Blotanical News

People often ask me which browser do I prefer to use when searching out garden blogs and anything else I do on the net. A few years ago, I would have answered Microsoft Internet Explorer. That was until a friend put me onto Mozilla's Firefox browser.

At first, the change was slight and I argued on Bill's behalf. And then, I started noticing a few major differences. Apart from the tabbed browsing (which IE now have included in version 7) the number of helpful plugins was extensive, and useful. [Lifehacker have a number of reviews for these].

Furthermore, IE doesn't even conform to W3 standards making life a headache for programmers trying to make their online software work across multiple platforms.

For example, here's a screenshot of what I (and other Firefox users) see when accessing the Garden Blog Directory...

IE users don't see this. So regular visitors wouldn't know if more blogs have been added since they last dropped in - unless of course they subscribed to this feed. Here's what IE users see...

And then there's the very frustrating legend at the bottom of each map which gives a colour code for "gardening Blogs", "Landscaping Blogs" and so on. This is how it looks in Firefox...

IE users just see a list of topics with no images that makes no sense.

So, when will Mr Gates get on board with the W3 specifications and make IE a better browser? Or, does he just enjoy annoying those who have to continue programming for his low-level Internet Explorer?

Well, consider this my silent protest Mr Gates. I shall never include any IE hacks in the code that runs this directory - on principle. If everyone else in the world can aim for best practice then so can Microsoft.

Posted by Stuart at 6:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, apparently they do. And furthermore, they grow geraniums there.

My stereotypical view of the gaming metropolis has now been shattered and I'm keen to learn what else grows in Nevada thanks to the Geranium Blog, one of nine new blogs to be added this week.

New Zealand is now on the map with Tea Garden as too is the Maldives with Fredericks Orchid Flowers. The remaining blogs are dotted around the US from Shoreline, Washington to Bristol, Rhode Island.

I'm sure you will find a few new reads to add to your feed reader.

Posted by Stuart at 6:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Eight more garden bloggers with nine new blogs. As is becoming the custom with some of the non-English speaking blogs, they are translating their sites into our native tongue.

Tyra from Sweden has two blogs on offer in this update. One is in English while the other is in her native language.

There are a few more from the US, one from Canada, Austin (the home of garden blogging) has added another, while Europe adds the two from Sweden and other from Finland. We're even graced by a new southern English garden blog.

Posted by Stuart at 6:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For those who have been hiding under a rock, or perhaps too busy in the garden, Google now offer personalised search pages. This customisation allows you to turn the simple Google page into a useful inventory of gadgets that will, supposedly, add benefit to your online activities.

Updated weather reports, digital and analog clock faces to keep track of the time, feed readers of your favourite blogs and so on. There really is no limit to what is available and how you personalise your page.

Well, I'm happy to announce that the Garden Blog Directory now has its own Google Gadget that randomly presents you with a featured Garden Blog - from this directory - every time you reload your Google search page. Click on the image and you'll be taken directly to the featured blog.

This is just another way we're trying to make this site easier to find great gardening blogs.

Firstly, you must have already signed up to have an account with Google. Once you have, it's a fairly simple process;

1. Once you're in iGoogle click the Add Stuff>> link on the right side of the page.
2. At the top of the search field you will notice an Add by URL link next to the Search Homepage Content button. Click the link.
3. An inserted Add by URL screen will be displayed prompting you to add an address.
4. Copy this address - blog-directory.gardeningtipsnideas.com/gadget_randBlog.xml - and paste it behind the "http://" prompt.
5. Click the Add button
6. Google will inform you that the gadget has been added.
7. In the top-left corner of the page, click the Back to Homepage link. This will take you back to where you started and you will see your new Featured Gardening Blog gadget.

With more than 170 blogs on offer, and growing, you shouldn't run out of blogs to visit. You may even see your gardening blog featured on occasions.

Posted by Stuart at 4:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's always a pleasure to see new blogs come on stream from countries, states and regions that haven't featured before. And, it's even more exciting when the communicate in languages other than English. Which always makes me wonder how they completed the submission process in the first place. (Possibly because I'm limited to only 1 language).

This update sees a first for Finland in a town called Mankala, Kymenlaakso. The blog isn't written in English - so I hope they're saying nice things about us - but the images and garden photo's look great.

There are 2 more blogs from Canada, 5 from the US, 2 from Germany, and 1 each from Italy and England. Great to have you all on board...

Take some time getting to know a few of your gardening neighbours and those from far abroad.

Posted by Stuart at 9:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today marks the start of a new beginning with the blog directory.

You can now see how popular your blog is compared to others by seeing how many visits you get from this site. Sure, it's no real analytical comparison - it just means there are more people visiting you.

Over the past few months I've been testing and trialling this feature that's been running in the background. It's been keeping score every time someone clicks on a link that takes them to a gardening blog and compiling them for me to analyse. Well, after the testing has finally finished it's now available for everyone to see and use.

What are the features?

If you click here you can see who has been getting the most visits in the past 24 hours. Go here and you can see who's featuring prominently over the past week. And, finally click here and the most popular blogs will list for the past 30 days.

Every time you click a blog's listing -whether it be the "Visit this site" link, the blog image or the blog title - you are effectively voting for that blog.

Caution

Now we all know that everyone wants to be at the top of any listings, so the temptation is to click as many times on your own blog and 'game' the rankings.

I've already thought that one through and those who try to 'game' the list may be de-listed from any future rankings with the possibility of losing your inclusion in the directory.

You are allowed to click on your blog listing here on the directory no more than once per day but after that it will be seen that you are trying to 'game' it.

Are there other ways to get to the top?

Sure. Some listings you will notice a red star which is for those blogs who the directory considers as friends. It's not an arbitrary procedure and anybody can become a friend. Friends are sorted at the top of the rankings for the number of visits they've secured.

To find out more about becoming a friend, click here.

Posted by Stuart at 7:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)