A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Gardener's Chat Gardening Journal...

Does anyone keep a journal or binder on their gardens and plant info?

I have finally cleaned up my box of papers, plant tags and garden pics. I bought a scrapbook and am in the works to put everything together.

I was thinking this could be a good topic to discuss on ideas and info for garden journals. Anynbody wanna jump in with me?

I was thinking a section on garden plans~using graph paper and pics. One for each flower bed and foundation plantings.

Then a garden calender to write when to do what such as fertilizing and garden prep, etc...

An 'wanna do' section with pics of things I like and want someday. Maybe put pics of things I seen in magazines and like as well.

Different sections for info on the annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees I have. The plant tags are too thick so it would be easier to scan them and tape them in.

A section for vegetable gardening

A section for pests and diseases and what works for what.

A garden diary to write when things bloomed, the weather and expenses for what is bought.

Anybody have anything to add, please give me all your ideas. This could be a fun winter project to start.

I tried to do that for a while Tamara but didn't get it up. I started with a regular notebook, would put it down, then write something else in another notebook. I'm usually organized but I can't seem to figure out a way to get this accomplished correctly. I'd like some ideas.

How bigs is yours? I've seen big and small scrap books. You mentioned a calendar, what type?

this is something I would love to start, but where to start? My computer has a plant journal where you can put in a picture of your plant then write what it needs and likes etc. It's in the microsoft word program. I just haven't had the time to work on it. This winter would be a good time to get started. Great Ideas. scanning the tags is a great idea. I do a lot of scrapbooking but never thought of doing one for gardening. Have done pictures of my flowers but never added information to it. LOL

Well, so far I've only bought a basic black scrapbook. Never done anything else yet. I think I should of bought a binder instead. Might still do that.

Sheri, I am so organized in everything else, I just couldn't get a start either. I think I was thinking too complicated, I want it basic and simple.

You can get graph paper, and index tabs and such at the dollar store. I am going to search for more info this weekend and maybe try to set this up as a 'how to' topic.

I have never scrapbooked before. So it will be trial and error.

Ladyslipper, that program sounds awesome.

That would be great a how to topic to get us started. I'm thinking what plant do I want to start with? Start with plants that start with an a or pick a garden and start with plants you have in it. I am probably making this to complicated.LOL

tamara, if you do post please post exactly what you bought and where. I wish we lived closer. I'd do it if I could go to a scrapbooking club or something of the sort.

http://www.northerngardening.com/gardenjournal.pdf

I found this link.

wow that link has a lot doesn't it. I think I am going to go with a binder as it is easier to add to. Have to make sure you can get the refills you want for it before you buy it. I like to be able to have plastic protectors . Will let you know if when I find something.

I found the same link but couldn't post it without linking into another garden site.

That is great..But Holey Toledo.......I have so many flowers, I need a set of atlas to cover them all.


I dont know how..

I do my journalling on the computer. And the file folders do get huge.

I have a page that I made up that is kind of a master document for each flower. I don't have any expensive programs where I could add the picture of the flower to the page but I do have everything else on it. I grow from seed so I have the germination as well as how to care for the mature plant written on it. This is the information I try to have on each one. They aren't all complete though. It would have been best if I had filled in the information as soon as I bought each plant or packet of seeds but I didn't so I was behind when I got started.

Today's Date:
Where the plant was recieved from:
Date the plant was planted:
USDA growing zones:
Scientific Name of Plant:
Common Name of Plant:
Indoor/Outdoor Plant:
Mature Plant Care:
Lighting requirements:
Fertilizer requirements:
Watering requirements:
Soil requirements: pH:
Dead Heading:
Pinching flower spikes:
Plant spacing:
Pruning times and amounts:
Conditions for Blooming:
Bloom Times and Duration:
Plant Life Cycle (perennial, annual, biennial:
Propogation:
Days to Germination:
Requires Light or Dark to Germinate:
Planting Depth:
Type of Planting Medium:
Temperature Required for Germination:
Moisture Requirement for Germination:
Height of Plant:
Color of Leaves:
Color of flowers:
Special requirements (i.e. dormancy, aggressive):
Notes:

I have to groups of "Plant Profiles" which are what I call these documents. One set is those plants that I have. The other are plants that I would like to have. In that set is a subset of those I would like to have but do not have the correct growing conditions for. I keep those so I don't forget and research them more than once.

Calendars are absolutely necessary for me. I use a program that prompts me when it is time to do things otherwise I find that I have missed planting times for many plants that are best fall or winter sown.

I also keep a wish list so that when I go to a nusery or garden center I know what I still don't have and want to get.

And I too try to keep a plan of where I want to plant what in my garden. But I don't really have a good program for that so it's usually just a list with space & light requirements.

I also keep a daily journal were I can write down different things that happen.

Tammy, that's too complicated for me. I want to keep mine short and simple.

Tammy, you are so detailed. That's probably why you always have the best and cleanest seeds!!!

