Garden Views Poll: Garden Home Projects

I like most items, and as a beginning gardener need all the help I can get. It appears that I have Japanese Maples "volunteering " in my yard. Is this possible? I have read about growing them from seed, but could not find any articles about finding them as I have. These seedlings are near my neighbors Japanese Maple. I live in NE Al., Zone 7 Thanks for your time and always help! Gloria

All the products look great! I think you should follow your heart and your vision for your business. You have the Midas touch anyway and there will always be naysayers. Keep up the good work! ~ Robin

I didn't feel it would be fair for me to answer any of your questions because I want to put in my own answers. I'm a vegan so not interested in rubs. For growing herbs, without a yard or even a small deck, I'm very limited as to what I can put in my small livingroom window. Having said that, I prefer to choose my own; the ones I feel I will use the most. I can purchase here for much less money.

Where con I find calsum , ref: above ? Cannot locate in Ocala, Florida area. Please advise. Thanks. Bill Griscom

The survey answer 1 - 5 could not hold true to my true answer. Wrong answer asked, for question to get a true feeling of my answer. make sense. Jeanette

I'd buy all the products except the herb pots. I've never had success growing herbs in small pots, even though I place them in a sunny area. They look great at first but then quickly lose their vigor. The herbs in a box is charming but eventually they'll need to be moved to the garden to thrive. It looks great, though.

I have been enjoying the recipes. They are delicious and use my garden products.

I love the information, the videos and the ideas.

Good ideas for people that have everything!

Offering #1: you didn't say how much was in each container. The price sounds very reasonable. Offering #2: Most of the herbs are perennials and will soon outgrow that pot and I thought the price was a bit high. Offering #3; The tulips are wonderful and the container looks intriguing. I couldn't afford to buy it, but I don't think that it would be anymore expensive than a florist purchase. Offering #4: I would be more interested in buying this if if had a dozen or more alpine strawberries. Five strawberry plants won't give enough for a good pie. Also, are those strawberries jJune-bearing or everbearing? June-bearing would give you even fewer berries. Offer #5: Those look like they are pretty good sized pots. How big are they? 6" diameter, 10"? I might pay that much for a gift, but never for my garden. I'd be even less inclined to give an annual herb as a gift that cost that much. All in all, there is needed more information generally and some of your prices are out of my range. There may be other people with more discretionary money than I have, but even those people today are watching their wallets.

Allen......great ideas, but I would have to agree with alot of your readers/viewers, stick with what you do BEST, the TV shows, receipes and the helpful planting tips........there's not a week that goes by that I don't catch your show, at least once a week......I have to get my "P. Allen fix" or I just don't function. Would like to see some updated shows, not that I don't mind seeing the re-runs from 2004 and up, but would love to see how things are coming along at the new house......I have just purchased a home and I am trying to incorporate as many of your ideas, from your country retreat, into mine. I've been gardening close to 35 years myself, but as you know, you can always learn something new........and I usually do through you! Keep up the good work Allen.........."Your number one fan" : )

good idea. where do you sell any of your products?

Your ideas are all great. I only voted no to them because I already have them growing in my garden or in pots. :-)

So many times, the cost prohibits the purchase of things like this. I, for one, would like to see these items priced affordably forthe average gardener.

I prefer to buy local and support my neighborhood businesses. I also like to choose my own planters. And I make my own special spice blend.

Thanks for asking!

To me each item was a little cheesy and really offered no new ideas in gifts or in gardening. I can do better here in Greensboro NC at the better garden shops and nurseries for less money.

While I said, no thanks to a few items in this survey, it's because the price is just way beyond our income. While we'd really enjoy owning these items, we only have Social Security to live own and have to pinch our pennies till Abe gets a nosebleed. They are great products though, especially the herb garden items.

I personally would not purchase these, as I think that I could do the same without the price you have. Love your ideas, newsletter, and your books. Keep up the ideas flowing:)

Ignore the negativism about the strawberry garden - I literally would buy two. I and my beau both container-garden, he strictly on his balcony, and he would go ape if I got him this, seriously. Tremendous idea - and unique to the marketplace. DO IT, P.! :o) PS Keep up the tremendous work - and thanks for letting the PBS 'Create' channel air your older shows. You leave your competition (such as it is) in the dust!

none of these items are unique enough for me to spend the price for. if i wanted any of them i would make it myself or pick one up at the garden store.

