There's very little doubt, due to the items we bring to management's attention and their subsequent attention to, or more usually inattention, to a particular issue, that the management here care much more than a tinker's dam about the garden-forum users.

I just typed a long response and it disappeared. Here is a shorter version [g] - I tried more searches. I searched a few screen names and got a couple of hits, but someone I know posts a lot on garden web forums, only had one hit on each search engine. When I used to post a lot to GW, I could actually find most of my threads just by doing a search for my own screen name on Google. I would get pages and pages, even old threads. I didn't get that this time.

Then I did a search for 'gardening forums' as someone would do if they were looking for a discussion group and GW came up in the mix, if not on the first page, then the second. So at least there is that.

I wonder if search engines have changed and there is just too much interference from optimization?

There really is Too much interference from “search engine optimizers” as well as Google’s own antics toward search manipulation. Bing/Microsoft and the other search engines are not much better.

Was it just on my computers or was there a problem yesterday? Every time I tried to look at forums here yesterday, the pages came up as Houzz and all my links other forums on the left side of the page were gone. The space to respond/comment on threads was gone, replaced by text in green that said sign up to comment. Both my desktop and iPad were like that. This morning it seems to be back to normal. Yesterday it was looking like GW was gone and I would need to find a new garden site....

Yesterday was really bizarre with signing in. I had to change my password twice and sign in every time I tried to log in. Hopefully the kinks are worked out today

Me too (signing in).

Yes, I always stay signed in and yesterday I was faced with the same issue. Also all the pics were nearly thumb sized and the related topics at the top were gone. Happy it is back to normal today, I thought it was just me.

Houzz did an update a day or so ago. There was an update note for me along with having to log in. I thought, oh no, here we go again. Things seem ok now.

Sherry

Houzz did an update a day or so ago.

Why does it seem to be the case to me that update doesn't usually correspond to improvement :(.

I found gardenweb some years ago by using google to search a gardening question. I have been reading old posts and new ones since then. I have learned so much here. I do not always comment but I am still present. I love to garden and this sight has helped me to better myself and my plants. I learn something every time I read here. I appreciate all your help.

I stay signed in under gardenweb and it seems to work fine for me. I hope everyone stays present and tries to be patient when the sight is not working well. Please don’t leave the sight or I won’t have smart helpers who give great advise. I do not want to join Facebook or any other sights. I only have a little time for reading so I do not want to go anywhere else. I am very happy to have found this site.

I can’t directly measure inactivity with specific numbers but there is no question in my mind that the number of users on Garden Web has declined. I think the deduction is interesting that topics just don’t come up to search engine inquiries and I am absolutely certain that’s true. But why? I didn’t think a site could “hide” from search engines.

i wish I could figure out why Houzz doesn’t seem to want to support GW. It must be a revenue issue. Doesn’t t everything come down to revenue?

But it’s almost as though Houzz is deliberately discouraging engagement. I have to jump through hoops just to find a list of forums. Today I had to sign in every time a thread I’ve started got a response, or every time I accessed garden forum. That certainly never used to happen. I find it extremely frustrating. New users must find it very frustrating and maybe that’s why they don’t hang around, I found myself wishing for an alternate forum today because I got so frustrated with the clumsy way it is working.

but there is no question in my mind that the number of users on Garden Web has declined

And so the question is...where have (former) GW members migrated to in terms of garden forums?

echo, perhaps your device isn't set up to remember where you've been and doesn't automatically log you on? I'm not terribly tech-savvy, but my phone, IPad, and laptop computer all remember the C&S Forum as one I visit frequently and take me there when I start typing it in the address bar.

I agree with your sentiments, however - unless you're buying something from House, they appear to not give a rat's ass about only-gardening-forums users.

As to your migration question, I don't know.

Prompted by comments here, and with thanks for those comments, I asked my best friend Google to tell me why I was being asked to sign in repeatedly. The suggestion was to reset my iPad, which I did, and that seems to have resolved the problem - Yay! Which prompts me to acknowledge that it wasn’t some flaw in Garden Web/Houzz programming.

