I miss the good ole days! Gardenweb was my go to place. Now it's like a ghost town.

I'm still here but visit less these days.

I pop in here from time to time. It is just not the same as the original Garden Web we all knew and loved....trolls and all! There were some pretty heated discussions that ended up with people being re-directed to DisneyLand, the happiest place on earth. But I truly did learn a lot and went to several plant swaps. I got some amazing plants from some wonderful new friends. I now follow several local area garden groups on FaceBook --Linda Leaf

I have come back recently after several years away (long story). It really is a ghost town compared to the old days. I think I started on GW around ‘03/04 or so. Florida Gardening is not the only GW board that has cleared out though.

I run three subs on Reddit: r/floridagardening (there is also a r/floridagarden, so don't get them confused) r/northfloridagardening and r/gainesvillegardening. None of them are very busy right now, because I guess it's getting hot. I was on a lot of FB gardening groups, but quit all but a couple, and I'm really not on FB much now.

Florida gardening groups are pretty quiet once summer hits. Spring and fall are the busiest times.

I miss the plant swaps, but here in Gainesville, plant swapping is a big thing online all year long. There aren't any organized swaps like we used to have, but I've traded dozens of plants this year with locals. Still, those parties were a lot of fun.

Irma, I think that it is because Houzz not long ago messed up the commenting function. Only in this fourth browser (Opera) does it work for me.

I'm reading and sometimes reply to new posts, if I can help, but there's often not much to say. I spend more time on other forums where it's busier.

Not doing as much gardening as formerly these days, due to other responsibilities.

After Irma I had a lot of yard and house maintenance and then I was busy with work. I found my sign in information again so will try to stop in more often.

Wow, Irma - almost 20 years! - about 18 for me, hard to believe.....when I think of how addicted to this forum I was back then, it's a wonder I ever got anything done out in the yard. I get that way again, sometimes, when someone brings up a super-old post and I start going back to the archives and re-reading more old stuff. I love seeing all the garden and flower pics we used to share and recently I started a WBIYG, only to have the whole message disappear in a heartbeat when I tapped submit. Took me most of 20 minutes to compose it - full of pics of plants that I had gotten from past GW members at swaps. Oh well - it's not the first time and it makes me crazy so I don't mess with pics like I used to. So ---

--I'm still here, only not as addicted. I really have learned SO much here and gained lots of confidence. And thanks to you guys I still get a kick out of reading during the pandemic boringness, learning something new most times. Really miss Marcia and Cindee and Ricky and wasn't there a guy ZZTop and a WallyCat - they seemed to put a lot of information on here back in the day.

And you guys are doing a great job, by the way. I hope you stay -

I probably will, too.

Still here also on several fb groups and on yt. Started my own fb group as well to go with the yt channel.

Hi, Everyone!

I still receive emails when someone replies to a thread in which I also posted.

I miss everyone here and the loads of great information and advice I received. I tried Facebook, but the groups I joined are just a picture show. That has merit, but there are no in-depth discussions. It seems no one wants to read - or type. Heck, the comments aren't even complete sentences. It's just "Like, Like, Like". I miss having active forums with good discussion. It's great to see ya'll here!

Carol in Jacksonville

Irma, I think you and I got here almost the same time. I joined in 1999, so about 21 years this year, with a few breaks during those years where I was either kicked off or quit. I was mostly on the Garden Party, the exchanges, and here. GW used to have a great seed exchange, but so many people got ripped off, it just sort of died. Plus, you could buy seeds cheaper on eBay and Amazon than you could mail them.

Hi Irma. I used to be a regular poster way back, but life got in the way. I retired in February of this year and with the Covid I’ve got more time on my hands so hope to be a regular poster again. I just love all things garden and home related. I’ve been on GardenWeb since 1999 (started on the Garden Junk forum) and have seen plenty of changes in the forums. Not all bad.

I remember so many that used to post and do remember you Irma, and Carol in Jax. Who remembers manature? I wonder what she is up to? So knowledgeable.

anyway, I hope to be able to contribute more to this board. It would be a shame to lose it.

Those animals are adorable, sultry!

