Saturday, February 20, 2010

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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Friday, February 19, 2010

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.

oddball

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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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

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!

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Tuesday, February 16, 2010

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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Monday, February 15, 2010

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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