On July 31st, go_vols sent me an E-mail proposing a contest for the Plants Database, in order to increase awareness of, as well as to increase the data within, the Plants Database.

The contest launched and members went crazy adding plants, descriptions, and images. One month later, our database has more than tripled in size!

Here are the total numbers of entries made during the contest time period:

1,242 plants were entered
901 descriptions were written
878 pictures were uploaded

This is an incredible display of community cooperation, and we have a massive database now of the most popular and common plants in the world! I truly believe that, as of today, we have one of the most useful plants databases in existence, combining useful information with personal anecdotes, tips, and pictures.

The member who contributed the most was Poppysue. She contributed a total of 467 items, including 186 plants, 53 descriptions, and 228 images. There is no member who is more deserving of the First Place prize as her.

Our second place winner was selected randomly, by placing each person's name in a virtual hat. Each name was entered once for each contribution they made, so you were entered once for each plant, once for each description, and once for each image that you contributed.

In all, there were 3,021 names in the hat.

The member Badseed's name was drawn in the random drawing this morning, making Badseed the second place winner!

The prizes are actually very cool items. I am going to be sending a coffee mug, with the Dave's Garden logo, to Sue and Badseed. The coffee mug is shaped just like a terra cotta flower pot, with a terra cotta handle. The DG logo is crisply emblazened on the side. I will also be sending a mug to go_vols, in an expression of gratitude for the countless hours upon hours she has spent contributing, organizing, assisting in the development of, and editing the Plants Database.

The member Tim has also volunteered to send the 1st place winner some Passiflora plants.

A very warm THANK YOU is due to every single member who has made any contribution to the Plants Database. Together we have made something pretty amazing, and we could not have done it without everybody's participation!

(Badseed and Poppysue, please E-mail me your address, and Poppysue - please also E-mail your address to Tim so he can send your plants.)

Best,
Dave

Congratulations'

Way to go Poppysue I couldn't agree more you really deserve 1st place. Not only for all the things you put on this month but for all the things you had already done with the database. Three cheers for Poppysue!

This message was edited Sunday, Sep 2nd 4:39 PM

Well Done to Poppysue and Badseed!!!

Congrat's to Poppysue and badseed! I bet all 228 images that poppysue put in in were from her own garden! (ha-ha) Way to go everyone! Now on to the next challenge!!!!!!! sue

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CONGRATULATIONS! A job well done.

Everyone who contributed is a winner. We all benefit by being able to tap into the database to answer questions and look things up.

Congratulations to the winners. Great job!

Yeah team! Spearheaded by PS, GV, & BS, The Garden Wins!!

"eyes"

Hey Dave, since you need more power, ever thought of offering those mugs for sale to enhance the garden?

Thanks to all of you who took the challenge, endured my endless "notes of encouragement" (LOL) and helped us reach the goal! A special thanks to Dave and Trish (and Tim) for adding a little incentive to the challenge by offering prizes; it definitely helped increase interest in the challenge :)

I am so thankful for every person who took the time to enter something - you are all winners in my book! There were quite a number of you who entered 25, 50, 100 or more items, and I know how much time and effort that took - a special thanks to all of you.

Now we can all enjoy the fruits of our labor, and continue to add things when we come across them....and think about another contest for this winter!

Thanks everybody. **BLUSH** I’ll use my mug proudly Ü. I’m really impressed with the collective effort that went into the database over the last month & everyone has done a fabulous job. I think it’s the best feature of Dave’s! I’ve watched it grow & grow over the last year and it has turned into wonderful resource for all gardeners. I hope that everyone continues to add their experience & tips to make it even better! Every time you finally find helpful information…. get a great picture….. come across an awesome wildflower… or get that stubborn seed to germinate …. think of the database and how much it will help others if you share your information.

