Adopt-a-Plant Challenge Update

Earlier this month, we announced a fun wintertime challenge to help PlantFiles become an even more useful and complete tool. We dubbed it the Adopt-a-Plant Challenge since the goal is for everyone to find an existing entry in PlantFiles and "adopt" it by filling in the blank sections (height, hardiness, bloom color, time, etc.) These details are often found in the garden catalogs that are piling up near our favorite reading spot. Of course, you don't have to stop at one plant - you can "adopt" as many plant entries as you want!

Since the challenge began, more than 35,000 details have been checked off by over 100 members - way to go!!!!

If you're having trouble locating an eligible "adoptee" here is a list of entries that have blank sections: http://davesgarden.com/pf/tools/incomplete.php They're arranged in alphabetical order, and you can see the number of blank sections next to each plant's name (which is also a hyperlink to the entry.) NOTE: This tool is a work-in-progress. Please watch your step as you skip over the blank pages ;o)

Remember we have some nifty prizes to be awarded at the end of the challenge! A top prize will be awarded to the person who adds the most details (remember, accuracy counts!) and two random drawings will be held for everyone who participates in the challenge. Every checkbox you check off will increase your odds of winning.

WHAT: Add details to existing PlantFiles entries
WHEN: January 10 through February 28
WHO: All Dave's Garden members
WHY: PlantFiles is a Dave's Garden community project - what YOU know helps others!

For continuity, here's a link to the original thread: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/477854/

Dave, that's a neat feature. Thanks.

Terry do you have any kind of goal in mind that you would like to meet?

Terry, Is there a possibility of us finding out what the top 3 gardeners have tallied up so far? No names...just numbers. ;)

I have two questions.

When an entry is complete, does it drop off the list so that it doesn't show up in the incomplete file anymore?

What if we can't answer all the parts of an entry, only some parts? Can we leave those blank for someone who can answer them, or would you rather we not even do that entry unless we can fill in all the information?

Okay, one more question I had while starting to go through the list. Would it be possible to break this down a bit? Maybe alphabetically? A list for the A's, and another for the B's? That way I could easily go through the A's tonight and see if I can fill in any blanks, then the B's tomorrow, etc. This would also be helpful if the list is allowed to remain even after the contest. We could work on it when we had a bit of time.

Sorry so many questions. I just don't want to do anything wrong.

Joan, good questions and suggestions.

Once an entry is complete, it drops off the list.

If there is a section you're unsure of - skip it. If you fill it out only halfway, no one else (other than an editor) can add to it. But even if you just go through and polish off a few sections for a plant's entry, that is helpful - so don't hesitate to add what you know, and skip what you don't.

Chunking the adoption list would be helpful. It is most definitely a "work in process" and while I like to daydream about the day it is no longer needed, I suspect there will always be entries with a few blank sections to be filled in.

Carla, sorry - at this point I can only give the aggregate total - which is mighty impressive! (And I'm not sure it would be a good idea to announce the top numbers just yet - it might be somewhat intimidating and discouraging to new PF contributors who are just getting their feet wet ;o)

Thanks Terry.

Good point, Terry. Hadn't thought of that. You know how much I like a challenge. :)

Thanks for this feature, Dave & Terry - it's great! I agree with your call about posting the numbers, Terry. It's great to see that competitive spirit spurring people on, but IMHO the great thing about this challenge is that people new to the 'field' (sorry!) are invited to jump in and feel like their contributions have as much value as anyone else's, which of course they do.

Hmm....don't suppose there's any chance my day job would send me cheques to sit at home & work on DG for the next few weeks? ;-) lol

Thanks for your & Dave's hard work on this - we all have the easy job!
~Shannon

If I add something it doesn't always show after it says it has been changed. Sometimes it does, sometimes I have to resubmit. What am I doing wrong. So far I have not added a new plant just filled in blanks or tried to.

Windy, the system operates on a slight lag. Once you add checkmarks, you can scroll down to the link that says "Switch to live view" to see the updated version ;o)

Ok, I was wondering what was going on. Thanks for the info.

