It might have been a short glitch (I hope). I just tried it and it was fine.

http://www.gardenweb.com/gardenweb/query/Blue-Mouse-Ears

I closed out and opened a new window and logged in again, and tried.... it worked. Don't know what was going on.

Sorry to hit the panic button. Thought I was going to have to go back to the days of searching GW through Google... which works, but I prefer to search within the forum.

I think I'm trigger-happy because this whole Photobucket thing has somewhat reduced the value of searching here... and I find it pretty frustrating not to be able to see the pictures!

What I had started looking for were pictures of h. Victory in garden settings... to see how it was used, what looked good with/around it, etc.... I love that we can do that here, and also read comments/glean misc. information. It's frustrating that so many photos are gone!!!! "They" just pull the rug right out from under us, don't they?

Well, anyway, back to pictures of Victory.... Thanks.

No problem windymess! The gardenweb search is a valuable tool. I would also have missed it tremendously. And yes, I do miss those photobucket pictures.

I always use Google, but in my search box I also put the name GardenWeb. That usually knocks out all the extraneous ones. Anyway, good that you got un-glitched.

-Babka

Use Google like this:

"blue mouse ears" hosta site:forums.gardenweb.com

"dancing queen" hosta site:forums.gardenweb.com

rooting stem hosta site:forums.gardenweb.com

Okay.... now it's doing it again. I've logged out, tried again. I've changed browsers, tried again. It still wants to search only "in Advice".... So I'm going to contact the Houzz administrators.

I'll spare you all the very long-winded rant that my husband was subjected to yesterday... but this is pretty aggravating. All I want to do is learn, share and enjoy the delights of gardening. But it seems to me that everything is becoming such a bummer these days. TV is mostly garbage. The news is mostly garbage. The Internet is often a lot of garbage. We had a discussion at a church activity a few nights ago, in which we concluded that its becoming increasingly difficult to talk with anyone about anything anymore... every topic is polarizing and taboo. In fact, we concluded that now even the old standby "safe" topics of sports and the weather are unsafe to broach unless you know the other party well. So, my refuge (other than church and home) is gardening.... And I really love this forum and being able to learn from you all and gather ideas.... So if I can't search it.... that's just one more obstacle! Yes, I can go through Google... and I know how to do it, but it's ridiculous that a previously wonderful feature here is now becoming such a problem. I have to wonder if the reason for this is that I don't really use Houzz for anything else, and they want to push their advertising at me..... something Google already does.

Sorry.... I guess I didn't really spare you the rant.

I'm having the same issue! Very frustrating. Trying to do a search and it won't let me search within a specific forum.

yep, can not search either

I did contact Houzz, and got an automated response that they will get back to me in 3 to 5 days.... we’ll see if they do anything about.

I saw another post about this..I sent an email too..and I also HATE the blocked pics..

I am not certain if this will be of any help:

In a nutshell be on/in any thread discussion of the subject you are searching (Hosta, Shrubs, Houseplants, etc) before you enter the query in the search bar- rather than just being on the subject forum's menu page or the general Houzz or GardenWeb home page.

My long winded version below ;)

do you start your query search in the search bar when you are on the main garden web menu page or the Hosta Forum Main page? It will only pull up findings from the "Advice" options.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums

(when I do a query from this page all I get is ADVICE options- as far as I know it has always been this way for me this past year and this is its usual normal functioning, in my 1 year of use opinion )

A hosta information search did not work if I was on the front homepage of the hosta threads menu and that does seem to be unusal!.

OR

do you enter your query search bar question when you are on/in any discussion/thread page within the hosta forum? I just tried a search while in a Hosta Forum Discussions Thread - any thread- and everything seems to work well...for me.

