New Feature for DG?

Hi all,

I had this idea for a while and just ran it by Dave. He said it sounds interesting and I should post it here to get reaction from everyone.

I have an idea for Featured Gardens, where the story of one DG member's garden is told - in words and photos, of course. I know I love to see other people's gardens - especially when we see the garden as a whole and not just a series of plant close-ups. We can learn about how the garden came to be, how old it is, what approach the gardener uses, is he or she a plant collector vs. a garden designer who insists on 'sticking to the plan', for example. We can learn what the garden means to that person, if it has any special significance such as being a tie to another person or another time in his / her life.

Details such as how often it would appear, how the subjects are chosen, etc., can be left for another time. I would just like an initial reaction. I think it's a good idea. What do you think?! Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Sounds fun, I always love looking at someone else's garden!

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

I'd definitely read a featured garden spot! Especially if the entries are diverse and it's not all beautiful finished gardens, but some that are in the middle or beginning, too.

I love this idea! My new garden is in development and will be a WIP for some time to come. I've learned so much from DGers but would love one place to see how others' gardens have evolved.

Interesting idea. How would this differ from what's on the sister site, Landscaping.com? http://landscaping.com/

Gardens are much more than landscaping. And this would be more of a showcase, rather than an instructional approach. A 'virtual garden tour' is one way to think about it.

I haven't figured out how to use the Landscape site yet....I went there, but couldn't make heads or tails of it....need education...

I like the idea, I think it would be a lot of fun to learn more about people's gardens. Maybe it could link in with things that people have posted on landscaping.com, but give more background info rather than just the pictures.

I like the idea.

This is a great idea! Many gardens, perhaps even most, have at least one story to tell.

Not to mention that, for me at least, something like that would force me to get out of the "closeups for documentation only" mode and take the time to really see the space as I would hope others do.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

I used the prompt to browse photos and nothing happened. I used the links to certain discussions and nothing happened either. I was logged in.

I'll see if I can help. It's working for me.

Go to landscaping.com http://landscaping.com/

From there, you can click on any of the blue links to take you somewhere, but this time I clicked on the browse photos link at bottom of the page. Clicking on that link brought me to the Browsing Landscaping photos by category page.

This page lists all the categories and you can click on any of the blue links to take you to the photos in that category. For instance, when I click on Cottage Garden it takes me to the 9 photos entered in that category. http://landscaping.com/ls/browse.php?optid=1

Are you not getting to these pages?

Sounds fun!

Sounds like a Wonderful idea! I love looking at photo's of Beautiful Gardens and reading about them!

Ok, if I select browse photos and then select cottage garden it has nine things listed with names and bold letters,


Front Yard
North Augusta, Ontario, Canada
By threegardeners


Side bed

By Terry
Etc, but they are just bold letters and not links

Then if I am on that page and select browse photos at the bottom, it takes me to what looks like a dsicussion and then say I select the first one VINE ON TREE. Then if I select that it just takes me right back to the homepage for Landscaping.com.


This message was edited Nov 20, 2007 3:56 PM

I love to look at everyones pics, too! :)
Plus us Newbies might learn even more what we want to do with ours. :)

The links at the beginning, like the 'vine on tree' are discussion threads. The links don't appear to be working. I've posted this possible bug on the Dave's Garden forum.

If you scroll down that page a bit, you will see the photos that have been submitted, and if you click on the photo, it takes you to more photos and details of the garden design.

Great idea - I actually did a little something like this on the garden design forum, thinking that I could start with some pictures of what it looks like now, then add pictures as I go, for a before and after type thing. And get some ideas and advice along the way.
Your idea sounds like a better place for this!

In looking at Landscaping.com while thinking about the original post on this thread, I can see where it would be good to have more detailed information in Featured Garden articles.

Perhaps the articles could be linked to the gardens in landscaping.com also?