My mother always tells us that we should write stuff down so our children will have a record of our lives. I don't think she has done this, mind you, but she thinks her children should do it for her grand children.

I'm going to try and keep some type of scrapbook or something - will wait and see what everyone else comes up with before I decide. I think our online photo albums are a good record too.

Hi Tamara, Believe me I understand what you are saying. I started with a much simpler outline myself. The problem was I had to go back to the internet time and time again because the information I needed wasn't there and that made my journal kind of useless so I kept adding things to the profile until I had something useful. Complicated but useful.

With everything in one place I know all the information I need to grow the plant from seed and place it in the garden in a place where it will look nice not be hidden by taller plants and be healthy. And that's what I wanted when I started my project.

tamara: I have a Journal in which I keep record of what I do and when. Thiws book is in date order. I have had it since I moved onto the farm in may of 1980. it is a conglomeraqtion of home, farm & garden projects.

then I have several note-books of what I have done. the latest is a GH book which is divinded into sections:

1) Garden-Helper (people & addresses)
2) Plants
3) Birds

All of my books I have kept as a reference of varying degrees and a help to keep me from repeating mistakes.

i have so many not books full from each year of trading, and when I hunt something I sure had fun looking.........
Mine isn't a Journel......It is a Journey>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ha ha Cross country.

It is good if you can remember where it is all at.
Ps.......there are millions of flowers....I plant to try them all.. ha ha

I hear you Barb: I have had trouble in tha5 area especially since I have moved (12-04) But it seems to be getting better.

I have a composition book I have used as a gardening journal for about 10 years. I make drawings and notations of whats planted where so I don't weed it out in the spring. Which veggies went where and what varieties, for rotation. I'll note if something fails or is a success. I also note weather,not daily, but like this year was an unseasonably cool August, and wildlife, ie; saw our first hummer on x date. How too's for winter plants like amaryllis.Which plants companion well together, what herbs are good for what. Which plants regardless of how cool looking they are, are non native invasive. And which plants I'd like to try 'next' year.

Wrennie, great minds must think alike!!!

Yes in deedy-do!
AND I have a seperate phone book with names and addys of everyone (almost) I know online. With a 'master page in the front of screen names and then the real last name!

Yahhhhhhhhhhhh

We know .

All these ideas are great and I started today by making list of all the plants in my front yard. Now to get info on each one and then make a decision on how I want to organize it. I want to include pictures and how I have used them in my gardens so it will be like a scrapbook as well as info I need. It will give me something to do with all the pictures I have taken and are in a box

Will they be in alphabetic order or what??????????
Names I mean......

Yes in alphabetical order and group by annuals, and perennials.This will be an ongoing project that could last the rest of my life

Yes in deedy-do!
AND I have a seperate phone book with names and addys of everyone (almost) I know online. With a 'master page in the front of screen names and then the real last name! [/quote]

I don't even know everyone's name.

Another question.

Do you plan to keep the same flowers the rest of your life?

Well, I still have the box of papers and tags and notes and..... You get the picture.

Think I'm gonna have to make it a winter project. I just can't get the time to sit down and organize it all.

the ones that do good, but I already saw a Frosty Morn sedum I must have
:list:

I am trying>>>>>>>>>

Frostys were neato..........I have the dumb pink.

b

Yep, Wrennie me too!! But at this point I have just 1 book for the GH site.

section #1 has screen/real names in the front what addresses I have in the back.
section #2 has pertinant planting info, plant records AND a list of plants I would like to plant one day.
section #3 has Bird information & records.

I am to begining to realize I should have started 3 seperate books.

The good news is I do have a few other plant notebooks that I have started, so I can "spill" over to them if/when necessary.

Now , just to keep track of all of the above books----

How about one for crafts?
Banter Hall
Travels to cedar hill
recipes
Outdoor ponds.

I am thinking I will let Wild Willy handle all mine .....He's cute too.

I have one for ceramics--two actually. And several for recipes. Don't have an outdoor pond--nor have I ever been to cedar Hill ---

And as far as Banter Hall is concerned---If I ever get a REAL handle on this computer--then I will just make myself GH files like Shirley!!!

Have a nice evening, Barb!!!

back at ya!!!

Holy
Wee wee said the .

I am drinking my ,

Neighbor gave me some homemade Blueberry wine and Apricot today.
PS I don't drink..

It is a shame you do not drink, barb---I am thinking homemade wine should/would taste wonderful. FYI: I do not drink ALL that much--but I do have a drink occasionally. especially if it is Asti.

But you could use it for cooking--(the alcohol evaporates when you cook it & just the flavor is left.)

Cook it down and caramelize it with sugar~tastes great on ice-cream or angel food cake.

I so wish I had kept a journal of my crafts with pictures. I always gave them away and now I really wish I had pictures of them with the names of who they were given to and when.

So if you do crafts I would recommend doing that. I sure wish I had.