Prayers and Support for Blotanists friends - Japan Earthquake 2011

Many of us have watched in horror at the massive destruction and tragedy in relation to the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11th, 2011.

From our Blotanical community, we have 5 garden bloggers who are residing in Japan. They are ok now, but if you wish to convey your heartfelt messages of support to them, the following are their details with links attached.

1. Mr Lrong - PotagerY and Malaysian in Japan (Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture)
2. Mr Fer - My Little Garden in Japan (Yokohama)
3. Mr Takaedo - Small Vege Garden in a Suburb (Osaka)
4. Mr Nakashima Akira -Garden Life (USA City, Oita)
5. Mr Adekun -Adekun's Japan Blog

This is another defining sad moment in our lifetime, so shocking no words can describe. I spent most of my free time watching CNN, BBC and NHK and I can't help thinking about the Hollywood movie 2012. What is happening to our world now? Is our Mother Earth sick and distressed?

I hope in this trying time, we could find strength in adversity, faith and hope. It has been proven so many times that during a crisis, the whole world can unite and stand as one, to offer assistance, prayers and help those affected.

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”  ..... Ryunosuke Satoro.

We can check with our country's NGOs and main news websites on ways we can volunteer / make donations. GOOGLE' s website has resources, emergency aid contact numbers and Google Person Finder on their homepage.

My First Year at Blotanical

1. On this day today, exactly one year ago, i.e. on 20th June 2009, I was accepted by Blotanical, a worldwide community of garden bloggers. On my first day at Blotanical, I stumbled into my 'Plot' and found that it was filled with welcome messages. Soon each and every one of my new blog posts began to receive some comments. Wow, what an exciting begining and boy, blogging was fun!

It is great to belong to a social network of sincere garden bloggers who looked out for each other and help each other when the need arises. I am really thankful for the assistance given and grateful for friendship extended to me.

2. Via Blotanical, I visited other garden bloggers and learnt a lot from them just by doing Picks. Picks helped me earn the points to move up the ranks at Blotanical. I wanted more faving power so that I can fave as many blotanists as possible. To fave and be faved is such a joyful thing to do.

To all the freshie Blotanist, I shall send you a welcome message whenever time permits. I want you to feel welcomed and ready to break the ice, just like how happy I was to be welcomed by other Blotanists who were Patrons, Fellows, Master and Guru level when I was a newbie 'Freshie'.

While doing Picks, I got to read the latest post of each Blotanist blogger I visited. It all began in June 2009, the season of Spring to early Summer then, and the whole northern hemispere was bursting with flowers blooming everywhere. I have never seen so many beautiful blooms in my whole life. Fake plastic flowers in my living room appeared as real gorgeous blooms from your patios and backyards. And there were beds upon beds and borders of stunning wild flowers everywhere. Even the critters, slimy creatures and creepy crawlies do not look like monsters. They look like nature's masterpiece when photographed in their natural habitats. Soon I discovered that many skilled gardeners are great photographers too.

3. I traveled round the world and visited many many types of gardens, many styles. I learnt to appreciate nature and be kind to the enviroment. Hey, I even saved a family of little birds who came to build a home in my garden! I saw flowers and buds opened everyday in so many colours, shapes and hues. I watched the seasons go by. I witnessed the heat of Summer, the Autumnal blushes, your Winter frost, and I watched Spring came alive.....

I did all these, sitting on my desk, from the flat screen of my desktop computer in a land of neverending summers and heavy rainfalls. I also shared your happiness, joys and sorrows. You showed me your wedding photos, your engagements, birthdays and anniversaries. I felt your sadness and gave words of consolation during your time of grief and loss. I celebrated when you threw a party and it was nice to be invited for a walk in the English woods, then have tea and scones while sitting on a rustic bench, watching the world go by. I toured all over Europe and I journeyed from Alaska to South America. I can identify with fellow gardeners from Malaysia and other countries in Asia but I was surprised to see familiar flora and fauna in Hawaii, Queensland, Florida, the Caribbean islands and even Africa. Next was a hike up the Colorado mountains, a journey to the Everglades and a trip to the desert of Arizona. I was fascinated to know that deers which I only get to see at zoos, just wander into a Washington garden univited and wallop all your gorgeous blooms.....

