Keeping Tabs

Oh Andrew how organised you are. Similar system of record keeping - er, no. However I did make a note in a gardening journal my son gave me saying 'currant from Andrew's, right hand border'. It's a start.

Andrew I wish I were as organised as that - my system comes down to taking photo's at differing times of the year and then looking up the names of plants I dont know so I can keep a record.

Was that the white-flowered one in the back garden? ('White Icicle' rather approriate just now)

I agree with your thinking Andrew, when I visit gardens open or not, I do like to be given information other than 'I dont know'. The age/rate of growth can often influence our choice!

Sounds like you've got too much time on your hands Andrew...:0)
Having said that I always wished I had kept such comprehensive records myself....unfortunately not that organized though, all I can really come up with is a collection list.

I'll have to look at it's label tomorrow Andrew.

your very organised Andrew, i am indoors but not in the garden..... i often forget what plants i have and where they are.....: O )

What organisation. I feel so inadequate. Oh well we can't all be so organised.
I really do admire your organisation Andrew, and you are so right when you say you need such information so that you can answer people's questions.
Opening a garden to the public is a big responsibility, and when the owner is able to answer all kinds of questions about the plants, people must be very grateful.

Shortly after getting a computer I tried to keep a record of what was in my borders. I photographed each one in Summer and Winter then imposed a number on each plant so I could index it with all details. I haven't got very far with it as I haven't the software or the ability lol

I keep trying different schemes but the enthusiasm never seems to last very long :-(

I have a little book that i write in when i get a new plant, what it's called and where i put it but i must admit i have only done it for the last year!!! I also write in the back 'plants i would like'

We have done something very similar Andrew, and also we have posted the planting scheme data base on our garden website.

In addition, we provide laminated copies of the planting schemes that are available for our N.G.S and other visitors on our open days. The list is linked to the various 'domains' in the garden, and this helps any visitors to easily identify the plants.

We update the list each season. It's a very good way to organise the planting, but it's also nice to link the list with photographs as well, so that we can see the colour themes that are particularly successful, and those that do not have the 'wow factor.'

It's basically an' inventory 'of our garden that is constantly evolving and developing, and we would recommend this approach to any gardener.

When I opened the garden for the Red Cross a few years ago, I produced an A4 sheet of the plant highlights to look for as you went round the garden. That was when we would get about 40 visitors in an afternoon. Now that I open for the Yellow Book, numbers are much greater and I just don't have the time to produce them; I just make sure I'm around to answer questions.
One thing that has proved very useful is a folder beside the Plant Sales table with a brief description and cultural needs of each plant for sale and a picture of it in flower

i am slowly using the goy plant profile page it is helpful.

We ask the visitors to return the laminated planting lists before they leave and also we keep one or two on the garden table with the album of garden photographs....... We only update the planting list each year, and this helps to save answering the same questions and also saves the voicebox. It might be worth trying this on your N.G.S open days- You will only need a few copies of your planting list.

I'm the same as Seaburngirl. I keep meaning to add more information to each plant but forget (I'll forget my own name soon).

I must admit I am one of those people who record when, where etc. I got the plants. My garden is only 10 yrs. old. I do play a lot with them by moving them this time of the year. So I try & keep a plan, but it changes so often, as it sometimes is not suitable where I planted them. It is difficult to keep up a revised plan constantly. I have never opened my garden, but been plagued to do so. Maybe this year I will be brave enough.

One question I have is, I have such a heck of a time to keep the names on my plant stakes, it comes off with permanent markers all the time. I usually have to re do the name stakes 2x a year, a pain. Help please.

I admire you Andrew on your data base, also opening your garden for charity, which a data base would be needed. My self I just buy what I like or try and grow what I like, if they have a named label. I place in a large tea box, as the police will tell you not to leave labels on plants, as people tend to rob plants which still have the labels on, so I keep them there incase any one likes it and wants to know the name, only since I joined garden sites 3 years ago though, have I done this.

Funny you should mention this Andrew just been adding plants to my GOY plantlist and adding where I acquired which plants,save all seed packets of plants I grow too, am I a bit weird, like you haven't done this from the start of garden so some plants haven't been recorded, but this year will put pictures on Goy and maybe someone can tell me names of ones I can't remember.
Have drawn a plan of my daylily bed too as flippin magpies have a field day pulling all the labels out.

Doon, I asked exactly that question of Vicky1's blog 'Tags and labels One growers explanation etc.' The concensus was for CD markers of varying makes. It's an interesting blog, have a look at it.

Its a brilliant idea, started naming my plants when i get one but infuture i am going to put date on the label aswell.

Brilliant piece of organisation ... it's fantastic that you know your garden so well. My garden beds don't change much at all ... once something is planted on this slab of rock, it doesn't move! ... and no-one has ever asked me how old my golden cane palms are!

Errr - how old are your cane palms Bernie? :-)

Funny man, Lol!!! That started my day off with a chuckle! Thanks.

