Adopt-a-plant challenge!

Just laying around until March,maybe I can help out too.Jody
How do I go about adding info?

Jody (and all who were afraid to ask this question ;o)

It's really pretty easy. Here are three scenarios:

Scenario 1 - If you've added a plant and didn't fill in all the blanks, go to your member page and look at your list of plants you've added. Choose one and see what needs to be completed.

Scenario 2 - If you've added photos to entries, you may remember some of them needing a bit of TLC. Again, go to your member page, browse through the photos and find the entry (or entries) that you can help complete.

Scenario 3 - If you have never added a plant or photo to PlantFiles, what better way to start? Some of the groundwork is already laid for you - the plant's botanical and common name have created an entry and the framework is all there.

Let's say you fall into that third scenario. Browse and search to locate the entry for any plant you are familiar with, (or one that you've been studying and hope to acquire this spring...) and see if it needs some sections completed.

For example, let's say you're eyeing those green 'Envy' Zinnias. When you access the plant entry here: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/48918/index.html you'll see it needs almost everything added.

If you're familiar with having two windows open side-by-side on your computer screen, it's pretty easy to do a Google seach for Envy zinnia and get several possible sources of information: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Envy+Zinnia You can keep the plant's entry open in one window and the Google results in a second window to cross-reference as you go.

You can also use the seed packet (if you've bought the seed) or a catalog if you've got one handy.

You can also open a second window in PlantFiles and access another Zinnia entry (such as this one for Zinnia elegans http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/143/index.html ) You'll get a lot of the basic data - it's an annual, hardiness will be "not applicable", needs full, bloom time is late summer/early fall, etc.

The only potential areas of difference between 'Envy' and the other Zinnia entries will be the bloom color and height, which are usually available on the seed packet, printed catalogs or online.

One last step. Once you've checked off some checkboxes, take a look at your member page. It will show you (and the world) that you've shared some information with PlantFiles. Give yourself a pat on the back! (And maybe go find another plant that needs fixing????)

If you make a mistake, press the the "report an error" button while you're still viewing the entry. Tell us what you entered wrong, and we'll be happy to take a look and make the repairs.

Hope that helps..........and Happy hunting!

BTW, Dave has built a tool that will serve as our own little "adoption agency" (*grin*) We should be ready to roll it out next week. For those of you who want to know which entries need help, this tool will let you browse until you find one (or some) plants you're comfortable with, and tell you how many sections are incomplete. It's a pretty big list right now - I hope by the end of our challenge it's significantly smaller ;o)

Oooooo - fun! Can't wait - I've been trying - but really need to sit down with my big old A-Z Horitculture guide. May do some later tonight!

This is fun and educational!

Thanks Terry and Dave!

m.

Okay,I'm going to give it a go.I fit into the Scenario 3.heehee.I have lots of seed and plant catalogs coming in daily.If I even get one or two done a day that would sure help Dave's Plantfiles.
Nothing worse than trying to look something up and there's the plant with no info.Since I'm starting to really get into roses.I think I'll work on them.I'll be learning and helping at the same time.I found a new rose friend who knows her roses too,so I can ask her questions if need be. I'm sure I'll be asking Terry how to do a few things too.
First question do you go to the plantfiles and add?
I think I'm confused already.lol.
Terry I need an example of how to add to the files or the order in which you add to the files,sorry I'm a computer dummy.
I also need the tutorial on how to do my journal too.Is there a tutorial on how to add to the plant files?
Just stear me in the right direction.Terry,
If I get to embaressed I'll e-mail you privately.heehee.Jody

Jody, once you access an entry, you'll probably see that some sections say "Unknown - tell us" - that's actually a hyperlink. Click on it and you'll see the possible checkboxes - check those that apply.

Duh,got ya.lol.Jody

Terry,
I was filling in dog rose,Rosa canina,it's zone 3a-8b.I see you have to check all the boxes.Thanks,Jody

Rosa nitida is also called the northeastern rose according to petterson's field guide. This is fun,plus I'm learning as I go.Jody

Hmm, I do not see that this question has already been asked, so here goes.
I clicked on the TELL US under Propagation Methods & the seed I am entering needs to be soaked before planting. I see nothing to check for that. Am I missing it?