Blotanical connects garden bloggers around the world!

Red Helen Papilio helenus is a large swallowtail butterfly

4. Then, a shocking reminder came in the form of an email to me:

Subject: Google Verification
Due to congestion in our database system, We have come to realize that your account information on our database system are out of date, as a result of that we require you to verify your Information. Failure to verify your information will result in account suspension. If you are still interested in using our email service, Please click the reply button and fill the below spaces as requested.

Account:
Password:
Birth date:
Country:

Note: This email is only for Gmail users.

Thank you for using Gmail !

I spent many sleepness nights thinking about it and praying that all will be well. Now, I just delete all these junks, spams and scams and laugh my Kookaburra laugh, hahaha...

Hylarana nigrovittata or Dark-sided Frog

5. And another shocking Mail from System Administration

Dear Valued Member,
Due to the congestion in all Webmail account and removal of all unused Accounts, we would be shutting down all unused accounts, You will have to confirm your E-mail by filling out your Login Info below after clicking the reply botton, or your account will be suspended within 48 hours for security reasons.

UserName: ..........................................
Password:...........................................
Date Of Birth: .....................................
Country Or Territory:...............................

After Following the instructions in the sheet, your account will not be interrupted and will continue as normal.Thanks for your attention to this request.

We apologize for any inconvinience.

This too was dipped in batter and fried!!!

6. Surprise also came in the form of emails announcing my windfalls :

Lottery winnings, secret business transactions, urgent assistance request, earn money just by clicking my mouse, partnership proposals, $$$$ gazeleons of inheritance money waiting to be transferred to my bank account !!!!!

I firmly believe that there is no such thing as FREE money dropping from the sky, so I won't take what is not mine.

7. Copyright, intellectual property thefts, misuse and abuse of my post titles - Well, I still have not solved this problem 100%. Some thieves are difficult to trace and how do you take action when you don't know the source? But never mind, I will blog on.

Update: I am happy to share with you Rosie of Leaves n Blooms recommended links. I have adopted many of the measures taught. You can also visit http://www.gardenbloggers.com/, another wonderful community of garden bloggers.

a) Feed Scrappers III
b) Feed Scrappers II
c) Feed Scrappers - Guest Post by Dave Townsend

Meanwhile, please be assured that I have (and will not hessitate to) reported to Google Adsense and Google 'report abuse' platform regarding those blogs/websites that I know of who have violated my rights.

Whenever I have a problem, Blotanists and other Bloggers rallied to help and offered solutions.
Thank you very much for being my friend!

Yay! From a 'Freshman' I am now a 'Sophomore' at Blotanical.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Congratulations and Thank You !

Now that the blotanical award 2009 winners have been announced, I would like to take this opportunity to say this to each and every blotanist who have voted for me during the nominations right up to the final stage.

Thank You Very Much.

I hope I didn't let you all down as I didn't win any awards. I was no. 2 in Asia Region, 3rd placing in the Best Commenter Category and I am so embarassed to tell you that I was last (!) in the Native Plants Category. Can you see how big headed I was to have volunteered myself for the Native Plants Category during the nomination stage? It just shows how ignorant I have been in this area. I certainly need to do a lot more.

It has indeed been an enriching and dream experience for me. Each winner in the respective categories deserves every accolade that has been awarded to them and for this I salute them.

My SALUTE to the 2009 Blotanical Winners.

Hip Hip Hurray! (3 times)

The rest of my fellow blogger finalists are all equally capable and to me, there is no difference whether they are ranked no. 2 or no. 5. So lets start again and play this game for 2010.

