Let's Talk Gardening Future!

Tonight we welcome Global Garden Friends as our guest host on #gardenchat! 

Topic 11/5/2012
The future of gardening....growing vegetables/herbs/fruit indoors using hydroponics/kitchen garden units. Is a smart idea due to growing world population, increased food prices, and decreased quality of food while at the same time being exposed to insecticides, etc. Growing indoors means you can grow all year round. And much more.... 

Find out more about their products and gardening tips and ideas at :
• Facebook , Twitter and Google+ addresses - 
http://www.facebook.com/globalgardenfriends 
http://www.twitter.com/ggardenfriends

Product Giveaway 

10 sets of, 1 x Ultimate Plant Cage(Value: $17.95)

10 x 20 packs of clips- 20 pack Ultimate Plant Clips(Value: $4.99) per person.

Friends at @ggardenfriends want to get YOU in the garden  with this giveaway valued at $230! 

HOW TO ENTER :

1. Comment on This Blog Post  sharing WHAT YOU LOVE about gardening and be sure to include your Twitter name so we can connect with you!

2. Head Over to https://www.facebook.com/globalgardenfriends and LIKE THEM on Facebook leaving a comment on #gardenchat image posting : LINK HERE so we know you visited! 

3. Participate on #gardenchat during the 11/5 Monday night scheduled event.  WE must see you on the transcript saved to qualify!!! 

4.  Tweet NOW  to support the #gardenchat growing event " Join #gardenchat tonight at 9 p.m. with @thegardenchat and @ggardenfriends"  

Winner will be announced on Wednesday at noon on Twitter #gardenchat stream.    If your Twitter account is picked you must respond to @TheGardenChat by MIDNIGHT 11/7 Wednesday by email / DM or tweet!    Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery of products. 

*#gardenchat / @TheGardenChat is not responsible for any product shipping : the product is donated by @ggardenfriends .

PIn Us on #LawnCare #gardenchat

#gardenchat #lawncare on PInterest CLICK HERE!~

"Monday Garden Party" Link Up!

Welcome to the #gardenchat Link Up Party!

We are so honored to share the best of what is growing in gardens all around the world!

This party is the ultimate addition to our weekly #gardenchat on Twitter.  We are super happy and excited to be hosting this
and we cannot wait to get started and see what is blooming this week.  But before we do that lets visit our featured favorite from last weeks shares...  Its a video of a fantastic rose garden!

Chris from Redneck Rosarian took us on a June Garden Walk. 

 Thanks so much for sharing that with us Chris and make sure to grab your "I've Been Featured" button!

How To Participate In Garden Chat On Twitter

Click to get step by step instructions on how to join in!

Okay lets get to sharing!  Add your link below and make sure it goes directly to your post, not just your website.  Please add a credit back to our party or your link will be removed.

Please use this link and logo...  

Monday Garden Party @ #gardenchat

Or directly to http://gardenchatblog.blogspot.com/

1.) Write a post about your garden or things you grow from it and brag a little about your growing talents while your at it! Share what your garden means to you. Include lots of photos of your backyard, chicken coop, recipes, greenhouse, projects or garden decor. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the Mr. Linky space to your Monday Garden Party post.


3). Please include the "Monday Garden Party" button and/or a link back here in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!


4). Don't forget to tweet your link as well with hashtag #gardenchat !


Have a great week everyone and thank you so much for all you share here every Monday! 

Thanks for sharing, we can't wait to see what your growing!

Join us Monday night for #gardenchat from 9-10 pm EST.

Your Garden Chat Team-

Bren, Jo, Tootsie and Brooke

http://gardenchatblog.blogspot.com/

You Are Cordially Invited:

We inspire each other and talk like crazy about our gardens on #gardenchat each week…we even share the odd photo on Twitter or Facebook to show the beauty we are growing…so why not take a few shots and join in a garden party that was created to flaunt the blooms, and bounty of our labors with other gardeners????

Are you ready to be inspired? Do you like to share your flowers and foliage and crop? Consider this your official invitation!!!

Fertilizer Friday is the day of the week than an ELITE group of gardeners from all around the world get together, snap photos, link up and Flaunt Their Flowers!!!

