What's in a name!!!

I got into native plants when we moved to Indiana from Southern California. We have wooded acres on both sides and I began to notice how lovely each plant was. Then I began to identify them, then I began to dig them out of ditches on the roadside, identify them on local trails, get involved with local clubs, and save them from dozers on vacant lots. I can’t seem to learn enough about them.

-- wjl - 5a Indiana

last summer I was commited to having an organic garden, no insecticides, no pesticides, natural fertilizers (manure)............

potato bugs came so every morning I got on my hands and knees and flipped every single potato plant leaf over and squished the bugs eggs between thumb and finger….........thus “Greenthumb”

this year…...........no potatos

-- Central northish Ontario

My name. Well, here’s the story: I lived in the country of Malawi for nearly 11 years. If you say Dahlitseni (the more formal way) or Dahlitsa in the more friend to friend sort of way, you are saying God bless You in their language. So Dahlitsa onse or God bless you all.

-- Dahlitsa

Dahlitsa to you as well! How wonderful.

gee.. I’m kinda boring. “MsDebbieP” is used for most of my groups. Ms.. I’m not a Mr. ... Debbie.. cause that’s my name.. and “P” because that’s the initial of my last name.

My son can never remember my email address and people have difficulty writing it down when I say it: it’s “MS…. Debbie…P”

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

You know nothing is boring in the story of a name.
When you know the story, it does give you a little bit more of an insight on your new friends.
Thanks to all you have shared with us, and as for the others, just cannot wait to hear the different stories!!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Xplore Organics was a name I used when I was searching for organic products from all over the world…It stemed from a business me & my uncle started years ago called Xplore Imports. I like Xplore Organics and the Logo was XO…:) kind of nice and friendly.

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

When I decided to work hand-in-hand with people to teach them about gardening and empower them to take ownership of their own spaces, I spent a lot of time coming up with the right name to fit what I was doing. Garden coach is a term often used, but I find the word mentor fits the tone of encouragement I seek to provide. And, I chose to use garden rather than gardening because I consider myself a mentor of people and of the gardens themselves. Hence, the name.

-- GardenMentor, Seattle, WA (zone 8/9), www.gardenmentors.com & www.gardenhelp.org

Yes, “XO” very friendly indeed.

As for me … wish I had more of an exotic story …

Family … the most important thing I have. When you live in a “dysfunctional environment” as a kid; you find growing up that the one thing you pray for is someone to love you. I found that someone in my husband. Now 33 years later, here I am being called “ganma” and loving every moment of it … who would have thought!! Oh yah, the “T” is for the site … last name initial.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

isn’t it wonderful that your nickname’s initials are the same as the site’s :) GT from GT

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Hey GranT,
exotic is not the name of the “game” here!
What is, is you! So I really like Family … the most important thing I have.

It is you!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

:-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

I’m a carpenter. My business name is Cats Paw Carpentry. I love cats (have 13.) A cats paw is a small pry bar used to extract nails. Circular symetry.

[Also noticed another hoosier ( that’s two today ). Native…..born and raised in indiana, moved to here and there, but moved back here from southern cal.]

-- arborial reconfiguration specialist......Zone out....(USA 5)

Big Noggin Club President

If I told you the rest of the story all of you would think that I weird.

Well if the shoe fits…........

-- Living on the level... Central Ontario...1.25 hrs from TO.......Zone 5a

I chose the name Damocles back in 1997 when it occurred to me that I made an expensive and hubristic mistake. I was in my second year of dental school, and was miserable. I joined for the worst reason of all (money) and all I wanted was to be called “doctor.” I withdrew from school, and am still paying for it (the student loans were killer!).

After reading the story of Damocles of Syracuse and his infamous sword, I chose the name to keep me humble in my online presence. It’s worked fairly well so far… :-)

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

Nothing exciting about my name, the place I live is in the middle of a wood and the blue bells when out are to die for. Its a half mile to the end of the wood to post a letter and a half mile back the walk is good for me….or so I’m told.

-- Derbyshire------- English Countryside

Well, it does sound lovely!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

bncprez
Try us! I am sure we would like it!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

The story has to do with a bunch of guys after ball hockey, drinking copious amounts of alcohol, we all have big heads but mine measured the biggest. Circumference that is. At work they give us BBall caps as part of our uniforms supposedly one size fits all. Well they had to take mine back and put out a whole new tender to get a bigger cap. The stories can go on and on.

-- Living on the level... Central Ontario...1.25 hrs from TO.......Zone 5a

Wish I had an exotic story to tell about mine, but it came from my dart skills period. I don’t know what it is, but everytime I play someone, the darts just make a beeline for the center

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

Being born and raised in the city(Toronto) ,and moving out when we got married,we have lived in the country ever since.I could NEVER live in a city ever again,so after 40 years, I am truly a country gal.

-- Southwestern Ontario Canada Zone5b

BNCPREZ … what a great story (although I am sure you did not think so at the time) ... but I loved it!! Thanks for sharing that with us!!!

I am so enjoying reading EVERYONE’s entry … it’s like we are all getting a little “window opening” as to who we all are. Fantastic …

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Indeed it has been interesting. Just want to add also that meeting a few folks on here in person, has been great.

