Google Goggles Goes Planty Latin

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Although I'll personally never own the gadget to do it, for those of you that will/do, the idea is awesome!

Struggling to find out the Latin names for plant? Google Goggles may have the answer.

"The Nexus One has an application called Google Goggles, which means that when you point its inbuilt camera at an object and take a picture, it will automatically search the web and come up with the relevant pages. Soon it promises to be able to identify animals, cars and – wouldn't you know it? – plants."

That certain plant in the neighborhood that you covet, want, have to have adore but have no idea what it is? Just point and shoot a pic and voila!
Really, how cool will that be?
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Broken Garden Tools Swapped For 20% Off

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Now this sounds like a great idea!

Community scheme swaps broken garden tools for vouchers

Why don't they do something like that in the US?
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Blotanical is Back

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Yay!
Blotanical is back up and running!
Now, that didn't hurt too bad, did it? ;)
Happy browsing.
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41 NY Parks and 14 Historic Sites Being Closed

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What the hell is the Governor thinking?!

Many state parks to close under budget pressure

Central Region

Chittenango Falls State Park	Madison	Close Park
Clark Reservation State Park	Onondaga	Close Park
Fort Ontario State Historic Site	Oswego	Close Historic Site
Helen McNitt State Park	Madison	Close Park
Herkimer Home Historic Site	Herkimer	Close Historic Site
Hunts Pond State Park	Chenango	Close Park
Oquaga Creek State Park	Broome	Close Park
Old Erie Canal State Park	Onondaga	Close Park
Oriskany Battlefield/Steuben SHS	Oneida	Close Historic Site
Pixley Falls State Park	Oneida	Close Park
Robert Riddell State Park	Delaware	Close Park
Selkirk Shores State Park	Oswego	Close Public Swimming Beach

Finger Lakes Region

Beechwood State Park	Wayne	Close Park
Bonavista State Park	Seneca	Close Park
Chimney Bluffs State Park	Wayne	Close Park
Newtown Battlefield State Park	Chemung	Close Park
Springbrook Greens State Park	Cayuga	Close Park
Two Rivers State Park	Tioga	Close Park
Buttermilk Falls State Park	Tompkins	Close Public Swimming Area
Seneca Lake State Park	Seneca	Close Lake Swimming Beach
Stony Brook State Park	Steuben	Close Public Swimming Area

Thousand Islands Region

Canoe Island State Park	Jefferson	Close Park
Cedar Island State Park	Jefferson	Close Park
Eel Weir State Park	St. Lawrence	Close Park
Keewaydin State Park	Jefferson	Close Park
Macomb Reservation State Park	Clinton	Close Park
Mary Island State Park	Jefferson	Close Park
Point Au Roche State Park	Clinton	Close Park
Sackets Harbor State Historic Site	Jefferson	Close Historic Site

Saratoga-Capital Region

Bennington Battlefield State Park	Rensselaer	Close Historic Site
Hudson River Islands State Park	Rensselaer	Close Park
John Boyd Thacher State Park	Albany	Close Park
John Brown Farm Historic Site	Essex	Close Historic Site
Johnson Hall State Historic Site	Fulton	Close Historic Site
Max V. Shaul State Park	Schoharie	Close Park
Schodack Island State Park	Rensselaer	Close Park
Schoharie Crossing Historic Site	Schoharie	Close Historic Site
Schuyler Mansion Historic Site	Albany	Close Historic Site

Long Island

Brookhaven State Park	Suffolk	Close Park
Bethpage State Park	Suffolk	Eliminate Winter Sports; Reduce picnic area and polo field
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve	Suffolk	Close Park
Cold Spring Harbor State Park	Suffolk	Close Park
Connetquot River State Park	Suffolk	Close Weekdays
Heckscher State Park	Suffolk	Close Swimming Pool
Jones Beach State Park	Nassau	Close West Swimming Pool; Eliminate July 4th fireworks
Montauk Downs State Park	Suffolk	Close Swimming Pool
Nissequogue River State Park	Suffolk	Close Park
Orient Beach State Park	Suffolk	Close Park
Trail View State Park	Suffolk	Close Park

New York City Region

Bayswater Point State Park	Queens	Close Park
Riverbank State Park	New York	Reduce Operating Hours; Close Outdoor Swimming Pool; Eliminate Seniors Classes; and Community/Cultural Events

Palisades Region

Fort Montgomery Historic Site	Orange	Close Historic Site
Harriman SP– Anthony Wayne	Orange	Close Park Area
Harriman SP – Group Camps	Orange	Reduce Maintenance
High Tor State Park	Rockland	Close Pool
Knox Headquarters Historic Site	Orange	Close Historic Site
New Windsor Cantonment SHS	Orange	Close Historic Site
Schunnemunk State Park	Orange	Close Park
Stony Point State Historic Site	Orange	Close Historic Site
Tallman Mountain State Park	Rockland	Close Pool

