On-line Botanical Classes Taught by D.G. Experts

Wish we had more of these on-line experts teaching the "newbies" and even experienced growers, botanical information on a variety of plants. I was thinking of another forum dedicated to on-line botanical information. As opposed to getting "buried" deep within threads, hard-to-find, or not re-surfacing when information is needed at one's "finger tips".

I don't want to re-invent the wheel, but we have some "real" experts at D.G.'s, that should be utilized to their fullest potential! I know that they would be giving a lot of their time, but I'm sure that a satisfactory arrangement could be worked out.

Please see "Calalily's" on-line class, Brugs 101.

http:www.davesgarden.com/t/362575

Actually, this is a fantastic idea and it's something that was implemented on the website of one of my customers (who is in a different industry).

The way we implemented it was like this:

We created a forum called "Classic Threads" (that was what they wanted, but obviously we'd call it something else).

In that forum, nobody can post any new threads, nor can they reply to any threads within).

Then, when a really good and informative thread comes up, has a lot of good useful information added to it, we keep an eye on it. When the conversation dies down and all the useful information has been collected, we move that thread into the "Classic Threads" forum, at which point it is archived in a permanent place.

In the end, you wind up with a really cool forum that has one useful topic after the next, with no duplicates and what-not.

I tell you, I'm all over this idea. Who else?

dave

Yep, I just created the Gardening Information Archive forum, into which we'll move all the outstanding threads. This'll make it easy to lookup past threads (they won't get buried under other stuff).

If you find time, please do check around DG and see about any other threads that you think might be good for the new forum, and post them here and one of the admins will move it.

dave

Sounds like a good idea Dave :)

Great idea!
I'd certainly utilize it.
Melissa :-)

Great idea! I'm looking forward to it! Doris

Dave, I now understand why my thread was moved. Thanks for notifying me, otherwise, I would never have found this new forum for archived threads. Great idea.

Way to go Shirley1md.............

This message was edited Saturday, Nov 16th 2:18 PM

Wow, that must be the fastest forum ever built. It looks like Dave just stopped in midair and did it.

Dave I just bumped two on the brug forum, one from Cala polinating 101, and Eclipse's cuttings. These helped me alot.

Yep, thanks! It's easier if you just copy and paste the link to the thread here, or else at the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page.

Thanks again!

Dave

I didn't know how to do that, sorry do you teach that online for dummie's too! Thanks a bunch.
Duh! I got it, it is in the address bar, silly me!

This message was edited Saturday, Nov 16th 5:07 PM

What a great idea - a forum to browse through and learn
Thanks :)

Dave, I love that idea, it's just a stroke of genius. Thank you. Thanks for starting this thread, too, Shirley1md.

Someone find the thread on how to make a hyperlink. :)

Dave, is this the one you mean? http://davesgarden/t/355583/

Thanks!

Oh this is wonderful Dave...thank you so much

It only takes one good idea to "put the ball in motion"....thanks for running with the idea Dave! However, it takes a **star quarterback**, like Dave, to make the touchdown! (Have I been watching to much football on t.v., or what?!)

Truly Dave, everyone will be the "richer" for learning, since "knowledge empowers everyone"!

This message was edited Saturday, Nov 16th 8:59 PM

Also, a link to the new forum of botanical knowledge would be advantageous, so everyone could find it easily.

This message was edited Saturday, Nov 16th 9:09 PM

I found it listed in the forums list and just added it to my opening page of forums I'm watching.

Instead of copying all the wonderful threads in the Propagation Forum, perhaps some of them could be incorporated in the newly created Gardening Information Archives. Please choose which ever ones you think would serve the newest forum the most.

http://davesgarden.com/t/366434/

Another thread on growing Wisteria from the Vines & Climber's forum. http://davesgarden.com/t/367082/

This message was edited Saturday, Nov 16th 9:26 PM

Growing Clematis from seed. http://davesgarden.com/t/365520/

Blue Sky Vine http://davesgarden.com/t/361180/

Passiflora seed question: http://davesgarden.com/t/364996/

Chilean Jasmine seeds: http://davesgarden.com/t/364386/

Cannas:
Multiplying - http://davesgarden.com/t/367075/
Storing - http://davesgarden.com/t/364455/

Elephant Ear bulbs: http://davesgarden.com/t/366888/

Amarylis-When to Plant: http://davesgarden.com/t/365172/

Calla Lillies : http://davesgarden.com/t/364486/

Caladiums & Glads after frost: http://davesgarden.com/t/362592/

Begonias, Tuberous: http://davesgarden.com/t/343556/

Lilies from seed: http://davesgarden.com/t/343588/

Musa bajoo (Bananas) (preparing for winter)http://davesgarden.com/t/366827/
http://davesgarden.com/t/365765/

Oleander: http://davesgarden.com/t/367163/

Ginger, tropical: http://davesgarden.com/t/135484/

Whew! I could be doing this all night...it's going to take time to backtrack through years and years of jammed packed informational threads :~)

This message was edited Saturday, Nov 16th 9:45 PM

I must be blind or dumb but I can not find the new wonderful looking Gardening Information Archives. I have read the forum list twice now. Can you tell me how to find it?

nesandy, hit the refresh button when you get to the home page. It should come up then.

