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virtual gardening society (on the WWW?)

>From: "Michael D. Barclay" <opga1@dsp.net>
>Subject: Re: long blooming cistus, viburnum soc, cistaceous soc
>Sender: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
>Date: Tue, 7 Oct 1997 11:39:43 -0700
>
> >REPLY TO 10/05/97 20:49 FROM opga1@dsp.net: long blooming cistus, viburnum
> >soc,
> >cistaceous soc
> >
> >Michael, instead of an actual society, (which means, as
> >you so rightly point out, officers, meetings, and putting
> >things on paper -- for which, who has time?!), how about
> >a virtual society?     <snip>
> >Would this be a good new use for the i'net?
> >Jessie Schilling
> >
> >To:  opga1@dsp.net
>
> Sounds great to me.  Can we explore the concept with the rest of the
> medit-planters

This is perhaps 'stretching' Jessie & Michael's topic a bit, but I
thought I might get some feedback from the group.

Back in 1995, when I started this group with the help of Dave Burger
at UC Davis, I became aware of the newly formed (at that time)
Mediterranean Gardening Society.  Sounded interesting, but as they
were still in the stages of figuring out what they might do, I filed
their info away for future reference.  They are now a thriving
society, with a charming publication containing articles by various
members of the group, discussing aspects of our climate's influence
on our gardening.  I have a number of friends who are members.

I've been communicating a bit with this Society, wondering if we
might not 'join forces' somehow.  The WWW Site I'm working on seems
to be the best place for the connection, and there is some interest
from that group in that they are working towards becoming a truely
international Society (they started in Greece, but have founding
members throughout the Mediterranean).

There is some reservation as well - how would a WWW Site augment
such a group (whose members are not completely 'online' and may
never become so)?  How could offerings to such a membership (their
publication, compiled lists of nurseries, etc.) be respected and not
'replaced' by a free WWW Site.  What sort of community might it be
with members in both internet and non-internet worlds?

My vision for the Mediterranean Gardening WWW Site is to integrate
all of the information discussed here with additional information
from groups such as the Mediterranean Garden Society, published
works, sources both local and mail-order, public and private
gardens, professional and amateur horticulturists, educational
institutions, etc.  Having the Mediterranean Garden Society
participate certainly adds a nice touch to our WWW Site, but does
this group have opinions about this?  'Discussions' about specific
plant material, enhanced with photos of specimens and/or plantings
are certainly an important inclusion.

I'm interested in anyone's responses to the question above, or any
other questions that might follow from such a train of thought.
Please feel free to contact me directly or discuss this with the
group.

 Sean A. O'Hara                     sean.ohara@ucop.edu
 710 Jean Street                    (510) 987-0577
 Oakland, California 94610-1459     h o r t u l u s   a p t u s
 U.S.A.                             'a garden suited to its purpose'
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