Two more postcards

Received two more cards yesterday. One from Groningen, The Netherlands and the other from Berlin, Germany. You can see them in the Postcard Album

I will be posting more cards tomorrow.

New Static Rose Collection pages

The new static Rose Collection pages are already getting more pageviews. If the increase continues, the link in the Garden Photo site's menu will be redirected to the new pages.

Another advantage is the site search box will cover the whole site instead of only the pages in the Joomla managed part.

The custom Google search boxes are free.

Rose Collection index page

ArtistGarden.net

The Rose index is now divided by class.
I've lost a few of these roses but most are still growing in my garden.

Static Vs Dynamic websites - what is the difference?

New pages for the Rose collection. With the help of Google Analytics, I am testing the popularity of pages inside a static versus a dynamic website. My main focus is search engine traffic.

The dynamic website is easy to update but has fewer landing pages. A static site takes longer to update and renovate. Using an editor like Web Design Generator - Artisteer can cut the time coding so you can spend more time managing the content. Some knowledge of HTML, CSS and Javascript is useful for the extras. In a month, I will compare the pageviews.

Found this article interesting, It does a good job of explaining the differences.

Static Vs Dynamic websites - what's the difference?

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Advanced Web Metrics with Google Analytics

Dr Huey

Dr Huey by Joanne
Design custom picture note cards online with zazzle.com

Dr Huey is now on Notecards. There is a description on the back but you can easily add text on the cover or inside. You can turn this into a birthday card or thank you notes.

I also have it on Postcards. The card I sent to Lithuania was registered yesterday and today I'm posting a card to Michigan.

Site Journal

 Garden Journal


Finally changed the title of the Journal.
McFingon.net made it look out of place.
Also added new links in the site top menu.
The Postcrossing Album is for showing the postcards I've received so far and from where.
You can also see them on the map.

I only joined Postcrossing a few weeks ago so I don't have that many yet.
I will be mailing another one tomorrow or Wednesday.

Due to copyrights, I can no longer publish postcards covers.

Earth Album

I was surfing the net trying to find some way of using Google maps with a postcard album and found this site. Earth Album is a Flicker mash-up. You either click on the map or use the 'Jump to' search box, which I did. Found some really nice photos of Scotland and Bora Bora. Two places I hope to visit some day and take tons of photos.

You will find lots of great HDR photos from all over the world. They also include some descriptions of where or/and how the photo was taken.

They even have an iPhone, YouTube and Cooliris editions. Well worth a visit.

Ensata Iris

With the reticulata irises in bloom, I'm already looking forward to the other varieties that will follow. The ensatas are the last to bloom but well worth the wait.

When I purchased this iris, years ago, it was labeled Light at Dawn. It appears that another shade is sold under that name now. Which is right? Hard to say. Trade names are not registered, so not protected. I hope this will change in the future.

Until I find an official list, mine will remain a Light at Dawn.

Postcard to Finland

Hare in winter coat by mcfingon
Browse Hare Postcards

Today I am posting this card to Finland. I took this photo in the spring of 2008. His fur had started to change. I do have more photos of him in his summer coat. They will be added soon.

Postcrossing

Prints section

The Prints page is now updated. Now you see a preview instead of a text link. Then you just need to change the wall colour and frame it to get an idea how it would look on your wall.

I had the pleasure of seeing a print of the Woodpecker in a frame that matched the collector's decor and I felt very proud.

by evita1020

Received one more postcard today, this time Evita in Japan. She has very lovely albums of the postcards she received. Since I'm in Canada myself, I chose a link to the album of postcards from Canada.

Postcrossing

Clouds over lake

Clouds over lake by Joanne
postcard printing using Zazzle

Preparing my next order of postcards from Zazzle. Most members on Postcrossing asks for cards with scenes typical to your part of the world. I shot this photo two years ago at a lake near my home.

This fall scene will also be on Notecards

Tools used: Photoshop and Topaz Details

Adobe Photoshop CS4 How-Tos: 100 Essential Techniques

The Woodpecker

Woodpecker by Joanne
View all the other art at zazzle

Previously the Woodpecker was only available from Imagekind With Zazzle I have the added option of offering the same image on postcards and note cards.

If you are unfamiliar with the printing options offered by Zazzle I recommend a visit to their Poster and Prints descriptions page There you will find information on the paper and canvas offered that can fit your budget. Plus they have a wide selection of frames and matting found in the customize it section.