If you are new to Tootsie Time and Fertilizer Friday, I just know you are asking yourself…”How do I join?”
Well…it’s easy really. Here’s all you need to know to become a part of this great group of gardeners, bloggers and friends:
If it is spring or summer where you live, you need to snap a few photos of what you have growing, blooming or just love to look at that is of the plant variety…if it is winter where you live, you may post past favorite photos…or indoor plants…whatever you like.

The only criteria is that it is a plant or something growing!

You do not need to use fertilizer to participate in this party, but if you do, this is the reminder to fertilize weekly!
All I ask is that: Your post must include the logo above and/or a link to Tootsie Time, or the linky will be deleted.

So....I would like to invite each and every one of you to join in and share your photos over at Tootsie Time!

- but before you head over and join in on the Friday Flaunting…stop and click to follow here at Growing 4 Seasons…we just installed the google friend connect the other day, and would love to see your face on our list! If we are not following you…say the word!! We would love to return the gesture!

IT'S FERTILIZER FRIDAY!!!!! It's time to Flaunt Your Flowers/Foliage!
I can't wait to see what you share!

WAIT!!! THERE'S MORE!

ANOTHER WAY TO FLAUNT!!!

I have several followers who do not blog, but who do have gardens...they faithfully comment to me and some of the other participants, yet their gardens remain unseen.

Are you one of those followers?

Would you like to share your gardens?

Fertilizer Friday is no longer reserved simply for the bloggers!

I would like to invite my blogless followers to send me some photos of their gardens...and I will flaunt them for you!

Each week (if you send me photos) I will include the photos of one of your gardens on my post. I would love to share them all for you!!!

All of your photos will be watermarked with your name on them, and what you write to me about your gardens will be published for the world to ooh and aah at!

So??? What are you guys waiting for? snap me some photos...and email them to me!
I can't wait!

Until next time….Happy Gardening!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

www.tootsietime.com

I’m not going down without a fight! (Summer Drought)

Before I get started on this post, let me tell you about the pictures you will see.  This is my wildflower bed out by our gravel road.  It has major run off issues and is very dry.  But I am pleased with the plants used there, mostly natives that are very drought resistant.  But even these types of flowers, it has been quite a time in my garden…. Here is why….

Here we are on the first day of summer and I swear it should be fall by now.  Honestly, we had tank-top weather in March and it has been so darn hot for weeks.  Of course when this all started in March it was fantastic.  Who wouldn’t love long sunny days in the garden?  I was weeks ahead of schedule in my garden clean up.

When the bulbs started coming up 6-8 weeks early it was perplexing.  Then the new growth began just as quick and we were in awe.  But to have that many weeks of warm, so fast, so early…  It just wasn’t right.  But it was mild and enjoyable to work in. 

I took many lovely photos of my garden in April and May.  At times I commented it looked the best I had ever seen it.  I made plans for several garden groups to tour here, to give demonstrations, to be featured in publications here locally and online.  It was all good….  Then in late May the rain stopped.

And it has not hardly been back to my garden since.  It was in the paper this week that our area is now one of four counties in Indiana declared in Severe Drought.  As you can see in the map below, my area is the orange at the bottom of the state.  We are about 9-10 inches below normal last I heard. 

So it goes without saying, my grass is gone.  I am not going to waste a picture on it.  All that is green are the weeds.  We mow much too much yard, having almost 7 acres, my husband mows much of it.  But we have not started the tractor for three weeks.  Oh it will all come back, but it looks absolutely horrid for the meantime.

But the things that bother me so are the bugs.  Spider mites for one.  With no natural rain to wash their webs and deter them, they have had a hay-day in my garden.  Oh not everything is affected, but enough for me to start into battle mode.  I have sprayed my roses and if anything starts to loose its leaves or wilt, it will be treated as well.  But mainly I have been fighting this battle with the garden hose.

You see I am not one of those gardeners that lets it all go to pot when it gets hot and dry.  I work too darn hard and have invested way too much to loose plants, even if just for a season.  Maybe you think it is a never going to win battle, but I am in for the fight of my life. 