I kept thinking of the added shipping expences. This audience are gardeners who do things like this for themselves for the most part. If you want to sell merchandise, I'd be up for mail order items that would help me make gifts- delightful touches like delightful gift tins with herb blend ideas to make herbal gifts from my garden easier . How about new ideas for sharing starts? and other "From My Garden" ideas.

I make many purchases of all kinds online, especially garden and gift items, and have for years. I am primarily looking for items that are unique. I am also looking for free or reasonaby-priced shipping. Sometimes shipping costs add one-half or more to the cost. That's just unacceptable in my opinion. I just ordered and received a relatively expensive garden arbor kit online. Shipping was free and the vendor was highly recommended on a garden website to which I subscribe. I hope my comments are helpful.

Dear Allen, I love your shows and your down-home style of bringing class and beauty to our gardens and homes indoors and out. I also want to encourage you to keep comming with these new gift ideas. I love the first one with the organic rubs and recipes and the price is right on that one! All of the others are very nice, a bit too "classic" and or "country charm" for my personal tastes which are a bit more specific, earthy and Native in Spirit. It is good to see you also working towards new ideas to market as we all are trying to find ways to overcome this economic draught. As a gardener and crafts persons myself, I prefer to grow my own herbs from seed and plan to try my hand at my own hypertufa planters and garden art objects this winter. I do like the planter box you show with the herbs very much and if I had extra cash would be a likley customer for this item. Could you do a series on Native Plants and answer the question of how well some of these hold up in a vase if used in a cut flower arraingement? I have just rediscovered the beauty of a fresh Missouri Evening Primrose for instance and wonder if you have any solutions to help keep them looking good in a vase for more than a day. Also I am interested in learning more about creating terrariums both for tropical moss, ferns and orchich types as well as dry scapes for small cacti and suculents. Could you please do a lesson on this idea soon? I loved that silver pansy dish you had on your show today, the victorian one..are they still available anywhere or perhaps you can come up with your own design that could be used for other flowers as well as pansys? I think those would sell very well and need not be made of silver, looks great but need to be polished too often. Perhaps something more earthy like wood, woven fibers like a basket with liner or hypertufa would work. Happy 4th and God Bless to you and your family. Kim

Sounds pretty good. I love to practice new things with food. I call it new recipe night and so far, it has gone over very well, for 26 years. Herbs are so good for you and sometimes you don't even need salt, or as much salt, to a meal

Several years ago I purchased some roses from you and they have done very well. I would like to be able to purchase some other plants-perrenials or spring bulbs would be great. I also would like to see some items available for our backyards only available from yoor website.

I did not find anything on your sight about freezing or canning foods. Do you have any suggestions?

Although all are attractive ideas, individual purchases of items such as herbs, strawberries and tulip bulbs are much more practical for my use and applicable to my income level - particularly in this economy. Thanks for your wonderful newsletter. I look forward to it each week and enjoy many of your great recipes and gardening ideas. Pat

I really liked the strawberry planter, but for the most part the other items would carry a to big price tag once shipping was added. Also with the slow food movement beginning to take hold, we should all be more aware of buying local as much as possible and supporting our area farmers. Maybe those items could be available in a Garden Home gift shop for people who come visit? I always like to bring home useful items as souveniers.

Anyone can make their own herb rub and I enjoy doing that myself, experimenting with the dried herbs from my own herb garden and then giving as gifts. Anyone can easily put the above combinations together at a local garden mart, or even a Wal Mart or Home Depot if they don't have a great local garden center. The one exception is the strawberry container and table - since I have trouble keeping rabbits away from my strawberries I might consider that product, because I like the stand. Otherwise I could shop around and put my own strawberry container stand together. I think that you have to think carefully about your real value proposition and stick to your knitting. I think that one of your real strengths is your creativity and encouraging the creativity of your audience. Don't become another retailer trying to sell stuff. Stick to your knitting, which to me shines through as teaching, sharing ideas, thinking big, and inspiring others to create a life in which the garden home is at the center. You are terrific at that!

All I can think of is the cost of shipping and handling when we're able to go to our local store/nursery for those items. Very good for those who live far from outlets or are homebound.

I have strawberries planted in a large barrel that are absolutely doing awesome (more strawberries this year than ever). Could be 'cause my hubby thinned them this last spring to put some in a 'hanging strawberry thingie' my sister gave us (she ordered two), and they are doing alright too. He also planted two cukumber's in it (sorta as a joke) ... and they've done awesome too!! He has a gob of cukes coming on ...and it's doing better than the ones I planted in my little garden spot!! (He has the 'garden' thumb' in the family. My husband also saw the 'hanging tomato pots' and decided to 'make' his own from an old hanging pot. He did (picked the first ripe tomato yesterday, (7/1) and there are at least 20 tomatoes on that one plant. It's his "girl" (an Early Girl variety). The tomatoes he put in the store bought 'hanger' are also doing awesome!! And 'his' tomatoes are also doing better than the ones I planted in 'my' little garden!!