NESandy - Click on the link and it will take you to that forum. Another way to make it appear in your home directory, is to go to the menus listed on the rightside of D.G., choose "Preferences" and then go to "Forums". Click on the ones that are of interest to you and then click submit when finished. The new forums will be available for you to use.

http://davesgarden.com/f/archive/

Note to Dave: Adding New Forums to your Home Directory

Dave,

how about add Poppysue's Coke propagation method to the Gardening Information Archive forum. i miss that one, i used to direct inquiries i get on propagation. TIA

I found it. It really warms my heart to find such helpful folks. Thanks everyone!

Oh no Dave, I just told everyone I have dust bunnies on the Oleander post, dang it Cala got me in trouble again, trying to tell everyone I bake...

Awesome!!!! SIMPLY awesome!! I'll be in there all day next Tuesday (my next "day off"), I can see it now... :)

Dave
GREAT JOB
I think this will be a great reference tool for all of us.

Thanks
Paul

This has been needed for a long time....Thanks to all who made this possible...especially Dave and Shirley! I'll do my part and dig up some of those treasures in the veggie forums.

dave, is it possible for some that are specific to the forum they are in to be copied instead of moved? (exp. the brug forum) there's many things that would be fantastic in the new forum, but we still need them in the brug forum. just a thought?

Good point! I agree with tiG!! Information is needed in BOTH the Brug forum AND the new G.I.A. forum.

In the current Brug forum, you will still gather information, see the latest pictures of hybridized Brugs, but at the same time, you will have discussions, various opinions, and links to locate particular Brugs, etc. The Brug forum will always and forever (positive thinking) remain an excellent site.

As Dave mentioned, the G.I.A. will be a "READ ONLY" forum, for informational purposes only! However, having certain information, clear and concise instructions, and techniques at "ones fingertips", will result in a comprehensive database, available on a wide range of botanical gendre.

Think of it like "letting your fingers do the walking through The Yellow Pages", to find the exact information YOU require at that particular moment.


Dave - Regarding the hierarchical structure of the data for this forum, will it be similar to the suggestions on how to organize one's journals? I thought that was very well thought out, clear and concise. Will there be pre-determined categories or Q&A's with each entry?

As I was sitting at the computer last night copying & pasting links of vital information that should appear in the new forum, I realized just how much knowledge there is contained at D.G.! Literally, years and years of accumulated wisdom, successes & failures, as well as, gardening tips. There is a wealth of information buried deep within each forum. I would suggest, or you may have a better idea, to organize a group of volunteers at D.G. to go back through a particular pre-assigned forum (perhaps done in teams), read the posts for vital information, copy & paste links either to this thread or by contacting the D.G. office by e-mail. The sheer task for one or two people is not only VERY time consuming & enormous in scope, but that would free you & the D.G. staff to concentrate on other areas that needed your attention and/or direction. Of course, you would utilize your editing skills to extract anything that wasn't pertinent. Like I stated previously, it is only a suggestion.

This message was edited Sunday, Nov 17th 11:15 PM

http://davesgarden.com/t/269462/
http://davesgarden.com/t/118266/
http://davesgarden.com/t/131040/
http://davesgarden.com/t/57947/
http://davesgarden.com/t/51032/
http://davesgarden.com/t/45070/
http://davesgarden.com/t/41762/
http://davesgarden.com/t/27568/

I'm noticing that thread titles do not always let one know what the subject is. And there are priceless gems buried within threads too. How do we fix this so that people can quickly find the subject that they're looking for? I've passed over several tidbits tonight....and can't find stuff that I _know_ is there.I'm sure it's on a hijacked thread somewhere and will eventually run across it...but for now, several things remain elusive.

Starting my list...is this what you're looking for?

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Melody - Personally, I think your link to "Four O'Clocks and Japanese Beetles" is a very good tip for all gardeners to use. I didn't know about this until you just posted it! It is a totally natural method of gardening without employing the use of insecticides. GO GIRL! YOUR ON A ROLL :~) However, Dave has the final "editing rights", but I think your on the right track.

There are so many excellent botanical threads contained in various forums. We need some type of systematic method to go through the information without skipping over some and duplicating our efforts in others.

This message was edited Sunday, Nov 17th 11:18 PM

http://davesgarden.com/t/304845/
http://davesgarden.com/t/300876/

?

Thanks everyone for the hyperlinks. Most of them are good picks and have been moved.

Regarding copying vs. moving, I don't have an easy ability to copy a thread, thus currently that's not possible. Perhaps a good solution is to allow replies to continue within the Archive? That way, a thread can become a "living document" and can be updated over time and so forth.

Would that solve the problem?

dave

just my thinking, but plant specific threads could be missed by newcomers if they are moved out of the forum where they apply. perhaps a link to them? don't know the answer to this one because things do get buried. but people are always searching and bringing up old threads, so I don't know :)
(lots of words to say I don't know, huh?? LOL!)

I didn't want to hijack this thread, so I started another one on this forum about having an ongoing reference forum that would allow people to continue posting information about resources of various kinds. What Dave is suggesting -- allowing replies to continue within the G.I.A. (whereas those threads are currently locked) -- would eliminate the need for that other forum, so I'm in favor of his suggestion (above).

This message was edited Monday, Nov 18th 11:40 AM