We tried to put the most common techniques in the propagation section (remember it covers not only seed germination, but grafting, layering, etc.) In order to keep it a reasonably-sized list and not overwhelm people with too many options, some things had to be left out.

You can include the timing and general manner (in situ or sow indoors) of sowing the seed, then add a comment indicating it needs to be pre-soaked to hasten germination.

These is not in plantfiles:
Sky Blue Aster-Aster oolentangiensis
Willow Aster-Aster praealtus
Thanks,Jody
edited to add plant


This message was edited Jan 17, 2005 6:36 AM

Aster prealtus is a synonym for Aster novi-belgii (which is a synonym for Symphyotrichum novi-belgii): http://davesgarden.com/pf/search.php?search_text=Aster+prealtus&submit=Search

Aster oolentangiensis is not in PlantFiles - you're welcome to add it - click on the Add a new plant link in the top colored bar (beneath the tabs.)

Keep in mind that new entries don't count toward the contest ;o)

I'll add as soon as the contest is over.lol.Jody

hehehehe, or you can add it now - while you're thinking about it (*grin*)

Seriously, we don't want to discourage people from going about their normal routine within PlantFiles - but we do understand that a contest will focus attention on the activities that are being rewarded.

Terry,
If I keep this up I will be your worst enemy. I was inputting some data into the PlantFiles database and was troubled by the inability to make a decision as to wheather I put certain data in or not. Under the "DANGER:" catagory. According to the plant description I found it to be "slightly poisonous in excess".
(see pic), but the choices I have are either suggesting eddible or not eddible, yet in this plant info I found it is used in may ways as food and teas. I ended up choosing the "N/A" option as "slightly poisonous in excess" suggests that it may be deadly if you really really want to harm yourself. I hope this was the right choice in this case.

Good point. I, too, have felt that sense of responsibility of wanting to be as accurate as possible with this item in particular. I'd wager, though, that the purpose of the 'Danger' detail is simply to alert folks to the general possibility of toxicity, so that they can find out the complete details on their own if necessary. If this is the rationale, then viewers will be well served by whatever we can put down in this regard, even if it is relatively vague. What do you all think?

Shannon

Yes - accuracy is important. And we'd probably prefer to err on the side of caution; if a plant is toxic, even though it may take copious quantities to achieve be noticeable, we should probably indicate that. You can always include a comment that explains why it's considered toxic.

The very first one I went to does not have a hardiness zone listed. It says not applical. But there is no way to change it. It should be a zone 3 to 9 plant.
Bernie

Bernie, can you find the plant with the wrong information, and - while you're on that page - locate the red "report an error" button near the top - click on it and tell us what the erorr is. The system will record a link to that page and one of the PF editors will handle researching and making any necessary corrections.

Just deleted my delightful note :(
I would love to share all the information from the catalog of a great local nursery. They do not list zones (we are in 4/5), as they aren't into mail-order at this time. They do have wonderful information, including the kind of gardens that the plant would be great in.
Eager to get started.

On the hardiness question, one possibility is that if the plant's an annual, it should not normally have hardiness listed. However, some plants listed as annuals are also perennials in warmer climates, in which case their hardiness would be listed but would refer only to the zones where they actually act as perennials.

If there is an annual that is also a perennial in warmer climates, but is only listed as an annual on the PF, then that might be another good thing to put in an error report.

All this subject to Terry's concurrence, of course! :-)

Shannon

Tender perennials (those which lack frost tolerance, and are hardy only to zone 8 or warmer) should be listed as such. They can also be listed as annuals if they are typically grown as such (Impatiens is one such example.)

If you find a plant is listed as only an annual and should be classified as a tender perennial too - please report it.

If you are completing the entry for a plant that is a true annual (completes its lifecycle in one growing season) you should check the "annual" box and "not applicable" for the hardiness range.

Curious to see how the adoption agency is going to work. :) Sounds neat.

Is it possible for us to see how many we have added just recently? I know our info keeps a running tally. I have been filling stuff when I have time, but who has much of that? LOL

Well, we're not ready to start showing a tally list, but in total more than 35,000 checkboxes have been checked off since the challenge began ;o)

WOW! I'd better get busy.lol.Jody

Terry, These PF contests are a great idea. I'm a new member so I don't like to butt in here. But now that I'm seeing another one of these contests begin I would like to suggest one modification. If I can save one other pet-loving person from seeing a dear friend poisoned, it will be worth it:

Will you please count the entries as finished for purposes of the contest WITHOUT filling in the "Danger" category? And even ask folks *not* to fill in that category in the negative unless they're sure?