What I can honestly say, is that everyone is on Facebook. Tons of plant groups/forums for every variation. Some of the larger plant groups I know of have 80K members, and I'm sure there are even larger ones. Facebook has become that one stop place for many people. Bigger isn't always better - with that larger number, there is a large number of infighting and breakaway groups - and groups that are formed to diss other groups! It really is quite intriguing.

that everyone is on Facebook.

The inability to perform a robust search on these FB groups gives it limited use to me.

Yes, I'm on a foraging Arkansas group on FB, and it's very very frustrating to get id requests of the same thing 3x in one day...but I can't blame them, because you can't search/find anything on FB as a rule.

That has been a drawback for me as well, not to have a good search function on any of the Facebook groups I've tried. I do get notifications on conversations that continue. One drawback for me, is that the gardening groups are splintered. It's not like GW's platform, where you have the same groups of gardeners that you end up having conversations with on different forums and different subjects across the broad scope of gardening. Although, I suppose you do only see some GW members on single specific forums. I don't always see members from the Vegetable forums on the Perennial forums, etc.

And it's a distraction if you have other Facebook groups on different subjects, instead of a one stop platform for Gardening only.

I am on several Facebook groups and none has the appeal that these Garden Web forums have. Nor do they take the place of the once common email lists supported by Yahoo Groups and now mostly replaced by groups.io and google groups. They've taken a hit in membership too, sadly. Yet Facebook doesn’t compare! I really don’t understand why folks join them in preference to those other better forums! it’s probably convenience, but without a search feature it has so much less value. And the fellowship doesn’t happen. Sad!

Are there good gardening groups on io? Just had to move our school groups there after yahoo closed.

I hate FB even for personal messages. The winter sowing group here is dead and has been replaced by FB. I asked one user how they search for answers, and she said that they don't. People just keep asking the same questions over and over. She was fine with it, but it drives me crazy.

I'm confused about the no searching comments..I'm in an aroids group..you can do searches in the group..that group also has group files for information organized by topic..I like that group but I still miss the old Gardenweb..I tried and then dropped a few garden groups..lots of misinformation..

You can search comments, but their searching algorithm isn't that great, as far as I can tell. And, many people are simply too lazy to search so they just ask the question. You have to be a member of most groups to search comments, however.

My experience with Facebook is people don't go to it expecting it to be a repository of knowledge. Most like to go and throw out their random pictures, thoughts and witty remarks - and the questions that 1) have been asked 3 times already that week and 2) could easily find answers to online with a small bit of research. Social media is quick and disposable, and produces a certain kind of flakiness (and I include myself in that when I use it).

LaLennoxa..the groups I left were as you described..the aroid group is different..the admins are highly qualified..I've assumed posts are removed if they're off topic because I've noticed that some have disappeared..misinformation is corrected..I read more than I post..

I belong to one of the aroid groups too, and I've noticed the same thing! So you've touched on a good point - there are some Facebook groups out there that are better moderated. In most of the general Facebook groups, I don't go there looking for any answers, I'm usually giving them LOL. But if I have serious questions, for the most part I would think of asking them here on Gardenweb.

I've learned a lot from Gardenweb..the forums that I follow have knowledgeable and experienced gardeners with good advice..on Facebook I was always saying "I disagree because"..and it was tedious..some would respond "I didn't know that" but others would always recommend a solution of homemade concoctions that weren't science based..even if you provided a screenshot from a reputable source showing otherwise they would say "it works for me"..I've joined and left groups in one day!..I'm only in 4 groups..I had 10 at one point but realized I didn't want 6 of them..it's trial and error to find the right groups..

Oh yes, I see that. I often get exhausted by it all, instead of inspired. Facebook became somewhat addicting when I was doing a lot of commuting, and now with the physical distancing going on, though I am working on not using it as much. But it can be like watching a train wreck., Someone posted recently that her 3-year-old rosemary plant began to flower, and she didn't know if that was normal? That was my good laugh for the day. Really had to hold myself back from how I was thinking of responding to that one :-)

Just have to say that I would have to be the very last gardener active on GardenWeb before I'd consider joining a Facebook group! They just don't cut it for me ;-)

But I have been a GW member almost since its inception in the late 90's. I have seen participation go up and down but it still remains one of the most active and informative online gardening sites available. I still see many members from the good ole Spike or pre-Houzz days and they all tend to be responders rather than new thread posters so I would say that the reduction of current activity might be due to hit and run participants rather than long time members departing.

