DG Site Updates: PlantFiles Suggestion, 1 by Terry

Terry wrote:
ansonfan, good questions. Here's an attempt to answer them one-at-a-time.

Quoting:I would like to see a more developed search within DG. I find that I have to go to google very often to actually find the page on DG. Maybe I haven't learned to use the site properly - I'm not well educated on this kind of thing - but I'm sure a lot of other people like me will come to the site just with the common name of a plant to seach with, and many times the query will come up with no results.

You can enter just a common name in the first field of the main search page (see screenshot below for an example.) That search will take you to this page of results: http://davesgarden.com/pf/adv_search.php?searcher[common]=sh...

Does that help, or are you looking for something else? (And have you tried the generalized search, which is linked to on the main search page, and again if your first results don't yield any matches.)

Quoting:Also, because there are many people that build their gardens around butterflies, or hummingbirds, it would be really great if that bit of info on the plant page was a little more specific.

This one is harder to address, because so many people have so many different interests that influence how they use PlantFiles. We have many people who want to see us expand the toxicity information to be more precise about whether a plant is toxic to horses, cattle, dogs, cats, birds, or humans. Others want to see culinary and/or herbal uses for plants included. Still others want to see more information on how to use flowers in arrangements.

We've tried to make PlantFiles as comprehensive as reasonably possible, but we have to recognize we can't be every "special interest" reader's one-and-only resource for indepth information on their specific interest.

Quoting:One other thing I would like to add, hope I'm not being a bore, is that I get a lot of info from the comments down at the bottom of the plant info page. Many times, I've noticed that newbies post questions in that area, and don't get answers there. It would probably be a great service to everyone to post a link at the top of that area that would take people to the proper area to ask their question - and maybe a little suggestion for people posting in that area to keep their posts very concise and to the point as there are quiet a few 'ramblers' there lol, sorry if I am suggesting anything nievely. Thanks

Many times, those questions come from non-subscribed members. A link to the forums isn't likely to stop them from posting their question wherever they find a way to do it. When you see rambling/off-topic comments, please scroll up to the "report an error" button, click on it, and give us the username of the comment that needs an editor's attention (and eraser ;o)