Garden AudioA Plant Library audio service for Smart Phones that enhances the experience of visitors to any type of Garden - any where in the world, using the Latin name, people can find out more about any plant they are viewing whilst hearing the details directly on their own mobile phone. http://Twitter.com/DruryMike
March 8th 2012
Meeting with James Alexander-Sinclair It was my great pleasure to meet up yesterday with James Alexander-Sinclair, the well known garden writer, television presenter, speaker and landscape designer. We had arranged to meet for a cup of tea and discuss the Garden Audio concept, as well as a brand new app for ipad that James is working on. We were looking for any synergies between products and to generally bang the drum for the smart use of technology in gardening. Firstly I have to say what a friendly, knowledgeable and (most importantly) unpretentious guy he is. He was quite happy to give his opinions, advice and suggestions for how Garden Audio can move into different directions in the future and it was satisfying to share a passsion for all things horticultural. Ironically we’d picked a place to meet that just happened to be the best blackspot for 3G phone masts as well as being totally bereft of wifi (“sorry, sir - we don’t get a call for that here”), so to demonstrate Garden Audio to James was challenging to say the least! James reaffirmed his belief that Garden Audio is a winner and his own forthcoming app for ipad got a big ‘wow’ from me - a fantastic product, so watch this space. If all this sounds like the mutual appreciation society, then that’s only because we’ve both got great products! If you want to know more about the benefits of Garden Audio then please give us a call on 0845 474 2238. ————————— Follow Mike on Twitter Click here to follow my latest updates: #GardenAudio
March 7th 2012
Garden Press Event 2nd February 2012 What a fantastic experience it was to accompany Nick, Jackie and Jon from Barnsdale Gardens at the Garden Press Event on Thursday. Whilst our journey to the RHS Halls in London was a tad grueling (especially with the tube delays), the event was great and I have to admit to being a little ‘star-struck’ with many gardening legends visiting the stand. To see the likes of Roy Lancaster and Peter Seabrook in the flesh was a real treat for me! The Garden Audio concept yet again received loads of positive comments and endorsed the value of the plant audio library. We were promised numerous editorial contributions and leads for future business, but perhaps of equal value were the many suggestions of different applications for the Garden Audio library and ways to implement them. Whilst we are firmly committed to the idea of a menu-based system for public show gardens (to keep the simplicity of the ‘two-clicks’ method), there was huge interest in the use of QR codes to invoke the audio files. It seems that there’s an inexorable tide of this technology, and a feeling that QR codes will be used more and more in the gardening industry. That’s maybe a firm pointer for us to consider - especially for use in the nursery and garden centre markets. All in all it was a fantastic day and thanks to all the visitors to the Barnsdale Gardens stand for your support and suggestions for Garden Audio. ————————— Follow Mike on Twitter Click here to follow my latest updates: https://twitter.com/DruryMike #GardenAudio
February 4th 2012
Are QR Codes the Way Forward? What are they? There’s bags of hype about the use of QR (Quick Response) Codes in the horticultural industry. For those uninitiated amongst you, a QR code is a small recangular pattern of dots that now seem to be appearing on everything from people’s calling cards to letters from your local health authority. They look a little like a bar code and are used in a similar way by scanning the code with a smartphone to produce certain information or to link you to a website. How is the Garden Trade using them? A number of organisations and businesses are looking at their potential use. For example the RHS is introducing them on information panels around their garden at Wisley. On scanning the QR codes you will be taken to an appropriate website with further information. Various commercial companies are putting QR codes on either plant or product labelling which will take customers to websites where users can access information about things like suggested companion plants or videos about how to use the product. Is Garden Audio using QR codes? Here at Garden Audio we have the technological capability to produce plant labels with QR codes on (and have produced a working range of prototypes) which enable our customers’ visitors to access the plant audio file by scanning the code with their smartphone. However we still believe our simple and unique ‘two clicks’ method (via a menu system) of accessing the audio files is the most pragmatic and effective way. In a way, we’re ready for this technology but maybe the industry isn’t quite ready yet. What are the disadvantages? Whilst this seems to be a thing for the future, in my opinion there are a number of current potential issues:
Try our QR code If you’ve got a QR code reader on your smartphone, you can try out one of our QR codes on our website at http://www.garden-audio.com/try-it-now.php ————————— Follow Mike on Twitter Click here to follow my latest updates:
December 28th 2011
Nick Hamilton Joins the Team! I’m really delighted to welcome Nick Hamilton, owner of Barnsdale Gardens in Oakham, to the Garden Audio team as Horticultural Advisor. Many people remember Nick’s father, Geoff Hamilton with great affection. Geoff presented the iconic BBC Gardener’s World programme from 1979 until his untimely death in 1996, and for the last 10 years of his life the programme used Barnsdale as a venue. In fact, along with my own late father, Geoff was the inspiration behind my love for gardening. Nick brings a wealth of experience and expertise in his own right to the Garden Audio team. His horticultural knowledge is second to none and his connections with the world of gardening are well known. He makes regular contributions as a speaker at many venues around the country where his expertise is always well received. We look forward to working with Nick as our Plant Library audio service is developed for the world wide market. ————————— Follow Mike on Twitter Click here to follow my latest updates:
November 17th 2011
Brilliant. I would definitely use it. It would keep the kids entertained! It’s helpful for non-gardeners as I often think ‘that’s pretty’ but I’ve no clue about the plant Mr & Mrs Cardell, Peterborough
October 28th 2011
Barnsdale Survey Results At the launch of the Garden Audio service at Barnsdale Gardens near Oakham, Rutland we carried out a survey of those visitors who ventured into the 3 gardens covered by the audio Service. We surveyed 94 visitors (individuals, couples and families) over two days. We asked people if they owned a smartphone. Overall 48 people (a staggering 51%!) said yes We then demonstrated the system to people. We asked: Would you possibly use this facility? Overall 78 people (83%) said yes Some interesting results and the anecdotal feedback was fantastic. ————————— Follow Mike on Twitter Click here to follow my latest updates:
October 14th 2011
Wondering what that particularly striking plant is and the label only tells you the latin name? The Garden Audio system is so simple to use - just find the name on the list that’s texted through to your smartphone and click it. You’ll instantly get an expert telling you exactly what you’re looking at (an audio file played on your phone). Try it now on our website at http://www.garden-audio.com/try-it-now.php
October 12th 2011
Very good to use to see if plants would grow in your garden.
Mrs Jarvis, Newcastle upon Tyne
October 9th 2011
October 7th 2011
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The Garden Audio plant library has been composed and recorded by Mike who is an experienced plantsman, he was a contestant on the BBC's Gardener of the Year TV show in 2006.
He developed the idea for Garden Audio.com when he realised that visitors to Show Gardens and also Garden Centres were keen to know, there and then more details about the plants that they are interested in.