Thanks Carolb :) We got our 2 Nigerian Dwarf baby doelings today. They are so tiny! About half the size of the LaMancha bottle baby and they are older than she is lol. Hopefully by this time next year, we will be milking them so I can experiment making cheese, soap, etc.

Glenn the fb group you started is it for gardeners?

hi... wow, it is so different. I was active on the old Gardenweb many years ago, like 17 or so. Scrolling through the posts I see a handful of familiar names, but yes, where are all the gardeners... way back I loved the plant swaps and visiting the different gardens. All the garden forums I remember are either gone or sitting empty. I can't believe gardening is not in fashion any longer? ;-)

Good question, abendwolke!

It led me to think... (but not wanting to tempt the fates)... if FL were to get gobsmacked by a hurricane, we'd be rebuilding our gardens... and needing to talk about it!

There are so many super active Facebook gardening groups with so very many experienced gardeners and plant collectors. It’s addictive.

I like the Houzz Gardenweb archives; I haven't seen that on Facebook. Also that I can recognize our "regulars" and value their history with plants.

sultry.... I love your animals..... and your roses.... I think you need to be my neighbor.....

Where are you located.... maybe I can convince my rose society to do a tour :) we did one last year and it was great.

Thank you. I have been neglecting my gardens so much this spring lol. I am keeping all my roses but have been moving and removing alot of the livestock "toxic" type plants and replacing with non toxic and food/fruiting plants. So basically everything is a disaster haha. We also are expanding our veggie garden quite a bit so I can fit in a few more 4x8 raised beds. I have roses, bananas and other crazy plants stuffed in my veggie garden too now. We are also making new goat and pig pastures. Its been so hot & muggy that it has been slow going. I hope fall comes early!!

Which rose society do you belong to? I keep thinking I need to join a rose society.

I am almost out by Callahan. A tour might be fun if/when I ever get my stuff together, lol. I dont really have a fancy garden or anythibg just hodge-podge flowerbeds and pot ghettos with a bunch of farm animals mixed in Haha.

I wish you were my neighbor! It would be a huge improvement over the ones I have now lol. We live in an area with lots of crowing roosters and people with llamas, horses, etc not everybody likes to be woke up at 5 or 6 am to rooster serenades. :) but I like it.

We got these 2 little Nigerian Dwarf girls recently. They are so little, smaller than the bottle baby Lamancha doeling I have even though they are a few weeks older than her.

I think it's been longer than a year since I last posted/commented. Life got in the way and time flew by! I did wonder if there would be any familiar names when I came back, so I am glad to see you Irma, DG, Carol, Glenn, Bea, Sultry, Sylvia, et al., still around.

Sultry - your animals are adorable. Btw, everytime I have a question about roses in FL and do a search your comments always pop up!

I‘ve used gardenweb since it’s very launch but it’s no longer the best option. And it hasn’t been great since houzz took it over. However on Facebook, I’ve become acquainted with many fellow Horticulturists that have exceptional plant collections and lifetimes of experience gardening.

Florida Joe, I do miss your contributions and expertise. Will you name your favorite Facebook gardening-related sites? It appears (from my experience with just one) that I would have to "join" to simply look at a site to see if it appeals to me.

Irma_stpete, I think Central Florida Gardening Friends is a very good one to join. As is St. Petersburg Plant Society where we have seasonal plant/seed/cutting/& pottery swaps. Theres also more plant-specific groups like Florida West Coast Orchid Society, Hoya Lovers FB, St. Petersburg succulent Addicts, All Things Begonia, Florida Bromeliads, and so many more :)

vml68, Thanks! I do have a serious rose addiction lol. Some are great, some not so great but I love them all.

I am glad you are back and posting again. We all get a little side tracked once in awhile. I too, have taken some long breaks over the years here.

I'm currently obsessed with You Tube and I have a 4 yr old grandson who keeps me busy. He's trying to be a gardener and a farmer, playing with all the farm animals, lol, so its a lot of fun.

Hope everyone is doing ok, still gardening just have not been on GW in ages and finally was able to get back on my old GW account🙂