I am not saying my garden looks as pretty as if we received natural rains, but I am diligent about watering and checking my moisture levels.  I will tell you that once a week is not enough.  When the air is this dry and temperatures are in the mid-90’s the stress alone could kill some young plants.  I am not saying I will not loose anything to this weather, but I am darn sure trying with all my might not to. 

So what about you?  Do you have your battle waged?  Or are you one of the luck ones that haven’t experienced this?  I felt so sorry for my garden friends in Texas last summer, but now I understand maybe a bit better.  But here is my final thought…. I can’t fight wind, ice, extreme cold or floods.  But I have the time and the energy to drag the hose around, and I’ll be doing quite the happy dance once I can roll them up and watch it rain from my porch swing again.  You’ll probably hear me at your house… 

I read a quote one time saying “the best fertilizer is the gardeners shadow”  Truer words have never been said.   Stick with it gardeners, it will be worth it, I promise.

-Brooke Kroeger-

-----------------------------------

My Garden Blog :  Creative Country Mom's Garden
Twitter - Facebook - Pinterest


I'm a mom to two beautiful girls, a happy wife, a farmers daughter, an avid gardener and decorator of all things I can find! This is a place to share my projects and a bit about my life in a small Midwest town.  My garden is a big part of my life.  I am a freelance nature photographer and garden writer.  I also do garden education and lectures.  You can see my home and garden on my blog, Creative Country Mom.  I also host a garden group on Facebook called WebGarden.  You can also find me on Pinterest and Twitter.

Video Garden Tour - Spring Blooming Irises

Hello #gardenchat friends!

Hope everyone is enjoying a beautiful spring day.  It has been warm here today after a very cold start to the week.  It has been an excellent time to be in the garden.  I have so many things blooming at once.  The irises have almost all opened.  I have a few yet, but really the show is right now.  I think I have taken more pictures this spring than I did all last year!  I wanted to share this little video with you, a virtual garden tour.  I wish you could be here with me, we'd set in the porch swing and chat.  This is the next best thing.

Have a great weekend and Happy Gardening!

_____________________________

Brooke Kroeger

#gardenchat contributor

www.creativecountrymom.blogspot.com

Twitter @Brooke_CCM

What My Garden Means To Me…

Hello again dear #gardenchat friends.  I wanted to share with you some thoughts on some recent topics of Facebook, blogs and chats with other gardeners.  I enjoy hearing what your comments will be, what your garden means to you…

Why do you have a blog?  Especially a garden blog??

(Pictures from my back garden this week)

What makes one decide to share your home and life on a website? 

We as gardeners blog for numerous reasons, but the main one being we want to show our readers the plants we grow.  For me, I was starting with a new home, a blank slate.  Blogging was an excellent way to document my progress.

(Miley, my Boston Terrier Mixed Pup… She loves the garden too!)

Next question…. So it was basically a journal for you to keep records of your garden?

 

Yes, really it was for the first year or so.  Then slowly my garden began to take shape and I learned how to take better photographs of it.  For a long time I only had a few followers, maybe 30 readers for the first year.  And I was happy with that.  I loved getting any comments.  I was learning from those comments.  Then I would look to see if those who read my blog had a blog of their own.

 

I can tell you one thing for sure, you will learn to be a much better gardener by reading garden blogs.  

Especially if you seek out ones near your area, growing the same things you can grow.  You’ll begin to make a list of plants, ideas, and styles that you can incorporate into your garden. Then you will want to share your progress on your site.  You will be amazed at how your garden will change from year to year.  You won’t believe how much better it will look, and how much more attention and love you have for it.

Does it cost to have a blog?  Do you pay for your blog?

No, my blog is thru Blogger, www.blogger.com, and it is a free service.  I found it to be very easy to set up.  You will need an working email and then it will walk you thru the steps.  There are numerous sites that host free blogs, Wordpress is another popular choice.  The hardest part might be picking a name for your site.

So how did you choose “Creative Country Mom”?

Well, the ‘Country’ part was easy…  I live in a farmhouse style home way out in the boonies.  I’ve always thought of myself as a country girl.  I love to travel and enjoy all types of design… No, I don’t even own anything with camouflage on it, but I love the simple life in a small rural community.  In many ways we are living our dream here at the lake.

