There was a time way back in the dim and distant past when we gained our gardening knowledge from gardening magazines, and those more wealthy individuals who had a television were able to see the professional gardeners like Percy Thrower and Geoff Hamilton from the box in their living room.
Growing up in Dundee we also had Crolls nursery in the Ferry and Lauries Nursery in Ninewells where we could wander around and see garden plants all named up.
I was lucky to get a five year gardening apprenticeship, with trained gardeners at Duntrune Terrace for practical help and the Kingsway Tech for our written lessons.
Those were great days, but now relegated to pleasant distant memories as we head at great speed into the new world of technology.
This may be fantastic for the young kids introduced to this world from primary school where even those kids from poor backgrounds all have the essential mobile phone.
Alas we silver haired surfers are left to struggle trying to understand this massive knowledge now available with information technology.
We no longer need to ask some expert for gardening advise, just ask Mr Google.
He has all the answers, or knows someone with answers to every question.
I had thought that I had a fair grasp of computers, even building my own website, www.johnstoa.com but the world moves on quicker than I can run, so now Google frowns at my website as it is not mobile friendly.
Microsoft has now brought out a new Windows 10 to replace my old Windows 7.
The last few weeks have been a nightmare.
Emails disappear, photos disappear, jpegs that I normally resize to just over one megabite are now well over 10.
New folders appear that I haven’t asked for and I struggle to use my new posh keyboard as it is black and needs a light so I can see which keys I am using.
However once you calm down and embrace this new world there is no limit to finding answers to all your gardening queries.
We hear about problems on the high streets with so many shops closing down as folk today do so much shopping on the internet.
The gardening world is going through the same problems.
I am now more likely to buy online rather than go to my local garden centres, which I notice are filling up with household goods at the expense of garden plants.
In the autumn my tulips, daffodils and crocus were ordered online from www.peternyssen.com oriental lilies from www.hartsnursery.co.uk and Angels Trumpets from www.vanmeuwen.com
My garden seeds ordered in January from www.simplyseed.co.uk and www.dobies.co.uk
A great source for fruit bushes is www.pomonafruits.co.uk and www.kenmuir.co.uk and the best chrysanthemums come from www.walkersplantcentre.co.uk
If you are looking for tuberous begonias, delphiniums or polyanthus try www.blackmore-langdon.com. A great nursery from Bath.
Previous Courier articles are archived in my weekly blog scottishartistandhisgarden.blogspot.co.uk which goes back to 2008.
Today every nursery and garden center has a website, and there is also one for our local Botanic Gardens www.dundee.ac.uk/botanic and for horticultural research see our local www.hutton.ac.uk
However there is still garden centers to walk around at www.glendoick.com who specialize in rhododendrons and www.dobbies.com
They are only a short drive away and both have excellent restaurants.
If you are looking for quality rose bushes try Cockers Roses in Aberdeen, www.roses.uk.com and www.davidaustinroses.com
Allotments are also fairly well covered with websites with www.allotment.org.uk which has links to everything you are likely to grow, then check out both the National Society at www.nsalg.org.uk and the Scottish Society at www.sags.org.uk.
Then off course the City Road allotments have a website at www.cityroadallotments.com, though there is a tendency to go modern and use social media with Facebook and Instagram. Now I wonder if Google can help me with the digging !!!
Wee jobs to do this week
The winter border is at its best just now with the bright coloured dogwoods and willow but keep the ground free of leaves and weeds as the crocus and snowdrop bulbs are now all through the ground and keen to open up their flowers as we all enjoy the mild winter.
Even the tulips are emerging up into the sunlight so spring may come early this year.