So, for it to work try searching from the search bar at the top of your page right now- it should pull up Hosta info

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4887848/arrggh-gardenweb-search-is-screwed-up?n=13

(more details: When I type a query on the "search the Garden Web menu bar" while on any Hosta or other forum thread discussion pages- like the one linked above- as I am typing I am automatically given options of where to select my search results- Hosta, Advice, Photos, etc., but even if I do not select anything it automatically pulls up info from the Hosta threads)

I mention this important factor of where the search begins because I had similar situation earlier this year until I found that the results given depends on where the search query is started/entered on the Houzz GardenWeb site. It may have to do with how they are trying to index all the information.

Well, I hope this helps and did not confuse.

I use chrome browser.

If this is not the situation for you, then I hope the restrictive searching issue is resolved soon. I truly feel your frustration about finding happy, tranquil topics to enjoy with others (seems like conversations and shooting the breeze is like crossing an unmarked minefield lately and yes, I do understand the fears and tensions).

Happy to be among Hosta and Gardening Friends here! :) good luck!

Angie, thank you so much! That's the trick!! Searching within a discussion instead of a forum's "homepage".

Angie - that's great... and yes, it does seem to work that way. So that's a great solution and work-around... and I thank you!

I have always been able to do it both ways until just the other day - either from within a thread or from the specific forum mainpage. Yesterday from work I tried with Chrome (my usual/preferred browser), Firefox, Edge, and then with Safari on my phone..... So I had determined it wasn't a browser thing. And I was trying from the main forum interface, because I was just used to being able to do that and it really didn't occur to me that I would have to open a thread in order to access the whole forum.

But I'm wondering if something has changed about the way these forums are indexed... so that on the main forum interface it can't search that forum. Sounds like something has been either reduced or expanded... and I don't know enough about it to hazard a guess....

Anyway, thanks. I'll just have to adjust my habits.

Change happens, right?

Yes, I have always searched on the all discussions main page, because people list in different forums. I almost never use Houzz. They have changed it to force you to go through Houzz. I even tried a search term and changed the term "in advice" to "in Garden Web" and it still took me to Houzz.

ETA: Yes, I know how to search the different ways, I just used to prefer to use the main GW page. Oh well, I'm sure not wading through all the Houzz pictures and stuff for sale.

I wasn't aware that searching through the home page wouldn't produce a search. I believe it did earlier, but it does not now. When searching (after entering a thread), I find the information presented in a easier to read format rather than googling. Last night I tried to post a new thread. I was able to type the words but my pictures would not load. I'll try again today. Maybe gardenweb was in the process of being changed and that's why I couldn't get the photos to load?

I just tried to load a picture along with my new thread. It still doesn't work.

If they ever get back to me about this I'll let you all know.

So... just FYI - a little while ago (and many 'clicks' ago) I was taken to an altogether different interface - one I had not seen before. (No, I was not abducted by aliens!) I tried to get a screenshot to share, but for some reason I was unable. And it makes me wonder if this site is just being redesigned altogether, but is not yet finished. If that's the case, wouldn't it be nice if they just posted a notice about it?

Yes, it seems that things are being updated or redesigned on Houzz or GW... I noticed new features in my profile home page. And same as windymess and newhostalady, I am unable to upload a photo (or a screenshot of the new features)... the little green circle keeps spinning without any results.

The changes are in the works and I am pretty sure all the glitchy things will be resolved soon enough- as the new features are tested and rolled out.

I am hoping for more efficient ways to get information or browse (I like to wander around roam and click on what piques my interest) but when I do research I wish for overall customize-able sort functions and menus. Oh well, one can wish!

I also hope the changes are balanced for user friendliness rather than more ads, social media type stuff, and other marketing stuff.

I wrote Houzz about my problem of not being able to load a photo. They did reply asking me to check a few things like my browser---or restarting my computer. I did try another browser with the same result. I have written them again today. Hopefully they will let us know what is happening!

You're too right, unfortunately!

I just tried to post a picture both on this thread as well as a new posting and nothing is happening......and I've been using the same browser -Firefox- all along....

Pieter

Can I post a pic? Using Chrome on a Chrombook Plus.