I always want to see the whole plant - or even a bunch - as well as the artistic closeup. I hate - well hate is way too strong but I vastly prefer one or two close ups and then more of the plant in situ, if you will.

x, Carrie

Still no photos. The links are not working for me for photos yet. The link for the discussions is working now, though.

Dave just fixed the links to the discussion. Click right on the photo to open it up to the rest of the photos pertaining to that one.

I think it is a great idea, Victor! I am often left wanting to see more context when people post a shot of a plant or tree or a garden. Some may be concerned - for security reasons - with too much info as to the precise location of the garden, but that could be addressed easily.

I also like the idea of seeing gardens as they develop. I think DG is a wonderful place to get ideas, and this would be a neat feature with a variety of people, places and types of gardens from very informal to formal. Like the idea a lot!

I cannot see any pictures or links to pictures. The words are Bold, but still not links.

Windy, are you on dialup? I wonder if you just need to wait a little longer for the pictures to load. Underneath the description of the landscape there'll be a picture that loads, and then you click the picture (not the words in the description) to see the rest of the landscape. It works fine for me, so only thing I can think of is your computer is taking longer to load the pictures.

I have cable broadband.
Can you tell me when I select browse photos where is it supposed to take me? It seems as though I am going in a circle and ending up on the home landscape.com page.
I can see the discussions and people commenting on pictures, but I dont' see any icons or anything. Could you get to the picture and paste a link for me to see?

i like it!
especially if there is a diversity of gardens - not just Martha Stewart ready intimidating type gardens...
i know there are many gardeners here with large amounts of space - some have budgets to match. It would be great to not only show off those (undoubtably) spectacular gardens, but some in less ideal locations, and some low budget options too, cause i think there's quite a few of us out there!

amy
*

If you click browse photos, it should take you to the list of all the different categories http://landscaping.com/ls/browse.php , then you click on a category and it'll show you a list of pictures along with descriptions of the landscapes and whose landscapes they are http://landscaping.com/ls/browse.php?optid=2 , then you click on the picture and it'll show you the rest of the pics in that landscape (if there's more than one) http://landscaping.com/ls/view/14/

I think Amy has a good point. I would love to see a "frugal garden" feature where every plant was from a cutting or saving seeds.....i.e,......a "free" garden.

There just are no pictures. Maybe I will try firefox and see if that works. It may be some sort of setting, I really am frustrated.

Amazingly the pictures work for me, and i am on AOL where many things do not!

(i'd also love to see pictures from other urban gardeners - there HAS to be someone else out there gardening in a place as bad as mine!)

Victor:

I love the idea.
It would be wonderful to be able to 'talk' about why THIS was the year to begin gardening for us. And then, too, it would be so useful and instructive to see how others' gardens grew to be.

This is a good idea. I especially like the concept of seeing a garden in it's entirety and not just a plant here and a plant there. I also like the idea of hearing the history and significance to the gardener. Including large gardens and tiny gardens both new and old with each one showcased seperately to give it a chance to be thouroughly viewed and admired.

Mine is a tiny little disaster area at the moment but it is my piece of joy that although a bit embarassing, I would be willing to share in this type of feature.

Sounds like a great idea.

I love it!

To be able to see and hear why we create our little piece of paradise would be so great. We could share our thoughts with others. :-)

Donna

I think it sounds like a great idea. Eleanor

I like the idea Victor. I'm one of those people that likes to look beyond the photo. You know, try and see what's just beyond the frame of the photo. And no matter how much I crane my neck, the photos only show so much. While I love all of the close ups, seeing the broad spectrum of gardens would be wonderful!

Janet

Victor, great idea. Hope it comes to fruitation. (is that not a word, or incorrect sp.)

Donna

I think it would be great also. I often wished such a site existed as viewing flowers is as much fun as growing your own. And ideas can be gotten from looking and dreaming.

I like the idea! I am one of those that loves to see the whole plant too. How does it work in the big picture? People are always asking what should I plant with my__________?

It would be interesting to get the story behind the garden. How or why those plants, that style or combination etc. Gardens are a canvas and they reflect our thoughts and moods!