Impressive Andrew, maybe this year I'll get with it and get my plant list together. I can see that it would save my voice, as Grenville rightly says, and my memory from such a bashing on our Open Days. It's hard to know where to start though, perhaps I should break it down into sections so it doesn't seem so daunting!
P.S. How old are your cane palms Bernieh???!

Lol ... another comedian! You would have a massive job Junglejen ... but it's definitely an excellent way of keeping up-to-date and informed about all your plants ... hopefully they've come through your horrible winter conditions well.

lol Bernieh, like an encyclopedia! I've lost a few to the cold but that was to be expected, I do push my luck with it sometimes, but usually keep some back-up cuttings...just in case. ;-)))
Doon- re labels...just use pencil, it'll stay on till you rubber it off so you can re-use it, plus it doesn't fade in sunlight or water.

Just found this one, I enter all the plants on GOY with date and where bought, and keep all the labels and tags as a back up, it is no good saying where they are growing because nothing ever stays in the same place, most of our plants move several times before they reach their final destination. I go through all the labels once a year to see if we have lost anything, like Andrew many plants have slipped through the net (we bought hundreds with us when we moved), so not all have been recorded.

OMG you're all soooo organised, I'm hanging my head in shame. :o(
Dotty... I think you've cracked it, I also move my plants around and this was my sticking point. If it's just the 'plant list' rather than a 'planting map', that is much more managable. :o)
Right then, that's it...I WILL do it this year! lol

Planting plans, no good for me......the 3 small sheds have all been moved twice, and due for another move this spring, so what chance have the plants got? sometimes I swear they cower in fear when they see me coming with the spade, lol

lol So does my husband. ;o))) He goes this funny shade of pale when I get the tape measure out or if I start sketching.
I guess we're not planting plan people then, I'm way too impulsive for that I think. I don't like to be restricted to just one set idea, I find that uninspiring. My personal preference is to have an idea, a feeling, a vague picture in my mind and it gradually comes together.
So I'm a bit rubbish on the paperwork side because the garden 'moves around' on a regular basis, depending on which plants have either gone over or are in flower at that time. That's one great advantage of using pots,downside...watering, feeding and terrible back ache.
I bet you look awesome with a spade Dotty! ;o)

We all have different methods for laying out borders. It is just as valid to get out there with all the plants and lay them out in an area before planting them. That way you can see how they look against each other rather than relying on memory and written descriptions.
My main border in the back garden (featured in the blog 'A Year In The Life Of A Border') evolved over a few years but I wasn't really happy with it. About four yeas ago, everything was dug out and replanted and I'm now much happier with it although it still gets the odd small 'tweak' each spring.

DD - I'm sure your plants will evolve to have wheels to make moving them easier!

Now there's a thought - plants with wheels!!! If it happens, patent it, Daisy.

Brilliant idea Andrew......Jen, whenever I say to my hubby I've been thinking, his eyes glaze over... ... now why would he do that I wonder? he usually says is that todays plan?

lol Dotty...I know that look well...don't worry, they'd get bored if we didn't find all these 'interesting' jobs to do! :o)))

Andrew, I admire both your self-discipline and your energy! That must have been a massive job to dig up the entire border, sometimes things need a little juggling to make them 'sit well', I'm glad that you've got it to your liking now.
For me, one of the joy's of gardening is to celebrate our diversity of styles, infinately variable, and all valid ...no right way...no wrong way...just different!
I must also agree that the planting information is an important aspect of opening the garden, visitors don't always 'like to ask', and for those who do then it's great to be able to give them accurate information (remembering all the names is extremely taxing on this old brain), so I can see that I really must get my list up together, luckily I've kept the majority of labels. :o)

Wagger...it's the Pots that need the wheels not the plants lol., maybe we could invent something like the 'Heelies' that the kids wear (trainers with integral skate wheels built into the heels), with wheels built into the base of the pot?

JG - I saw a device in a Garden Centre for moving pots last year. It had a small wooden base and a wheel at each corner. I think it would move small pots but I'm not sure it would be up to the job of moving bigger/heavier ones. How about a sack trolley? It's like the old railway porters had for moving luggage).

Revamping the border took the best part of a day but it was worth it

Googled 'wheels for garden pots' and found some on Amazon, worth a look ?

Megan, I'm looking, thanks.
Andrew, it would have to be at least sack trolley size for our large pots, but I fear that the wheels would get stuck in the gravel, maybe some sort of mini-hoist would be more appropiate if there is such a thing.

Or a hovercraft!

lol Andrew, think you might have hit on something there...now that would float over the stream too, that's always a balancing act with the larger pots! I went for an unsceduled dive head-first into the pond the other day whilst doing just that. How the fish survive the freezing water I'll never know...it was unbearably cold even for the short time until I scrambled out. :o)

Jen.......... no photos of you diving in to the pond?

It was not dignified Dotty! I looked like the monster from the deep, covered in blanket weed and sludge, not a pretty sight I can assure you. :o)

Funny though!!!

lol, I just hope nobody saw or heard me Dotty ;o)