Some of you might want to try this. Go to "Tools" and then "Internet Options" . . . scroll down to "Multimedia" and under that find a box labeled "Show Pictures". Click the box to erase the check mark. Then click "OK" at the bottom. Once you have done this, you will no longer see pictures on web pages you visit, but will instead see a box. If you want to view the picture, you can "right click" it and select "show picture". This will really help you if you are on "dial up".

I have a database in the computer with all my perennials/bulbs/shrubs recorded in it. Each winter I make sure that it is fully updated and then in spring I make a hard copy that I usually keep in my vehicle to have with me all summer. In my database I record... name, common (eg. bellflower) name, 'real'...(eg, campanula for the bellflower) sun and/or shade height/width color of flower description of plant location in yard year acquired hybridizer year registered by hybridizer what I paid and if in a trade what it would be worth who I got it from awards it has received bloom time zone requirements parentage dates I took a picture of it date the best picture of it was taken so as to quickly find the picture if someone wants to see a picture of it. size of leaf (for hostas) size of flower (needed for my daylilies) pruning group (for clematis) There are now over 2000 different perennials in our yard. I spend time each morning taking pictures of what is newly blooming in the yard. This is recorded into a binder and then transferred into the computer. In the winter I will take the time to label each of the pictures and transfer one good one of each perennial into my Photobucket album. With hostas I like to take a picture of the individual leaf, its flowers and a clump picture. Each perennial also gets a homemade copper tag made up for it which is placed immediately behind the plant. Since I have traded all across Canada, sell/trade privately in our area and have a table at the local farmer's market with my perennials, it is very important for me to know the name of each perennial and what it should be worth. I could never go by memory with my plants. Hats off to those who can. Brenda

I click on to the post "Read me if you're new to GW kitchens" which is currently on page 2 (supposed to be kept on page 1) and then in the second or third paragraph there is a direct link to the Finished Kitchens Blog.

And to add to tigereye's comments.......if there are certain forums you tend to follow or you frequent often, click on the "follow" button off to the right hand side when your cursor hovers over that forum title. This will result in an alphabetical listing of "Your Topics" at the top of the listings on the left had side of your screen so you can access them at will without needing to go into the Explore Topics heading. It will also bring up any threads or comments to any of these 'followed' forums to your 'Your Discussions'/'Your Topics' main screen. And this works regardless of which side of the website you enter!! ( I avoid using the Houzz side almost exclusively unless accessing one of the forums you can't get to via GW). IMO, this is only one in a long series of glitches as they continue to integrate the two platforms and coordinate the software. They usually only last a few days at most until they get things corrected so all one needs is a work-around (which I and tigereye provided) and a bit of patience :-) This too shall pass!! Others may have stronger feelings but I am happy to work around these temporary aberrations in favor of benefiting from the superior features offered by GardenWeb compared to any other online gardening site. And that includes any Facebook site!!