How many folks here are involved in gardening at all? Anything from tending several nice potted plants on an apartment patio or indoors to a full on flower or vegetable garden?
The reason I ask is two-fold. The first reason is to float an idea I've had off and on over the past year --
Would there be any interest in a gardening forum here in WildTexas.com, or (thinking towards the future) a WildTexas.com type site dedicated to gardening, plants and nature? You know -- a photo gallery, trip reports (nurseries, etc.), plant and critter info, a web guide of related websites?
Secondly, I'm a bit of a gardener myself, though I live in a suburban area and have far less land than I'd like, which cuts down on my ability to experiment or plant new beds. No one would call me an ace gardener, but I do alright buying and raising almost entirely native / xerascape friendly plants for my outdoor areas (plus several varieties of aloe vera, most of which my Mom "started" by giving me a broken aloe branch). I have thriving plants in my front and back yards, and like to think my little patch of yard brightens at least one stranger's day every day as they drive by the house. I enjoy a variety of bird species at my backyard feeders, including steady visitation by American goldfinch this season (I put out
nyjer seed).
I find gardening extremely therapeutic, good exercise (especially when hauling rocks or large amounts of soil around) and visually rewarding -- as well as environmental, helping create a natural habitat amidst this (sub)urban jungle we all seem to inclined to live in these days. I have green anoles, Texas spiny lizards (just one... or maybe two; never out at the same time); had a 3 sibling raccoon family living under my deck for awhile until a stray cat tried to take over the territory, etc. Everyone knows I love the outdoors, nature, and gardening at least to me has become a natural extension of that. I'm not out in my garden every week, except to ensure everything's watered and such, but when I am they are some of my best "moments of clarity" for figuring out sticky business situations or getting a "light bulb moment" -- a new idea for something.
So, any fellow gardeners here?
:ribbit:
PS: Visit
DirtDoctor.com, a website I just discovered this morning while listening to a gardening show on local radio. The website is packed with information on organic and natural landscaping, gardening, farming, ranching, and basic land management and is based in Texas (San Antonio, I believe).