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

yah :) Our family is already growing, and we aren’t even a year old!!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I was joining something where I needed a nick name. I was going to use horses but that had been taken so because the group had to do with gardening as well I thought for something that would connect horses and plants and I remembered that on the farm I grew up on we had a weed called horsetail so I chose that. Afterwards it came to me how really appropriate it is because I like driving my horses and that is the view I see the most of!

-- horsetail, Fergus, Ontario

I was joining something where I needed a nick name. I was going to use horses but that had been taken so because the group had to do with gardening as well I thought for something that would connect horses and plants and I remembered that on the farm I grew up on we had a weed called horsetail so I chose that. Afterwards it came to me how really appropriate it is because I like driving my horses and that is the view I see the most of!

-- horsetail, Fergus, Ontario

nice view! :)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Neat story!:-)

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

I’ve always had a hard time picking out cool sounding names. My parents sort of chose my name for the lack of teasable nicknames as a child… and I’ve pretty much never had a nickname stick.

Some I’ve used for online presence – I feel like I’ve distanced myself, and figure using my real name is more personable. (if and when it’s availble of course)

-- southern NH. - smack dab in the middle of 5a and 5b - with lots of shade and full sun, in all the wrong places.

sure makes it easier to say “hi”... “Hi Scott!” :)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Ron is short for Ronald, I tend to be lazy sometimes.

-- Central Valley California

best story yet, Ron!! lol

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

My story is similar to Ron’s. lol
I am more well known on the net as Cranbrook2
Cranbrook is a little village about a quarter mile from my farm.

-- John in Cranbrook , http://www.extremebirdhouse.com http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2

Hi John how are you? Are you still making those gorgeous birdhouses,or should I say highrise apartments? Oop’s,just noticed you have a web site,going to take a look.

-- Southwestern Ontario Canada Zone5b

Hi countrygal, I am in the process of building ten more houses right now .They are about 2-3 ft square. Not my choice .lol
Once they are done i will build another monster birdhouse.

-- John in Cranbrook , http://www.extremebirdhouse.com http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2

Well John,whatever you build,I know it will be spectacular.Never seen anything like your work before,and am in heaven while viewing your pics. You” ARE THE MASTER.”

-- Southwestern Ontario Canada Zone5b

I agree!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I just thought of starting this thread again as it was quite interesting and now that we have a lot of new members, it could be fun again.
Names like:poopiekat, merlin, ....to mention only a few…
Some of them might have some very interesting stories!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

yes, yes … do tell. This was a very fun thread; and insightful too.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Oh gosh.. Mine.. Hmmm.. Well I’m not sure how I came up with this one.. ;)

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

I picked mine cause I’m dislexic.

Bob

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

ahahaha Bob.. I didn’t know!!!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

When I bought the house, it was all about poison control because of herbicide, pesticides, rat control: it is an old house in the country in the middle of some fields! Built in the early 1900 with the names engraved on the brick!
So I thought it would be a neat joke! Inside joke! Because I really hate all of those chemical!

-- poisoncontrol, there is to much poison in the world: let's eradicate it!

Neat story! Real inside joke!
Happy you explained!

And I also hate all those poisons!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

“PC”—sounds like a really cool house … I do love old homes. Man, sounds like you have done a lot of work already around the house!!! Have to say, your story about how you chose your name is VERY COOL and funny!!

Glad you have joined us …

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

stories behind the name are always helpful :)

and it helps from being misinterpreted :)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I came up with my name from I was looking on a bird forum one day

The photographer posted pic of the buntings

The blue of them is so vivid and so pretty. They stayed in my head since we don’t have them here

I think they are such a pretty bird

so bunting stuck lol,lol

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

So… Ms B, yer telling me that yer vivid and pretty? <g>
Sure sure. but can ya fly?

Just kidding
Bob

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

Everyone calls me Bon.It’s short for Bonnie.Around here we shorten everyones name if we can.Just seems more personal and less formal .. or something like that. ha ha ha

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

lol,lol I didnt think of that Bob but I am quite doubtful. lol

John from Cranbrook, hey, I saw all your beautiful bird houses on another forum,. wowsers you have talent there man

Countrygal, I am one too and love it

all the names so facinating. I loved everyone of your stories

Poisoncontrol, so glad you explained that. great story too, helps with the name

well they awlays say there is something to a name and so there is.

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

Yes Bunting,
It is quite interesting to find out the reason ``behind` the name.
Quite often it does help to understand what it is!!:-)

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Bunting, GranT and MsDebbieP
I am glad as well that I explained and that you understand my “name”!!!
Sure do not want any problem with this!

-- poisoncontrol, there is to much poison in the world: let's eradicate it!

Bunting….I still prefer “Butterfly” that you use elsewhere though. Am guessing it was “bluebird” who posted the bunting pics then eh

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

Bunting,bullseyeEklectic, poison control, names or whatever you want to call them, I think are so interesting. And the fact that some of us change from one site to another, is just another side of our creativity.

Another interesting fact that I just noticed is that for some the avatars are so well matched to their name while for others, it makes you wonder!

Either way, I think that this is such an interesting subject.
Thank you bullseye for bringing it up!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Mine is just a shortened form of my given name.

-- the day you quit learning is the day you quit living.

Don’t tell me Dinimite! <vbg>

Bob

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

Nope, nothing so exciting. Just Nadine.

-- the day you quit learning is the day you quit living.

Just realized we have a lot of new tenders, so I thought it might be a good idea to start this again!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a