The Mom part had to do with how little the girls were.  They were 2 and 4 when we bought the property and 4 and 6 when we moved.  Sometimes I’m amazed I got anything done in the first couple of years out there…. it is kind of a blur!

(Chives blooming this week.)

And the ‘Creative’ part… we’ll that is kind of a good way to describe me.  Above all else that is something I feel I need to be.  I seem to always have projects going on, and look forward to the next one.  Always wanting to edit, rear out and redo.  To me a house or a garden is never finished.  It is a work in progress.  And I love it that way.

So what does my garden mean to me?

My garden is my art. It’s where I am not afraid to take chances.  I am fearless in the garden.  I wish I was more confident in other aspects of my life.

My garden is my sanctuary.  It is my church.  It is my therapist.  It is my friend.  I feel at peace in the garden.  My problems seem small and life seems much simpler working in the dirt.

My garden is my joy.  I am happy there.  I slow down in the garden.  I can see things more clearly.  It makes me think better.

My garden gives me hope.  I know that no matter how long the winter can be, there will be a spring.  I think that is a lesson for all of us in life.  It goes on… and it does get better.  Life has flow, and so do our gardens.

My garden has taught me patience.  I need more patience.  But I know that if I keep working toward my goal it can happen.  That is what I am seeing now, thing are taking shape.

It makes me proud to share it with you.  I am happy with how it has came together.  I am proud of it. And that is why I enjoy sharing it with you.

This is why I have a garden blog…. Why do you? 

I’d love to hear your responses.

_____________________________

Brooke Kroeger

#gardenchat contributor

www.creativecountrymom.blogspot.com

Twitter @Brooke_CCM

#Fling2012 Garden Blogger Event Featured on #gardenchat

Last night on #gardenchat scheduled Twitter chat we welcomed garden writer @HelenYoest as our guest host.  During the 1 hour event using social media participants were encouraged to share from their personal garden blogs as well as find out information about Asheville 2012 Garden Bloggers Fling that takes place this spring.  If you missed this #gardenchat event you can download the transcript on our website off of the transcript page or by clicking the large image at the top of this blog posting.

Be sure to follow @HelenYoest using #Fling2012 for more information about this event.

Introduction from a New Contributor to GardenChat!

Hello there #gardenchat Friends!

I have been graciously asked to be a part of the #gardenchat team.  My name is Brooke Kroeger and I am the author of Creative Country Mom's WebGarden.  I'm located in the hills of South Western Indiana, about 30 minutes from the Kentucky border. We live on 7 acres way out in the country on a 48 acre lake. Lots of woods, water, wildflowers and animal life to enjoy.

Our farmhouse style home is 5 years old, but the initial front borders are 4 years.... since then I have worked my way out. This past spring I included a raised bed rose garden with new 35 roses. It has been a fantastic addition, with at least 10 varieties blooming at any given time. I am an avid collector; irises, daylilies, hydrangeas, roses, flowering shrubs, and recently rare conifers and evergreens. With such a big area to work with, it has been a challenge and a wonderful opportunity to start with a blank canvas to create a dream garden.

One thing I was blessed with is ROCKS! We had 52 boulders when we dug our basement. If you dig, you get a rock.... so I am constantly amending planting areas as I expand. We have a very unique “Firepit” rock garden that includes the majority of the largest boulders.... one is bigger than a compact car! It looks like the scene of “Survivor” when we have a fire and light the tiki torches... who knows who will be “voted off the island”...lol.

Basically, I am an ever learning, avid home gardener that share her experiences... I am passionate about my blooms, thrive to create long lasting, creative combinations that will endure. My garden is coming together to a point that the fun part is now... editing... decorating... the heavy lifting is mostly in place.... it is the time to enjoy it.

Please enjoy this little video I made today.  The sound is about 3 seconds faster than the things you are seeing.  Hey, I'm a gardener, this is GOOD for me!

I look forward to meeting new gardeners and you can follow me on Twitter at @ Brooke_CCM

Again thanks Bren and the gang for the nice welcome to your team!

~Brooke~

My Blog

Support Your Local IGC .. TWEET IT!

