When I started this blog, I figured I’d use it as a glorified garden diary tool. I’m so lousy at writing down names and dates and locations. I thought about setting up a spreadsheet to record of what I did. But this looked like a way-more-fun way to keep track of what’s going on around here.
That never really happened because:
- Photography turned from a chore to a hobby for me.
- Garden blogging took off, and trying to keep up with what’s going on in the community beats the heck out of keeping records.
Cleaning up this morning, I ran across the packing list from this fall’s bulb order. Instead of filing it away, I indulged that little spark of compulsion that I usually keep tamped down and recorded the list below with links to catalog pictures. Now when stuff starts popping up next spring, I’ll have to be really lazy not to come back to this post and get some positive IDs and accurate botanical names when I post pictures.
You know, if a bulb or perennial company set up a feature where I could log in and they’d show me pictures of what I bought from them every year (and maybe even allow me to record a comment or two about where I planted it and how it did), I would quickly develop a loyalty to that company. (Or at least it would give them an edge.)
2008 fall bulb planting list:
- Camassia cusickii
- Camassia leichtlinii ‘Coerulea’
- Camassia leichtlinii ‘Semiplena’
- Camassia quamash
- Camassia quamash ‘Orion’
- Crocus vernus ‘Twilight’
- Large Flowering Crocus Mix
- Crocus tommasinianus’ ‘Lilac Beauty
- Fritillaria michailovskyi
- Leucojum aestivum
- Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’
- Oxalis adenophylla
- Scilla siberica ‘Spring Beauty’
- Tulipa’ ‘Ballerina
- Tulipa biflora
- Tulip ‘Carnaval de Nice’
- Tulipa orphanidea ‘Flava’
- Tulip Easter Egg Murillo Mixture
Yes, I too realized the other day that no, I never did start that gardening journal I meant to start each time I planted. But then I figured out that I already had one online and I could go back and check it! What a relief to know I’d actually followed through on something without giving myself due credit. The photography is also the same with me. I’m addicted to taking photos!
Brenda
Great idea but I always forget what title I give to various posts I want to remember. ha… Good luck.
My garden journal consists of a really nice binder, all divided into sections, labeled by the garden area, with pocket pages that have a space for each plant. Fortunately, it also has big pockets on the inside covers, because that is where all the inc=voices, packing slips and plant tags end up. One of these days…
Can’t wait to see the photos of all the newbies next spring!
I have eleven years of garden journals and I’ve completely fallen down since I started this blog! I keep writing notes on my calendar and stuffing things into the paper journal but I am 3 months behind and don’t know if I can catch up or if I want to. Interesting list of bulbs and lovely photo of Katherine Hodgkin.
Oooh! Those are some nice choices. I really like that Tulipa biflora especially, as well as the Fritillaria. Can’t wait to see their pics next spring. But you did not mention how MANY?!
I was thinking of posting a list of all the bulbs I ended up with, too, but was too pooped last night after raking, weeding, and mulching yesterday (and still not planting the crocus in the lawn. Now it is snowing!!)
I’m with you all the way–from why I started my blog, to why I threw up my hands and said, “Ah, well, the community is the best part of this anyway. Who needs a garden journal online?!” 🙂
By the way, I have never seen Tulipa orphanidea flava before, and I’m in love. I can hardly resist the smaller species tulips anyway…
The blog wasn’t supposed to help me keep order, Craig. I was pretty organized before my blog existed. My garden journals date back to 1989 and I kept old calendars with notations from earlier years and had a spreadsheet of almost every plant in the garden.
But you’re exactly right – it’s too much fun visiting so I forget to update the journal or the spreadsheet. Thank heavens for Carol’s Bloom Day – at least it’s some kind of record.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
So it sounds like all this great technology that allows us to record and organize information in useful ways has failed us. Well, actually I look on it as a good thing. My vision of what’s possible in a garden would be very, very limited were it not for this marvelous blogosphere.
Maybe this technology only fails us if we insist on getting the same information in the same ways? Like MSS of Zanthan, I’ve found it much easier to google something I posted to my blog than find it on a written page. And then send someone to that post when asked for information. And some person I don’t know who is looking for ideas and gardens in my zone can do the same thing. It’s not my personal private journal anymore, Craig -but maybe in a tiny way, it adds to the sum of gardening knowledge.
Annie