I would phrase it the same way..it's exhausting!..I would start typing a response then decide "oh let someone else do it"..delete it and move on Lol..I've been outside on and off for weeks now and it's great to be doing something besides "online" gardening..all of us need time away from the world's health crisis..I'm going out soon..enjoy your day..

Although I don’t post as much as others, I do check in quite frequently. I, too, have tried other gardening forums but most often don’t find the information or depth of subject I would like. In all fairness, I was a beginning gardener once and those types of forums certainly have their place. Anything that makes gardening more popular and accessible is great in my book, But there really isn’t a replacement for this forum.

P.S. The only other site I use is this one which is particular to the PNW.

https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/outdoor-gardening-in-the-pacific-northwest.120/

I am not a member of Facebook now or never. I agree with gardengal. I do appreciate all the information given here and I have learned so many thing from past posts. I have spent a lot of time searching old posts for information that I have needed. I found this site by searching on Google one day and that was a great. There is a world of information here from folks that give honest answers to many questions asked. I read in many topics just to learn. I think many people pop in and out for help and that is ok. It is good they come to a forum that people give truthful information. We have a great group of very educated people here and I appreciate all the help given to all. I learned about winter sowing here. If a person has a new question there is always someone who will help to answer. Winter sowing is a great activity when we can’t get out in the real garden. I just hope I have another year of more success than not. Thank you to all who have taught me how to be a better gardener. 😀

cercis, the UBC forums are excellent!! I have not joined as GW keeps me online more than I should be anyway but I often 'visit'. I am an avid Japanese maple collector and grower and their Maples forum is always very active and with lots of helpful advice. I see a number of former GW participants that post there now.

For sure the "Maples" on UBC is a quality forum but I think it has become less active over the past year or so. (And what I like about https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/ is that it offers 2FA for a login...I know others don't care about such a feature but I appreciate the site's concern for member security).

('gg', are you a member of the FB Japanese Maples and Conifers group...lots of good people and pictures there)

Nope. Won't do Facebook. Period :-)

Count me as another who absolutely refuses to use F--B--

I get it guys re FB. And as I had said in this thread somewhere that I wish these groups had a much better search engine but having said that I don't dismiss out of hand all of the groups. I pick and choose and for example I have benefited from being part of "Japanese Maples and Conifers".

rouge21..same here..I found 4 great groups..I'm a dud on FB compared to most..very few friends..just relatives..

I found 4 great groups.

There are so many options for people to indulge their interests that posts on any one site are less than would be the case with fewer choices...including at GW. There is only so much time in the day!

I do find Facebook is as evil as Satan, but I still use it.

"only so much time"..true..4 is enough..I joined this Dec and Jan during my gardening downtime..

LaLennoxa..Lol!!!..but gardeners aren't as creepy as other people right?..

I went out..picked up some sticks..took some pics..then came in..it's chilly..

Absolutely!!! :-)

Dave's Garden is an amazing site. Has anyone heard of it? Any time I see a new plant that interests me, I go there for the low down. Very well organized. I discovered That Home Site many years ago and I've been in and out over the years. The lack of user-friendly search makes it annoying to use this site, unfortunately.

Yes, I've gone to Dave's Garden a few times, mainly for reference.

I like Dave’s garden as well for information. There are a few places I visit for reference but none have the people like gardenweb. It is too bad the site is not user friendly for everyone.

Dave's Garden is a paid service still?

Could less people who would normally be posting questions, have been out buying plants, sheltering at home? Or maybe too busy with kids home schooling with the schools shut, and maybe trying to remotely work from home at the same time?

Maybe some lost their jobs because of the virus and can’t afford landscaping or new plants etc.

Well, that does make sense -- but the board has been slowing down for quite a while now; actually I've seen an uptick in posts in the last week or so and "missing" posters back on board. Still...not like the old days...

You're correct, mxk3, the board traffic has decreased quite a lot over the last couple of years. It's not a recent phenomenon.