Here's the reason: There are lots of plants that people put in their gardens that are potentially toxic to pets. The plant/seed catalogs are NOT informative about this. In fact, info. on toxicity for cats and dogs can be really hard to come by (the main resources and research are, understandably focused on cattle, horses etc.). I say this having spent many hours wading through pharmacological, veterinary and other research papers exactly because this info. is *not* easily available.

The point is that if people have to fill in the "Danger" category to complete an entry, there's going to be a lot of filling in as "No Danger" just because there's an absence of information in a gardening source. That absence doesn't mean something's safe for pets, so we could end up with a lot of errors in a pretty crucial category.

Judging by the Pets forum, there are a lot of DGers who would definitely want to have good info. about any danger to their darlings.
And since no other on-line plant finder database I've seen has good info. on toxicity, there's also a chance for the DG Plant Files to make a really important contribution, if there isn't a rush to fill in the "danger" section.

Paani, just to clarify, the contest wasn't about how many plant files could be completed, but how many check boxes were checked off by individual members. So if someone knew that X plant was an evergreen shrub but nothing else about the plant, they'd get the 2 checkboxes (evergreen and shrub) coutned towards their total. They don't have to complete the entire plant file for a specific plant entry...just to check off boxes they DO know about.

-Julie

salvia_lover,

thanks so much for correcting me. I went back to the top (where the contest is explained) and see it now that you've told me. I also looked for why I misread it (for the second time -- I misread the last contest description too). Besides reading it poorly of course :-)

I think it's this passage (pasted from Terry's message). Maybe that bit could be deleted next time? I'm guessing that if I misread it (and I did!), then some other folks may do so too.

"If every member would adopt an entry and complete it, the current entries would be complete in a flash. (If you've added some entries and they aren't complete, now is the time to finish them up!)".

Based on that bit I (wrongly) got the idea that the contest was to complete whole entries. oops.

Terry,

So how many details have been checked off so far?

Well, our "oopsie" yesterday may have affected the count, but I think we may be be getting close to 100,000 details. (Still a long way to go, though!)

paani, please allow me to try to address your concern, which is a good one. One hesitation I had before I presented this challenge was to frame it in such a way that people would not feel pressured to mark things willy-nilly just to rack up "points". My hope was (and is) that if everyone adops ONE entry, they would take the time to research it and be sure they were accurate as well as thorough in completing each section.

In an ideal world, we *could* get 90,000 (roughly two-thirds of our members) motivated to take the time to participate in the challenge, and find a plant to "adopt." Any ideas on how to do that without inadvertantly encouraging a "win-at-all-costs" mentality among those with a fiercely competitive streak?

Terry, I decided to work on aquilegia entries. I created a word doc, then cut and pasted links to each page that needs info and pictures. I've filled in most of the info I am able to, and I've got a nice list of aquilegia that could use pictures. I'm using the search in forums to try to track down folks who could add a photo, as well. Next I pick another family of plants I can grow here... is this a good way to go?

Sounds like a great approach, Weezingreens!

Thanks, Terry.

I have a pretty strong competitive spirit, as you well know, Terry, but I think my desire - and the desire of most everyone on this site - is to make sure the information is accurate. Maybe I'm too trusting, but I can't imagine anyone just marking things off without checking into the accuracy of the data they're entering.

I have asked a lot of questions of you, Debby and Peggy in an effort to make good decisions about what to check off in regards to certain plants. Some things are easier to figure out than others, of course. There are a few plants (ones I've entered) that I'm struggling to find all the information on. It's tough. I guess I look at it as though I am checking off 6 out of 10 details or whatever the case may be - so I have at least made the entry more beneficial to gardeners even if it's not complete. Is that a fair line of thinking on my part or am I not understanding the whole concept of this challenge (or working on the PF in general).

Do you have the ability to see what folks are checking off - or how many boxes they are checking off (to see if anyone is just randomly marking things off?)

Hey Terri,
I looked but didn't fsee an announcement of who won...

Here it is: :)
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/489014/