Why do you enjoy gardening?

I am hoping that some kind people with a few spare minutes could help me.

I am doing a bit of research and I would simply like to know:

1) Why you enjoy gardeining?

HOWEVER

Additionally if people have the time I would like to know:

2) What gardining websites they look at and think are good:

3) What content/tools they feel gardening websites are lacking:

4) What interactive features they would like to use online to help with their gardening:

 

Hi!
Iââ?¬â?¢ve got loads of time this p.m. as Iââ?¬â?¢ve just hurt my back! So ââ?¬â?? 1) I like it because ââ?¬â?? I love working with plants, and get a real thrill to see the things Iââ?¬â?¢m caring for growing and thriving. I love the physical, hard work of digging, weeding, etc, because I love to see the difference Iââ?¬â?¢ve made, the exercise makes me feel good (but sometimes sore!!), and the knowledge itââ?¬â?¢s good for you is great too, and means you donââ?¬â?¢t have to count calories!
2)web-sites ââ?¬â?? GC is great as a forum for asking and answering questions ââ?¬â?? easily the best Iââ?¬â?¢ve come across ââ?¬â?? and very friendly. Do you want to know about plant-sales on-line too? The info available on most of those is extremely good, particularly T&Mââ?¬â?¢s Tokelyââ?¬â?¢s tips, and all the seed propagation, and plant after-care advice on most of them.
3) Whatââ?¬â?¢s lacking is somewhere to tie all the info together. I mean, you have to trawl the web to get everything you want. E.G. I was looking at the weekend for a few replacement tools, and couldnââ?¬â?¢t get them all on one site ââ?¬â?? that was a nuisance because of extra post charges.
4) a search engine to give details of plants, and what care they need, etc, if you type in their name

Hope this helps!

 

Hi Richard and Welcome,

We're getting quite a few of these questions at the minute! I didn't know gardeners were such a marketable demographic! :D

Here's my answers:

1) similar to Nixon, I enjoy the hard work (and it alleviates my guilt for not going to gym), and it has a point - you are working hard for a reason, growing things, caring for things, enjoying the results of your labour.

2) This one, BBC Gardening (although I find it rather flaky), online GCs and nurseries, Shoot and, as Nixon says, the delights of the search engine.

3) As I said in another post recently, a plant identifier with lots of pictures, both close ups and full shots (all too often, I can find one but not t'other!)

And I would like some sort of collection of online sites and ratings by people who actually use them, not corporate advertising. Particularly things like value for money, quality of the plants, quality of postage and packing etc.

4) In terms of interactive feautres, I'd like something a bit like the Ikea kitchen planner (anyone used that? very useful), where you could map out your plot and add features and plants (as they'd look in say 3, 5, 10 years etc) so you can get an idea of how things would pan out. Actually, that's a really useful thing to do.. I might patent the idea!

Hope this helps!

PS - sorry to hear about your back, Nixon. Take it easy.. or don't.. whatever this week's advice is when it comes to backs!

Cheers,

Dave

 

ta, d-i-h-g!

 

Hi Richard,

I'm a 36 yr old mum of two who works full time so to me, the garden is my sanctuary.It helps me to relax, create colourful "decor" throughout the spring/summer period and feel good about myself.I'm a total novice but I enjoy being able to spend as little or as much time/money as I have and see a result that everyone gains pleasure from.
I like this site and found Shoot useful (although I've heard they'll charge soon !!)but I find sites that use all the official names complicate things for me - and I never seem to find these plants anyway at my local g.c - maybe a localised help forum for all the diff parts of the country as others in your area could tell u what grows well and what doesn't etc..

Hope this helps,

Caz

 

Hello Richard

Much as the other replies - better content re Nixons comment about plant details. and Dave ITG comment re Ikea and their kitchen planning support.

My love of gardening probably stems from working on my fathers allotment way back. I love to see the new plants coming through as they do every year and usually on time - being a lover of herbaceous borders I have only a small interest in seeds (cannot wait too long to see results). The pleasures are endless - sweet scented roses/fresh growing herbs/the wonderful colour spectrum....etc.

Doug

 

Just Fur.... Not sure what I mean ask Nixon he is good at the Lanarkshire patter. Sorry folks.

To explain for the rest,, we all have things that gives us pleasure enjoyment, relaxation and intrest, for me it is gardening. Simple.

 

Nixon's a she, DavieM!