Happy Blogging, my dear Blotanists at Blotanical, where Garden Blogs Bloom!

Cheers from
Autumn Belle.

Thank You Blotanists And Blotanical !

THANK YOU SO MUCH !

I would like to say thank you very much to readers of my blog, "My Nice Garden" for nominating me and my blog for the following 2009 Blotanical Awards categories:

1. Best Native Plants Blog

2. Best Asian Blog

3. Best Commenter Award

I am indeed greatly honoured to have made it to the top 5 finalist and for this I am very grateful to all blotanists who have nominated me. I wish to thank Mr Stuart and his team for doing all the hard work so that we can enjoy the benefits.

Before I end this post, I wish to add this. Actually my favourite topic is Native Plants. I guess I have just 'scrapped through' and made it to the final, maybe I almost didn't make it. If you wish to know what I have already written under native plants, please click on the label "native plants" under archive by label in the sidebar or you may also do a search on the top side bar. If you have any suggestions on how I can improve in this category or other examples you wish to know about South East Asia / Malaysia's native plants, do let me know.

Being an Asian blogger, I am indeed honoured to be selected to the finals.

Regarding best commenter award, I have never expected to make it. So this is a pleasant surprise and great encouragement for me.

Finally, to those who have made it to the finals, this is what I wish to say:

CONGRATULATIONS & GOOD LUCK !

With warmest regards,
Autumn Belle

Blotanical - A Newbie Blotanist's Experience

How I Joined Blotanical
I was searching the world wide web for some information and names to some of the flowers that I had been planting when I came accross blotanical's logo in an interesting garden blog. It said, "Blotanical - Find Garden Blogs". My first impression of the logo was that it looks great and very appropriate for the green garden concept. So I can guess that blotanical is a directory of garden blogs.

My First Experience
When I visited the website, I was attracted by the catch phrase, "Blotanical - Where Garden Blogs Bloom". From the directory, I can search blogs by geographical region, popularity, favourited and aeging status. So many options to choose from.

My Findings
The next thing I knew, I felt like joining this exciting community too. After the process of applying to be a member and adding my blog to Blotanical, I spent some time going through the listed blogs. It was very interesting. The blogs were attractive in design and well written. I guess this is what I have always wanted in a garden blog directory. What impressed me was that Stuart and his team kept their word and was prompt in giving me a reply.

Being a Member
I was extremely happy to be accepted into this directory on June 20th, 2009. And so begins my journey with Blotanical. We, the blotanists are given plots whereby we can log in to update our profiles by adding a picture and a short description about ourselves. Everything has been arranged properly. When I got to the messages section, I was greeted by numerous welcome messages from other blotanists. There was even a welcome message from Mr Stuart himself.

My Experience
At Blotanical, we are encouraged to interact with other blotanists, sending messages and replying them, faving blotanists and blogs. Our profile points earned will be based on messages sent and received, the number of posts picked and forums participated. We can even visit other members' plots and view their profile and history. By picking on another blotanist's posts, I had the chance to view their blogs and make comments. It was a two-way process, very friendly and courteous.

Before long, I was communicating with other blotanists around the world, getting to know more about them. There is so much to learn and explore. I can literally travel round the world from my desktop, peeking into other people's beautiful gardens. The same type of flower or plant can look so different when grown in another part of the world. Certain plants that I expect to find only in my own country can surprisingly be planted in another unexpected place. In such a short time, I had managed to view many beautiful gardens from all corners of the world. This is an experience that books cannot provide.

At the end of the day, I am still learning. There are so many blogs to read up and explore. New blogs are coming in constantly. I have improved my gardening, writing and blogging skills tremendously ever since joining blotanical. I even improved on my photography skills.

I have indeed made many friends here. I am confident that I will make many more. I am really thankful and grateful that Mr Stuart Robinson, the creator and founder of Blotanical has made this possible for me. And the beauty of it all is that it is FREE OF CHARGE!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!