The term "avatar" is now used in computing to mean a representation of a person. So if you're playing a game, it might be a character, but on a site like this it means a graphic you have chosen for your login. If you upload a photo when you register it will appear whenever you contribute to the site (instead of the all-purpose little blue and green tree). If you want to do that, go back to your profile and choose "update profile" and "change your buddy icon/avatar".

Rather like everything nowadays is an 'icon', or 'iconic' while the original term was for a representation of a saint etc.

You can see why its been adopted as a term - one of its meanings is 'embodiment', which can be interpreted as 'representation', so in modern usage, avatar can mean a representation or embodiment of yourself on line. Old word, new meaning, three cheers for the English language, which is in a constant state of flux and change... It has nothing to do with gardening, Diane - avatar is now used for any pictorial or iconic representation of a person in cyber space generally, rather than on any particular site, whatever its nucleus of interest.

Thank you everyone. I dont have a phone camera, so have to stay with the little tree. Enjoy seeing all the pictorial representations - now I know what they are !

Glad to have finished some wallpaper hanging in this wet weather, hope to get down the allotment tomorrow for a couple of days. Yipee !

Hope it stays fine for you, Diane! :-)