Did you know that you can reach over 100,000 people on the #gardenchat network on Twitter? According to the official social media stats at The World Of Social Media over 25 billion tweets were sent in 2011. The gardening friends who support sharing their love for gardening on the hashtag #gardenchat has a strong positive outreach and we are asking YOU to join in the cause this spring season by sharing from your local independent garden centers (IGC).


YOU can make a difference in your community by sharing with BILLIONS of twitter users about what's growing in your IGC in 3 easy steps :

Step 1 : Tweet a photo,video or just a Twitter friendly sentence about the IGC you are visiting. 
Step 2:  Attach #gardenchat #IGC in the tweet.

 

Independent Garden Centers Make The Gardens Grow!

Share with the world what is growing on in your community and be featured on the #gardenchat network site during the month of April and May 2012!  




* we will be posting your tweet on the #gardenchat website as part of our cause to bring social media to our independent garden centers and support our locals.   See @BG_garden for more details or questions.

Season of Bugs?

Have you notices all the gardening apps that are popping up daily for the mobile phones? A quick search on itunes store and you will find many applications designed for the gardener. There are so many to choose from it is hard to decide which one would be useful for my gardening needs.   I'm excited to announce that @MyGardenApps is giving away 5 of his Bugs in the Garden App.   Find out more about the App at the official site. 

This is a giveaway for the bug loving gardener on your list.   5 Bugs in the Garden Apps will  given away on Tuesday 12/13/2011.  The drawing will take place at 10 p.m. ET so be sure to follow the directions below to be entered in the drawing.


To qualify in this drawing that will take place on 12/13/ 2011 follow the easy steps below: 


1.)  Be sure to follow @TheGardenChat and @MyGardenApps and tweet out :  Season of Giving on #gardenchat http://twurl.nl/f75t17 @TheGardenChat @MyGardenApps #gardenchat

2.)  Comment on this blog and share with us what your favorite bug is in the garden. 

3.) Follow the #gardenchat tweets on Tuesday 12/13/2011 to see if your name is picked at 10 p.m. ET

4.) Name drawn at 10 p.m. ET must send shipping information to @theGardenchat or @BG_garden by Midnight 12/132011 . 

* random.org is used to select the name from this blog post at 10 p.m. ET.  12/09/11 @TheGardenChat is not responsible for the product being donated to this event.  Winner must message @TheGardenChat their shipping information by Friday 12/13/2011 MIDNIGHT in order to receive this item.  IF we do not receive your shipping information at that time you are will forfeit the product.

Questions or Concerns ?  Please leave a comment on our blog post and we will respond as soon as possible.  Happy Season of Giving 2011!

** This product is not endorsed by #gardenchat / @TheGardenChat. The #gardenchat / @TheGardenChat has NOT BEEN paid to network this product.   #gardenchat is a place where gardeners can connect using social media. The products being presented during the Season of Giving event on #gardenchat have been donated by companies who would like to share in the growing community of #gardenchat.  

 
http://www.bugsinthegarden.com/

Season of Giving Winners List

Thank you everyone who participated in last nights Season of Giving Event on #gardenchat.  @TheGardenChat would like to do a shout out to all the fabulous gardening product providers who made last nights event possible.

 

Visit the official page with links to great gardening products for the Holidays! 

The UStream Webcasting of the Live Drawing 
Drawing Results :

@spriithorseherb

Calendula Salve for the Gardener .5 oz tin 
1. @texomaggardening
2. @gardenfaire 


@CoronaTools 
1 pair of snips 
1. @gardengeri


@BirchandWren 
1 garden kneeling bench
1.@gardengeri 


@Stark_Bros
2 / $25 gift certificates 
1. @fromthesoil 
2. @AbanaJacobs


@BBBseed 
2 - ¼ Peck Gift Baskets
1. @fromthesoil
2. @suzOh


@CostaFarms 
3 lucky bamboo plants
1. @simmonsnaturals
2. @ecokatLA
3. @twowomanandahoe


@greensoil 
2 Gift Packs / Each pack includes an assortment of cow manure, horse manure, and alfalfa natural teas