Taconic Region

Donald J. Trump State Park	Westchester	Close Park
FDR (Roosevelt) State Park	Westchester	Reduce Swimming Pool Season
Hudson Highlands State Park	Putnam	Close Arden Point Area
James Baird State Park	Dutchess	Reduce Golf Course Season
Mills Norrie State Park	Dutchess	Reduce Golf Course Season
Olana State Historic Site	Columbia	Close 2 Days per Week
Philipse Manor Hall Historic Site	Westchester	Close Historic Site
Rockefeller State Park Preserve	Westchester	Eliminate Interpretive Programs
Taconic Outdoor Education Center	Putnam	Eliminate Interpretive Programs
Taconic State Park – Rudd Pond	Dutchess	Close Rudd Pond Area
Wonder Lake State Park	Putnam	Close Park

Genesee Region

Hamlin Beach State Park	Monroe	Close Swimming Beach 3 Days per Week
Oak Orchard State Marine Park	Orleans	Close Park
Regionwide	Multiple	Eliminate Camper Recreation Program

Niagara Region

Joseph Davis State Park	Niagara	Close Park
Knox Farm State Park	Erie	Close Park
Niagara Falls State Park	Niagara	Reduce Interpretive Programs
Wilson-Tuscarora State Park	Niagara	Close Park
Woodlawn Beach State Park	Erie	Close Park

Allegany Region

Allegany State Park	Cattaraugus	Close Quaker Area Swim Beach; Close Quaker Cabins Area on December 1st; Eliminate Winter Trails Maintenance; Reduce Recreation Programs
Long Point State Park	Chautauqua	Close Park

So, let me see if I've got this straight - keep complaining our kids are fat because they don't get any exercise . . . then take away nice outdoor activities so they have no reason to get out and enjoy their environment and get some exercise. Is that right? Thought so! Ugh!

News of 2 more plants closing in the area, so at this rate there won't be anyone around to enjoy these sites anyway. Today is not a good day for a lot of people in NY for a lot of reasons.
~sigh~
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February Bloom

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Besides the Thanksgiving Cactus that just won't quit, I have a pansy bloom in February.
This is from one of the many plants I'm overwintering.



I know it's a disposable annual, but I can't help myself - if there's a chance to keep something going, I'll try it.
Besides, who doesn't love seeing beautiful blooms in winter that you really shouldn't be seeing?

Happy (overwintering) Growing!
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Mouse & Trowel Awards Returning in 2010

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Colleen Vanderlinden, founder of the Mouse and Trowel Awards, will be bringing them back for another year of great blogger awards starting in April. This year's M&T's are being sponsored by Botanical Interests Seed Packets.

The official Mouse and Trowel Awards site is here: Mouse and Trowel Awards 2010.

If you're already a member of Facebook, you can go here to learn more (You should still be able to view the page without being on FB):

Mouse and Trowel Facebook Page

What you will find on the M&T FB page in the future-

"News about nomination and voting deadlines, announcements about categories, sponsors, and other news."

I'm really glad she's decided to host these again this year.
Let's all let her know we appreciate it and show her our support!
If you're already on FB, go click the 'fan' button. If not, this might be a good excuse to sign up.

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Happy (Mouse and Trowel) Growing!

The Tuesday Chuckle

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Time for the Tuesday Chuckle:

Two older ladies were sitting on a park bench outside the local town hall where a flower show was in progress.

One leaned over and said, "Life is so boring. We never have any fun anymore. For $5.00 I'd take my clothes off right now and streak through that stupid flower show!"
"You're on!" said the other old lady, holding up a $5.00 bill.

As fast as she could, the first little old lady fumbled her way out of her clothes and, completely naked, streaked through the front door of the flower show.

Waiting outside, her friend soon heard a huge commotion inside the hall, followed by loud applause. The naked lady burst out through the door surrounded by a cheering crowd.

"What happened?" asked her waiting friend.
"Why, I won first prize for Best Dried Arrangement."
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Ha!

Happy (with a chuckle) Growing!
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Blotanical Down

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Yup, Blotanical is down for some.
Message from Stuart:

Hi blotanists.Blotanical may be down for a few days as we sort out some issues and migrate to a new server. Please pass this message on.



Meanwhile, to keep those blog browsing blues away, click over to either Garden Power Guides, Top 100 Gardening Sites or Blog Catalog.

Happy (new-to-you blog reading) Growing!
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