Dave, Oh Dave,can you hear me? Do you sell those mugs that you have? I would be very interested in buying one or 2 and sure there would be others here who would like to buy one. Please let us know about the mugs. I really would like to buy one, if they are a 4-sale item.Thanks Dave.
Blessings
All My Best
CoCo

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ditto for me too!!!!
Poppysue..how do you find the time to garden..what with playing on the computer so much....
when do you sleep? LOL
Way to go girl!!!!
I am finding that this site is almost addictive as gardening..
I'm curious about the winter months..
Does everyone post pics of their indooor efforts?

Hey ya'll, about the mugs, we will be offering these for sale soon. They are supposed to arrive this Friday (144 of them), so I'll be posting something about them (with pictures) right after I send out mugs to Poppysue, Badseed, and Go_vols.

Dave

144??? Now Dave, you know us better than that:)

I know, tiG, but I had to put the cost of the mugs up front, and they weren't cheap! If we sell all 144 of them, I'll order another 144 or 288 (or whatever)!

Dave

well, now when you get a picture, you can take advance orders, and I'll be the first to send my money in. Then you won't have to put your money out. Would that work?

Perhaps, tiG. Let's get the first load in, get some pictures posted and settle on a price, and we'll go from there.

The load should have been here a couple weeks ago, actually, and I'm a little chagrined that I can't immediately send off the prizes (sorry to the winners for the delay). Can't wait to see them! The picture of the mug was very very cool. I'd never seen a coffee mug that looked exactly like a flower pot!

Dave

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I know I want 2 for sure so put my name down as first on the list to buy.

Well, I am just shocked! I NEVER win anything. I haven't had much time to get on the computer lately. Today I am skipping around, reading, looking and harassing people, and low and behold, I find I have won a prize!!! Did Mystic tell you guys how sad my coffee mugs are, or what?
Thanks guys, you're the best!
Michele
guess I better E Dave :)

Yeah Congratulations guys (snarl !!!). Guess I'll have to go back to just uploading pics - seems a lot of species have now been covered.

El Tel

ElTel, I'm so glad there are folks who have photos to add, and who are willing to do so!

You know what they say - a picture is worth a thousand words. It is so helpful to have pictures - of plants, seedlings and seeds. So don't look at it as "just uploading photos", but as an invaluable contribution you're making :)

Congrats Poppysue and Badseed -- way to go, you guys! :o)

Eltel - don't underestimate your pictures. I am always disappointed when I search for a plant and find text, but no pictures. And I'm equally delighted when I find a picture of it to see! A close-up of blooms/foliage as well as a far-away shot are both invaluable!

GV, Gardenwife - you old flatterers you !!!

El Tel

I think it was Daniel Webster who said eloquence was "the truth well put".....call it flattery if you must, but it's true, all true ;0)

Congrads to Poppyseed and Badseed!!! What a lot of work! And ro G0_Vols too!!! ( Got the contest done just in time before football season really takes off, huh?) LOL!!!
I'd love a mug also!!1
What a great and wonderful idea, Dave!!!
Can;t wait and you better hurry and order enough, because I sense they are going to go like "hotcakes"!!!
How about t-shirts, too????? LOL!! A fund raiser for the conference you are dreamingof???? Mmmmmmm????
-JSS

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! ! to Poppysue and Badseed. I'm so proud of all you guys and the hard work that went into this database update - all of you who shared your time and talents are a fantastic resource to all of us and give an even stronger value and functionality to our website! GoVols - what a GREAT contest idea and Thank You for your many contributions and support. I appreciate all of you!

Dave and Trish I REALLY want a coffee cup...in fact, I wanted it last year! Thanks again and congratulations and pats on the back to all :)

WOW! I am pleased (and impressed) to find out how much our 'community' worked together to add to the database with a very impressive number of entries. It doesn't surprise me to see poppysue had the most entries, for I always find her postings/responses knowledgeable. Just don't now where she finds the time. So, hats off to poppysue, badseed, go vols, and all the rest of us who nourish, and are nourished by, DavesGarden!

Congrats to Poppysue and Badseed!!