thread (2 threads, actually)... but well worth reading if you have the time. Some amazing friendships have grown here in Dave's Garden!

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/851620/

Dave, I wish you every happiness with this new company!
Michael, welcome. I hope this new venture works out well for everyone.
Dave's garden is so important for so many, I love coming here and catching up with friends and acquaintances and learning so many wonderful things about gardening.

Jo, Some additions:
The help, love, and support for DH and I when our truck burnt to the ground and we lost everything for the market...
The support and love we have given to several that come to mind that have gone on to the Great Garden in the sky....
The housing and help when one of our members was hospitalized in another state...

I am here because many people prayed for my family when I lost my grandson...I couldn't believe that so many people that didn't know me would care so much...but what I found out was that we really do not know any strangers. Everyone is welcome and loved that comes to DG...so Michael you have now joined those ranks. And well Dave is the Garden and we just can't ignore what our brother has done for the world of internet.

He will be such an incredible asset to you and I hope you realize that and make him a millionaire ;) (dave, a little throw in there for you, LOL)...

Just know that we are very intertwined in this website.

;) Kathy

Oh my heart
Dave's has been my life line for so long, what would I do with out Dave and DG. We have never met but I got a 1945 Allis Chalmers because of his tractor he posted years ago. My hubby bought it so I would quit showing him pictures of Dave's tractor.LOL
I even met a co-worker or so at a round-up in Garner.
Did I say I met my neighbor at Kennels Beach because of Dave's before we moved down here.
I have swapped seeds, plant,stitching,bird houses, etc. here. I have even stoped by members homes on the way from Raleigh, NC to Tallapoosa Ga and swapped flowers because of this site.
Did I say I have started swapping orchids which I never liked thought they were over rated because of this site. Now I know they are wonderful.

I would be lost with out this place, I have gotten up in the middle of the night and read this site many a night and the prayers for my grandkid when he had his accident and people who sent things were awesome.

Recipes, canning, where do I stop.
I love you all

Oh Yeah welcome Michael and do you need any seeds to start a garden? Veggie or flowers?

Lavina



This message was edited Jan 22, 2010 1:56 PM

Sylvain and Hap and all you other Florida Gardeners, yes we are a family, the advice and friends I have made in DG, have made my life in Florida so much nicer. Where would we be without a place like this to confer, sympathise, criticise, and just gossip.

I just came upon this thread. Many thanks to Dave and Trish for allowing my angel to organize a relief effort for me after I lost everything to Katrina. Without the members of Dave's coming to my rescue, it would have taken me YEARS to recover from the loss. I was so blessed then and I am so blessed now!

I truly hope things stay the way they are. I love Dave's just the way it is, and I love everyone here!

Dave, I'm glad you will still be here!

Thanks, julie

I echo the sentiments and testimonies made above.

No Dave - No me. He (and his staff) must be given the positions that reflect their capabilities and no downgrading in positions will be tolerated by me.

I am following this thread with hope and many concerns. I want to stay open minded but will carefully watch what happens.

This is definitely a family and the I am sure that everyone has their own heartwarming stories.

This site is my lifeline and it is the first thing I check everyday.

I have learned so much and made such wonderful friendships along the way.

Hoping for the best for all.

Elaine and Otis

This message was edited Jan 23, 2010 3:18 PM

Wow! My computer crashed yesterday and I lost everything. Then I finally am able to get back online today and I almost had a heart attack. I was frantic without my computer because I was missing out on my favorite place to be, "Dave's Garden."

Michael, welcome! Dave's Garden is an awesome site and Dave and his crew of admin are awesome people. I really enjoy my time on this site and I learn how to be a better gardener at the same time. I am so glad Dave will still be a part of DG. Losing Dave would be akin to severing the right arm of DG and watching it hemorrhage. I do not believe the site would survive for long.

Dave, we love you. Just knowing that you are in the shadows ready to solve any problem is soothing to the membership. Thank you for all that you do and hopefully will continue to do.

Tami :)

Michael - I join everyone else in welcoming you and hoping that this website remains the high quality place that Dave and his team have worked so hard to establish and grow. Their responsiveness is uniquely amazing, and most of us find this place to be far more than a first rate garden resource. Many of us have made wonderful, lasting friendships, and the quality, reliability and standards that have been fostered by Dave and his team will hopefully not be sacrificed for any bottom line feasibility snafu that would drive so many loyal subscribers away. Giving Dave a voice that matters and tapping into his obvious brilliance with regard to good business practices can only make this new development work better for all of you in the acquiring entity. Good luck to you and may we all enjoy what lies ahead.

(cute idea)

Michael, would you consider selling Dave's Garden back to us members... near 500,000 worldwide? A few dollars each, BAU and Dave gets to do what he wants. No pain, all gain.

Aquane, I have been thinking the same thing. But rather than sell it to us, get Dave to tell us how much we each need to contribute so HE can buy it back. And then go smack him if he sells it again. :)

Or, maybe we'll no longer have to pay to be members! (grin)

Well, gall durn.......been away taking care of life's many roads and blessings and drop in this morning..to this. Excuse my manners, welcome Michael....but the way we who have been here since the dinosaurs roamed feel really protective of DG...now, that being said, call me if you need me and the posse Dave.

"eyes"