The strawberry planter looked terrific! It's also something I haven't seen in other gardening catalogs, and is priced well.

Iff my soils in the yard could support those items, it would be lovely. Trying to build a garden on sandy soil is difficult

Everything offered seems to be very affordable and very attractive. The strawberry delight is very well named! Just what we have come to expect from P. Allen Smith.

Most items were overpriced.

Love your newsletters and ideas with plants and also the recipies. Re the home projects, like to hear more ideas realizing not all are for my particular interests. Keep the ideas coming. Great Job!

I thought the containers with tulips and strawberries looked great...like you could just set it out and go. I would absolutely want to buy these. The herb container appealed less to me because I love herbs and grow them all around my house. The pots looked too small and confining and I thought the prices were a little high.

Loved all of the pots and herbs , tulips but I can do better than your prices. I am a smart shopper and I look for sales and coupons. Always look forward to your news letter.

All these items are over-priced, especially in today's low economy. People can buy seed packets or starter plants, their own containers, and grow their own. Recipes can be found free online. I see no values here at all. Sorry, just being honest.

All of these products could be put together much more innexpensively and more personally by simply shopping one's local garden centers and farmer's markets. You'd probably be much better off just offering advice on how to make each and then profitting from the advertisements on your site.

I am interested in most of the items you might offer. I read all of your email letters and catch you o n t.v. when I happen upon you. Thanks!

Lovely projects and I might be interested in more if I did not live in hot, dry hill country Texas. I can buy the herbs for $2 each locally and I feel that the ones I would purchase here have a better chance of surviving. Tulips in this part of the country are definitely an annual. Ditto for strawberries. When I invest this much in something I want something that repeats even if I like the containers. National gardening folks need to come this direction and find out the challenges we face in this part of the country especially in periods of extreme drought as we have been in for the last two years.

I love this site.

I vegeterian and live in an apartment which is why my feedback will skew your results.

Thanks, some of these items are very interesting and would work well on my deck.

I think most gardeners like to start their own plants and alread y have so many containers.

Enjoyed the survey and you had some interesting ideas.

I think your new "Garden Home Market" is a great idea. I've been watching your show for many years and I know the quality of your work and I know that any items you put out on the market will be excellent

Nice products

I have my own herb garden that I love and use. If not for that, I probably would something. They were appealingly displayed.

I raise most of the herbs in my garden. Love you"r program would not miss one. and love getting the news letter keep up the good work

All of these are good ideas but I already have most of the items you mentioned. I expecailly enjoy the strawberries, My strawberry=ue be=are constently.

Most of the herbs mentioned I already have & I only had to pay $l.99 for a small pot. The container plants are very nice but are pricy & could be put together with things I already have. I can get tulip bulbs from catalogs or local store. I guess I'm just a do it yourself person.

For the "no thanks" comments, I don't mean to be rude... The basis of my decision is that the items just wouldn't work (i.e., tulips get nipped by squirrels, planters as gifts are a bit difficult to manage and faux anything is not my cup of tea - I have banned plastics from my garden (with the exception of underground sprinkler system components and fishing line to train clematis). The tinned spice rub(s) would be possible as a gift but because I use fresh herbs or home dried herbs, I wouldn't have a need for it myself. Paired with some other items (imported capers, fresh lemons, fresh produce, etc.), it would make for a great gift basket item (but a wicker basket not a plastic one). Thanks for the chance to share some thoughts. -D

I liked the survey

They all look wonderful, but it always depends upon finances for us lately. The tulips would be great if a different color, altho the pinks ones displayed are gorgeous, not everyone likes pink.

The tulips and strawberries are good ideas because not only do we get great flowers but the containers are unusual and good looking. And, they may be utilized for other uses when they flowers have died.

I enjoyed taking your survey; however, cost is a factor for me. I'm retired, love everything about you and am always excited to receive your newsletter. Since the cost of things have increased; I am always looking for discounted items. Everything you have introduced is something I would had purchased without hesitation because of you promoting the product. But today, I look at things different because of my earnings. I do wish you well with this and I'm confident with God's help, you will do well. With Warm Regards

many of us read you because we are garderners. Finding unusual varieties, etc. would be more enticing than containers of easy to find, easy to grow herbs.