1. @Simmonsnatural
2. @shoerxxs

@SeedkeeperCo
Giving Away 1 set of  Burlap Girdles (1,5 & 10 Gal.)  
1. @solakNC

@DebraLBaldwin 
2012 Watercolor Succulent Calendar 

1. @PoodlePower

@DollarSeed 
10 / 3 sister seed pack

1.@NotDabblingXan
2. @AquamarineSteph
3. @texomaggardening
4. @herbgardens
5. @PoodlePower
6. @SusanHemann
7. @gardenfaire
8. @QTAcupuncture
9.  @jchapstk
10. @PoodlePlus1 

@HydroSpike
2  of the  HydroSpike
1.@ourlittleacre
2.@SusanHemann

From Cool Spring Press 
The Vistor's Guide To American Gardens  by Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp  
1.@punkrockgarden

@natraturf 
1 bag of SpotGone!
1.@fromthesoil

@TerritorialSeeds
10 -  Christmas Basil and Candy Cane Zinnia 
1. @notdabblinxan
2.@cityslipper
3.@tammycurry
4.@agardendiary
5.@simmonsnaturals
6.@AquamarineSteph
7.@BloominChick
8.@twowomanandahoe
9. @AbanaJacobs
10. @jchapstk




Be sure to follow our sponsors by clicking on their twitter names above. If you are one of the winners please email tweet Bren at @BG_garden your shipping information. 

 

#gardenchat Kicks of the Holiday Season by Giving

We have had a wonderful year of growing fun and want to celebrate the Season of Giving with our networking friends on #gardenchat.  Join in the Twitter #gardenchat Season of Giving special event taking place tonight!

Season of Giving 11/27/2011 Event 

Time : 8-10 p.m. ET 

#gardenchat on Twitter 

Our Friends at @subaru_life are donating the  Subaru tailgate wagon featured in image above. Valued at $120

Comment on this blog entry including your Twitter user name(@..........)  and what your favorite veggie or bloom to grow was in 2011.

Winner will be announced during the Live Webcasting at 10 p.m. ET
@TheGardenChat must receive that persons shipping information by 11/28 midnight or a new name will be drawn on Dec. 5th #gardenchat .   This item will only be shipped to United States mailing address.  Questions about this giveaway please contact Bren /  ohgarden at Gmail .com 

Stink Bugs on #gardenchat

Tonight on #gardenchat Twitter we welcome Stephanie Cates of Rescue!  Stephanie tweets as under @rescue. and  will be joined by Alyssa Ando (marketing coordinator) and Doreen Hoover (field scientist who spent about 3 months in PA total this year studying stink bugs) to help answer questions for tonights event. 

Do you have questions about stink bugs or just want to find out more about the pest.  You will want to join in the conversation on 11/21 and let the experts answer your questions. 

We've included a chart below of the life cycle of the stink bug from the Rescue website.

 

The @rescue group has donated 5 Stink Bug traps to be given away immediately after tonight's #gardenchat event.  To be eligible to win one of these devices you must visit the image #gardenchat places on the Rescue!  Facebook page and share what your favorite bug is.  You can view the trap on the Rescue! webpage as well as go to their Facebook page to enter the giveaway.   

Hope to tweet you tonight on #gardenchat.  For information on how to participate on #gardenchat please visit our website for details. #gardenchat

What is #gardenchat

Join in the conversation on Twitter!

What is #gardenchat

#gardenchat is a Twitter based chat forum where garden enthusiasts from all walks of life connect and interact sharing ideas about their experience growing. 

How #gardenchat Connects On Monday Scheduled Events

In the week leading up to the #gardenchat event a topic is networked on the social networks Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and the official #gardenchat blog. During the scheduled #gardenchat Monday a topic is picked and a guest host specializing in that topic is usually present to help with any questions and add to the conversation. On the Monday a guest host is present, questions are submitted that are answered during the event. Everyone attending the chat is encouraged to share their experience and answer questions as well.  A transcript is saved after each Monday event that can be downloaded from the transcript page. Documentation of the topic is a great way to keep the garden experience alive and available for anyone to review at their convenience.

If you are interested in sharing as a guest host on #gardenchat please submit a topic* you would like us to network to Bren of BGgarden.com .

