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I always find it interesting that about the same time Derek Toms raised the concept of a Mediterranean climate focused garden
society (via horticultural journals in the UK), I was also voicing
similar thoughts among horticultural discussions on the Internet.
The immediate proliferation of horticultural 'meeting places' on the
newly created cyberspace environment is a statement about our
need to be connected to the natural world. Unfortunately, in a
virtual world 'without boundaries', the importance of a regional
approach to horticultural practices was often overlooked,
generating lots of confusion and seeming contradictions in the
information shared by participants in these forums. On those rare
occasions when the writer revealed his/her geographic location,
these discrepancies were better understood.
In searching for a more climate-focused forum for my own
interests in gardening in Mediterranean climates, I found little in
the way of real assistance. What I did find was a large number of
other individuals desirous of the same. Some research and
experimentation on my part helped formulate what type of format
would be appropriate and universally available to the most people.
Then, several months of canvassing educational institutions
supporting that type of computer forum brought me to Dr. Dave
Burger, head of the Environmental Horticulture department at the
University of California, Davis.
He agreed with the concept and decided that his
department should host such a group; thus the mediterranean
climate gardening e-mail discussion was born in 1994. Since that
time, averaging 350-400 subscribers, members of the Internet
horticultural community have called it one of the most friendly,
informative and useful forums of its kind. Those interested in
participation can [enquire] via the e-mail address or check our informational web page.
Over the years, further advances in Internet technology brought
into being the World Wide Web, where information could be
'published' on virtual pages, viewable around the world to anyone
with the proper software. As this type of Internet communication
has become more ubiquitous, it was only natural for the Medit-Plants concept to venture into this realm as well. Earlier this
year, the creation of a fledgling web site devoted to mediterranean climate gardening was placed in cyberspace and continues to
grow and expand as the word gets out and there is more
participation. The intent of the site is to house any type of
information that is relevant to our focus, including: plant profiles,
book reviews, essays on pertinent topics, featured public and
private gardens, profiles of interesting people, horticultural
societies and groups, information about professionals and their
businesses, resources, artwork, etc. Even if you have no
experience with Internet publishing, or the Internet itself, it is
possible for us to create web pages for your information if it is
pertinent to the focus of the site. Professionals are asked for a
nominal fee (much less than they would pay for their own, separate
web site) to support the project; non-profits are given space at no
charge. All are encouraged to participate in whatever manner suits
their needs. Negotiation for many new participants is currently
underway.
Since the MGS's goals were perfectly aligned with the goals of this
new web project, I asked that they become the featured society of
the site. After ongoing communication with the MGS leaders
(facilitated by my good e-mail friend Lord Hugo Latymer), there
are now several pages devoted to the Mediterranean Garden
Society on the site, and all pages contain acknowledgement and
'links' to these. As the MGS finds new projects appropriate to
publication on the Internet, I am sure there will be further
expansion and development.
Seán O'Hara. |