The beauty of Zazzle is that they make a version of art for every budget.

Changes to Garden Photo site

In the next week, I will be changing the Print section from links to a thumbnail gallery. Having a preview of the print will be more interesting than just a link.

Not all prints will be included only those that are not featured on the site as a garden plant. For them you'll find a link in the details page of each individual plant.

Grey wild turkey

Wild Turkeys
 
For the past few years, my feeders are visited by wild turkeys for most of winter and early spring.
This year, for the first time, the flock includes a few gray females.

The photo was enhanced to bring out the most details.

Tools used: Photoshop CS4 and Topaz Labs

See more wild turkey photos

Adobe Photoshop CS4 Classroom in a Book

Great photo site

When in need of some inspiration, I visit other photographers sites. I do this mostly with Stumble upon. Now the photos on 1x.com are awesome.

Blue Jay Notecard

Blue Jay by Joanne
Browse more Blue Cards

I am now adding more of my digital work on notecards and postcards. Yesterday I received my latest shipment of postcards and they look great.

The new notecards have information printed on the back. Just use the zoom feature in the Zazzle gallery for a closer look. Use the customize option to add text and see how easy it is to create your own card.

Tussock moth postcard

Zazzle Store

After receiving a few cards and messages from other members, I now want all kinds of postcards to send.
I don't have to order 25 of the same card.
I can mix and match my selection. I'm sending one more today.

Update

The Zazzle store has been closed.
Postcards are no longer available.

Art

Found this article on Design and Print Blog. Well worth reading.

Art & Design on Postcards

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Two more postcards

I received a card from Callum in Cambridgeshire, UK and another from Claudia in Ireland. Got an album to store them in. I really enjoy being a member of Postcrossing

Postcard pages

A few days ago, I found that the Zazzle Store builder code wasn't working properly inside the new template. The code itself is helpful but not that flexible. The code is written in PHP which I use for a few databases online. But if you rely on search engines for a part of your traffic, PHP is not that great.

So I decided to change the code to CSS. The pages look basically the same but now contain more keywords and that will make them easier to find.

The Postcards section is now divided in 3 pages.

Reference: CSS, DHTML, and Ajax, Fourth Edition: Visual QuickStart Guide

Nature Album

Two new photos were added to the Nature Album First is a red squirrel and the other a toad my son photographed through the glass panel of our front door.

Photographing Nature: A photo workshop from Brooks Institute's top nature photography instructor

Beautiful New Roses for 2010

Found this slide show of new roses. Take a look at slide 12 then look at my Mystery Rose It's the closest match I found so far and I'm a huge fan of David Austin roses.

Beautiful New Roses for 2010

First Postcard

Yesterday, I received my first postcard as a member of Postcrossing It was sent by Christoph of Dortmund, Germany.

The two first cards I sent don't appear to have been received. One was to Netherlands and the other in Russia. I did get a visitor to my Garden Photo site that translated the page to Russian.

Two were sent to Germany. The card to Munich arrived in 6 days. Today I am mailing my 5th card to Georgia, USA. I've already ordered more Postcards from Zazzle

Now in the description part of the Postcards, I will include what country the card was sent to.

Source updates

Sources for Adelaide Hoodless, Morden Sunrise, Looking Glass and Winnipeg Parks have been updated.

Links are being checked and some photos will be changed. I'll keep you posted.

Mothersday Poyantha rose

New addition in the Rose section. This polyantha was introduced in 1949 by F. J Grootendorst & Sons of Boskoop, Netherlands. You can see by the photo that the blooms are double and globular.

The colour came out very well, for a red. The shot was taken in late afternoon. The sun doesn't cover this part of the garden in early morning. I did use the new Topaz Details to bring out the blooms best features.

There are twenty pages now in the Rose Collection.

Botanica roses

Postcard page update

I tried to get the Zazzle store builder working in an Artisteer generated template before but I couldn't find a way to make them work together. I downloaded the latest version of Artisteer and redid the template with the new features. Now the two blend together very well.

The Zazzle Store builder is flexible. You can narrow the width to fit the content block and change the size of the cells. Other options include adding or removing title, description and price. The comments are a big help too.

The Postcards page now includes better navigation and updates. I'll be using the same template for the Notecards page