When to Connect

• #gardenchat is a place where you can engage in conversation 24/7. Share your garden, questions, favorite products, and anything you want to add to the online growing community.
  

• #gardenchat has scheduled topics on Monday 9-10 p.m. ET. Check the calendar on this page for guest host information.

In the Video Below I share a few quick and easy tips on how you can Connect, Share and Grow with gardeners who use social media.

If you have any questions about how to participate please leave a comment below. 

CHECK OUT #gardenchat featured on the Martha Stewart Radio Blog : Twitter Chatting: The Next Big Thing for Gardeners 

Add Us To Your Circle of Friends on Google+

We are on Google+  so please click on over so we can added you to our circle of growing friends with hopes of hanging out soon!

http://t.co/lLnh9L81

Lets Talk Soil with Courtney

On Monday, November 7th we welcome Courtney who shares fun and natural growing tweets at @natracourtney . 

At the root of every growing success (or failure) is the soil. Healthy soil is so very important. Learn from @NatraTurf how to improve the health of your soil, how to determine what your soil needs and what you should be doing right now to prepare your lawn & or garden soil for next year.

NOW TAKING QUESTIONS about gardening and healthy soil for Courtney .  Submit your question in this blog post.  

Read ‘Em All Tuesday!!!

HELLO THERE! WELCOME!
We are so happy you could join us today!
My name is Glenda…but most of you know me as Tootsie…My partner Bren and I are super excited to share some exciting news with you! You know me (Tootsie ) from my Blog Tootsie Time. You all know Bren from BG Garden and Garden Chat (the very successful weekly chat on twitter) …We also sister/partner on our joint blog Growing 4 Seasons.
Both Bren and I love blogging and networking our sites, and have a myriad of blogs that we enjoy reading as much as we can. We share special blog authors back and forth all the time, and thought it might be nice if we shared some of those outstanding people with you…and…have you share some of your favorites with us! Thus, Read ‘Em All Tuesdays weekly meme was born!

Do you have a list of favorite blogs that you love to read? Do the posts inspire you? Have you just found a new blog that you are excited about and want to share the news??? Well…if you answered yes to any of these….this is your lucky day!
This party is brand spanking new! It is not just any party…it is a party with a TWIST!!! You don’t get to blow your own horn…you get to share a blog that who you admire!! There is no better way to show appreciation for the inspiration/entertainment/information than to send some new followers their way!
Read ‘Em Wednesday is a brand new way to show appreciation for your fellow bloggers! It is a party that offers us an opportunity to bring attention to some of the best blogs out there!
All you have to do is this:
A..Choose a blog that you enjoy reading off your blog list.
B..Write yourself a post introducing us all to your chosen blog and it’s author.
C..Be sure to put a link to that special blog in your post!
D..Link your blog post to this party…specific post URL…not your home page
E. Enjoy the party…and perhaps find a few new favorites on the list!
Now…I know I know…you are wondering if there are specific rules that this party insists you follow….funny you should ask:
There are a few straight forward guidelines that we ask you to follow…They are common sense really…
The Guidelines of this party are:
1. You cannot feature or share a blog that is not family friendly…NO PORN or ADULT SITES please!!!
2. You can feature any blog you want…any blog…there is no limit to the topic.
3. You cannot share your own blog…you Must share a favorite that you follow
4. Your post must include two things: 1. A link to the blog you are sharing. 2. A link to this party. You may also use the logo of this party and include a link to it as well. Either way….you MUST link to the hosting blog for this party!!!
( Any post that does not link directly to the host blog will be deleted…Our logo/link is VERY important to bring traffic to your blog and the blog you are sharing.)
5. You cannot enter without a post sharing another blog that you appreciate. You must share another blog.
6. You can only enter one time per week
7. you do not need to become a follower of each participant…but it would be nice if you have the time, to go to at least a few of them, and leave a wonderful word or two…and maybe even follow if you like what you see!
8. You are not allowed to feature any sites that are directly trying to sell something. This is not a party for advertising …or pedaling any wares. Any blogs that are created to sell any product will be deleted by party admin.
You can join/link into this fun new party at Tootsie Time, Growing 4 Seasons and at the Garden Chat Blog…It doesn’t matter which one you link into…the link will appear on all four lists… exposing not only your blog, but your featured blog to a whole lot of new fans! The linky will open Monday evenings and will close on Tuesday evening at midnight. You don’t have much time to join in the fun, so you best get posting!!!
I am sure most (if not all of you ) have heard of Garden Chat. If you have not… “#gardenchat is a Twitter based chat forum where garden enthusiasts from all walks of life connect and interact sharing ideas about their experience growing.” It is a weekly online chat administrated by Bren set up to discuss gardens, plants and all sorts of things that grow, with the best group of people around. It offers the opportunity for bloggers and gardeners alike to shine and to share! Bren works really hard to keep this chat running…and has made it a huge success…If you have some spare time on Monday evenings…check it out…you will not be disappointed! For more information about this weekly chat…please see the Garden Chat Homepage to learn all about it!
I (Tootsie) host a weekly garden party myself! It is a party for you all to Flaunt Your Flowers/Foliage every Friday. The linky for it is up and open every Thursday evening…and closes on Sunday evening. Please join me to see some of the most beautiful and inspiring gardens from all over this world!
Bren and I look forward to sharing our favorite blogs with you, and seeing who you read!
Until next week… Happy reading!
(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

