I have never used another forum but I find this one friendly and helpful. No one ever points out that I am an idiot to ask the questions I ask or make the mistakes I make and I feel free to express an opinion. Almost everyone is positive and knowledgeable. You don't need courage to ask or comment - we are all living and learning as we go.
I’m so sorry you have experienced this @Posy - that is both shocking to me and rather sad. We could all do with a bit of kindness in this life. You are right, we are always learning - isn’t that what gardening is all about? Never feed the trolls…
I’m a bit of a lurker now, but love dipping into different topics. It’s funny but I come here with a specific question, do a search and end up looking at everything that comes up, unrelated or not!
I have in the past asked a few questions but stopped, as I felt guilty always doing the asking.
The house I moved into has a garden which, apart from a small hydrangea, had no other flowering plants whatsoever but lots of trees and established bushes (yes I know that they’re plants too, but you know what I mean). I’m slowly trying to build it up again, with cottage garden style flowerbeds. The different varieties of lavender I bought last year are looking lovely into their second year! I spent too much last year on roses which are doing ok, but some of the hardy geraniums have been disappointing. I will start to participate more, and include some photos.
BTW my recommendation for lavenders : The Lavender Garden, near Tetbury. It sells dozens of varieties, also Buddleia, all home grown and so reasonable priced. The lavenders I bought last year were all £2.50 (still same price). Quite small. But! Good grief, this year they’ve found steroids! Very good quality indeed. (I would have given the website link but it said not secure, so I didn’t. But I spoke to them on the phone several times last year and they could not have been more helpful with their advice).
welcome in those who read but don't comment. Feel free to join in. 🌱
Thanks for the invite. I am very nervous of asking questions as I feel they will be silly or my spelling will be wrong. I find people can be very critical on forums, so I'm mostly silent.
@dappledshade you have TOTALLY misunderstood my post!!! If you look again you will see that I said no-one criticizes my questions, everyone is kind and helpful and there is no reason to be shy.
If anyone did suggest questions are silly or make remarks about spelling, well that's their problem. We all know that plants are named deliberately to embarras us on spelling and pronunciation, anyway.
I read the posts on here many times a day, but decided to be a lurker and not get involved to much anymore, unless a thread interests me. but on some that I could offer help I do not bother.
I have so many questions to ask and need help on quite a few plants but I don't, I will get round the problem in my own way.
@dappledshade you have TOTALLY misunderstood my post!!! If you look again you will see that I said no-one criticizes my questions, everyone is kind and helpful and there is no reason to be shy.
If anyone did suggest questions are silly or make remarks about spelling, well that's their problem. We all know that plants are named deliberately to embarras us on spelling and pronunciation, anyway.
That’ll teach me to squint into the sun, without my reading glasses on 😂
We love answering questions even if they've been asked before. It's a race to see who posts the answer first! Nobody gives a fiddler's **** about your spelling. If it's wrong we assume it's predictive text and that makes it interesting to work out what you actually meant to say .
@Jude27, trust me when l say that no question is considered too silly, not by me nor the majority of people on here anyway. We all started somewhere, for me it was back in the "old days" when it was books and magazines or maybe a knowledgeable neighbour that supplied information. When it comes to answers, l've got things wrong, and l'm happy to be corrected. It's human nature to feel foolish, heaven knows l do at times ! Of course there's also the fact that we're online, you can't see people's expression or hear their tone of voice which can make things tricky.
Just like in life there are people who can be sarcastic, or imply that it's amazing that you didn't already know the answer to your question, but most people are happy to try and help .
@LesleyH I was interested to read your comment about the Lavender Garden. I keep notes of good places to visit so have added it to my list.
Not sure why your hardy geraniums have struggled unless it is the same problem that many plants are suffering from which is lack of water. Nothing is the same as actual rain. I have just cut some of my geraniums back they were so scruffy. I have given them a few cans of water and they are starting to regrow.
@MrMow Thank you for your posts regarding lawn's, I like to read your comments as I have very limited knowledge on the subject. I appreciate your expertise.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Posts
We could all do with a bit of kindness in this life.
You are right, we are always learning - isn’t that what gardening is all about?
Never feed the trolls…
BTW my recommendation for lavenders : The Lavender Garden, near Tetbury. It sells dozens of varieties, also Buddleia, all home grown and so reasonable priced. The lavenders I bought last year were all £2.50 (still same price). Quite small. But! Good grief, this year they’ve found steroids! Very good quality indeed.
(I would have given the website link but it said not secure, so I didn’t. But I spoke to them on the phone several times last year and they could not have been more helpful with their advice).
Thanks for the invite. I am very nervous of asking questions as I feel they will be silly or my spelling will be wrong. I find people can be very critical on forums, so I'm mostly silent.
If anyone did suggest questions are silly or make remarks about spelling, well that's their problem. We all know that plants are named deliberately to embarras us on spelling and pronunciation, anyway.
I have so many questions to ask and need help on quite a few plants but I don't, I will get round the problem in my own way.
A great forum to learn if you lurk.
Nobody gives a fiddler's **** about your spelling. If it's wrong we assume it's predictive text and that makes it interesting to work out what you actually meant to say .
We all started somewhere, for me it was back in the "old days" when it was books and magazines or maybe a knowledgeable neighbour that supplied information.
When it comes to answers, l've got things wrong, and l'm happy to be corrected. It's human nature to feel foolish, heaven knows l do at times !
Of course there's also the fact that we're online, you can't see people's expression or hear their tone of voice which can make things tricky.
Just like in life there are people who can be sarcastic, or imply that it's amazing that you didn't already know the answer to your question, but most people are happy to try and help
Not sure why your hardy geraniums have struggled unless it is the same problem that many plants are suffering from which is lack of water. Nothing is the same as actual rain. I have just cut some of my geraniums back they were so scruffy. I have given them a few cans of water and they are starting to regrow.
@MrMow Thank you for your posts regarding lawn's, I like to read your comments as I have very limited knowledge on the subject. I appreciate your expertise.