The little green circle just keeps going round and round and round. NOT GOOD!

-Babka

same

So I got an email indicating that Jo had posted in this thread... but it’s not here.

NHL- it’s nice that GW responded to you... I haven’t heard from them.

here's my entire email reply from Houzz..

"As an online platform, our website and application is constantly changing to accommodate online changes and updates. We thank you for your input and we will pass your feedback along to the corresponding team in hopes that changes will be made in future Houzz updates."...say what?..I don't get it..

Windymess, it is strange that you haven't heard back from Houzz yet. Did you use the "contact us" form?

Nicholsworth55, I don't get it either. I would contact them again.

I wonder if this problem applies only to our forum? I did a little searching and found one gardenweb forum where pictures were attached yesterday.

Are they trying to get rid of us?

I wrote awhile ago to ask why an original poster is not allowed to delete a post and received a reply that was about the same..didn't answer the question just unclear comments..I wrote this time to add support to others that were writing..

Someone posted pics approx. 3 hrs. ago on the Name That Plant Forum.

I am trying one here. Still no, just spinning after 3 minutes.

If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times going back to the houzz takeover way back when: USE HALLSON'S FORUM.

You can upload larger, higher resolution images, there's none of the ad BS you get on houzz and it's a great community of hostaholics..... Just a thought.... See you there...

Pieter

Trying to see if a picture posts.

I use the Houzz Photo option and click and drag my photo from my photo library that's stored on my laptop over to the Houzz screen. I have to do a split screen in order to click and drag it.

I hope they're just working on some things and it goes back to normal for everyone. I get a little paranoid that they're going to drop the GW section and we'll all lose each other. I'd go to Hallsons, but I also like visiting so many other gardening forums, too.

I'm adding this with the edit feature to see if this works. ....Yes, editing works, also.

The search feature is different, taking me to advice with a checklist of mostly forums I've visited. I don't remember ever going to design dilemma, and didn't know there's a place called before and after. I didn't get too far into it to see where I'd end up.

I did use the “contact us” form.... I’m thinking that while they may not necessarily be trying to get rid of us, they probably just don’t care about us. Because, after all, we don’t bring any money, we cost money... unless we respond to the ads (and I don’t at this time- don’t need those services). Perhaps Pieter is right, and the Hallson forum is the place to be.

I’ll adopt a wait and see attitude for now. Sandy, Angie, maybe it will be better... we can try thinking positive too.

It's still busted. Just tried 2 different browsers -Firefox and Edge- and 2 different methods to try and upload an image, using the Photo option or drag and drop and no go.......

Pieter

No go for me with pics. I moved to allthingsplants after Houzz but like to visit this one. Oh well...

Here is the response I got this morning from Houzz.

-Babka

"The issues have been reported and should hopefully be resolved shortly. I know it's frustrating!"

I went ahead and signed up for the Hallson Forum...

Lovely hosta!

I agree... things do seem to be working again. And I'm glad of it. But I never did get any response from GW, other than that first automated response.

I also agree - Pieter, that is a lovely hosta!!! What is it's name?

That's one of my 'June' specimens, replanted into a Spinout bag earlier this spring and it's been going gangbusters this year. This one sees a fair bit of direct sun and is quite a bit brighter and lighter than the division 18 inches away which is a nice two-tone green and blue.

Pieter

If I am researching some product online and one of the results is from Houzz, I always click that one. I don't particularly shop Houzz, but I give them a preference. I've also thanked them for hosting this forum if I am interacting with them in any commercial transaction, because I want them to know how they got my business.

What I notice about Houzz (as a business, rather than as a host for our forum) is the ads for contractors that appear while I'm reading this forum. And I do take note of some of those... they are people and businesses that I might not know of otherwise. I haven't really needed any of those services recently, but when we get ready to look at having a pergola built in the backyard, it will come in handy. And I know my DIL uses Houzz.

It is all about making a buck... nothing wrong with that, in my book!