Horror Stories From The Garden

Happy Halloween tweeps on #gardenchat Twitter Chat forum!  Join us tonight and sharing your horror stories that have taken place in your garden.  9-10 p.m. #gardenchat event  is dedicated to tales of horticultural horror! Please note your tale doesn't have to involved goblins, ghost or witches. A few lightening bolts and bone-chilling snow storms and scary shrub pruning incidences we've all experienced at one time or another in the garden are welcome. Be sure to included all the not so friendly garden creatures involved like creepy bats,spiders,snakes and slugs if you dare!

Post your scary tale at the bottom of this blog post to be entered in a #gardenchat t-shirt drawing that will take place at 10 p.m. SHARP tonight on the #gardenchat Twitter chat.     Follow our twitter stream Oct. 31st for more information as well as additional garden trick-or -treat fun!

Follow Friday Shout Out on #gardenchat Twitter

Friday is officially Follow Friday on Twitter and you won't want to miss out on all the fun. It's super easy to join in the fun by tweeting out a few of your favorite tweeps you follow by adding their name to a twitter friendly sentence and adding a #ff to the tweet. Most of the tweeps using Twitter these days are sure to sign in for all the fun on Fridays when the twitter pages are bursting with users names they enjoy to follow on the social networking Twitter.  To participate in this event all you need to do is use the hashtag #ff (short for follow Friday).  To join in the fun list names you enjoy following along with the Follow Friday hashtag : "#ff @BG_garden @greensoil @HelenYoest @grumpy_gardener . You can also include information on why they should follow that person, and leaving plenty of room for other users to retweet it, is key to getting your Twitter introductions out there.
For example – "Follow @TheGardenChat on Twitter for all your #gardenchat information nd gardening tips #ff" .  It is recommend to share why you follow the tweep account.

Here are some helpful tips to keep you tweeting on #ff

• Break out of your regular tweeting routine and check out as well as recommending followers outside of your normal topic follows.  

• It’s best to recommend one Twitter user per #FollowFriday tweet so you can personalize the tweets with why you follow them.

• You can recommend anywhere from 1-6 users to follow every Friday in one twitter friendly sentence as long as you add #ff 

• Don't forget you can always add a Follow Friday list of those tweeps you enjoy mentioning daily.  Tweet out the link to that list you've created using Twitter.  More information on list here: https://support.twitter.com/articles/76460-how-to-use-twitter-lists

• It is always a bonus to use every day manors while on Twitter.  If someone has RT'ed you or mentioned you during the week add them to your #ff list on Friday. 

• Too many tweeps to mention ... try using hootsuite or Tweetdeck and schedule #ff tweet lists.

I hope these tips help you with your tweeting experience and also that you pick up a few new fun people to follow on Twitter.  Watch the @TheGardenChat for #ff shares where we recommend the tweets who participate on #gardenchat daily. 


Need some help with #ff  -  Follow Friday?  Check out the FollowFriday Helper at : http://followfridayhelper.com/