Thanks Terry,I have a list.lol.Jody

Terry, I really like the adoptee list, however I have a question; how do you get beyond the 'C's? I am going through the list as I can find references to each plant, but now that I've made it this far, I can't seem to go any farther except one page at a time. It's a little slow and I was thinking of when I make it to something a little farther down the alphabet.


Any suggestions or am I just not seeing a button, somewhere?



This message was edited Jan 22, 2005 11:02 AM
Edited wrong post, oops

This message was edited Jan 22, 2005 11:03 AM

Yeah there are so many daylily entries it is over whelming. I tried moving the number in the URL up some and that is where I got stuck in the daylily patch. LOL

I know Dave is working to refine this tool (and it's better now than it was just a few days ago.)

Dave, perhaps we can "cull out" the plants that have unique description forms, such as daylilies and irises? If they can be given their own "adoption agency" that would be great; but even if they can't, we hopefully have enough people familiar with them to work on them separate from this challenge....

Peppers too ,please.

Is there any way to seperate the list by alphabet? That way we only have one letter to go through? Maybe most letters won't have more than 100 pages, so we could click on the pages to scroll through the list instead of by clicking on Next, Next, Next, etc....

(Sorted like the Botanary index?)


This message was edited Jan 22, 2005 11:11 AM

starting to feel more like my old self after a long bout with the flu, so after my daughter's birthday tomorrow, I'll be back at the challenge. I'm sure all my days off will guarantee me NOT to win LOL, but it's still fun seeing how much I can get done and how much I can learn in the process :-)

-Julie

I think the UBERS are using books and references also. So it is just a matter of putting out a little effort and research.
I personally wouldn't join in to win, just to learn some facts while I am doing it. I have learned pretty much just using my own books that were collecting dust.
Edited to change a spelling error.







This message was edited Jan 22, 2005 10:52 AM

I'm finding a lot of plants that are parasites.How do you add that to category?just in comments.Thanks,Jody

This message was edited Jan 22, 2005 5:12 PM

Terry or UBER's
Do you guys send an e-mail for everything I enter?Because I got a bunch yesterday and am not getting any today.Just wondering?Thanks,Jody

A couple of things of interest.

We have a Uber who is only 16 years old.
We have at least 2 Ubers who have been on DG for less than 1 year.
We have several Ubers from countries other than the U.S.
We have at least one Uber who is over the age of 70.

What do all of these people have in common? They devote a portion of their time to helping others by entering plant information in a collective database.

I'm asking my question again because I think it got burried in all the Uber talk.

Is there any way to seperate the "incomplete entries" list by alphabet? That way we only have one letter to go through? Maybe most letters won't have more than 100 pages, so we could click on the pages to scroll through the list instead of by clicking on Next, Next, Next, etc....

(Sorted like the Botanary index?)

This is not just for the purpose of the contest, but for ongoing updates.

That would be great if we could get out of the C's.lol.Jody

What if I'm adding details that aren't already there and I hit found an error.
For instance a catagory-tree is already marked but it's also an shrub.Does that mean it doesn't count?If you have to add it.I'm still adding "Add details to existing PlantFiles entries"Just wondering/stratagy.lol.This is like a game that I don't know all the rules.Confused,Jody

MaryEv

I'm sorry I personally can't answer your question although I'm sure you will get an answer to it from Dave or Terry later on.

JodyC

I'm afraid that we don't have a way at present to put the reported details on your counts so they won't go towards the competition, unless Dave and Terry can find a way to do that. All details you can fill in via the 'Tell Us' links on the entry do go towards your count.

We appreciate the additions greatly and you have been very kind in sending in many, many reports.

I'll be sending many,many more,
even after the challege is over.
Just changing stratagy.lol.Jody

Go, Jody, Go!

you too smilin32.lol.go girl

Terry, when I'm doing research on the possible toxicity of the plant, for the "Danger" entry, if I don't find anything that says it is toxic, I'm inclined to just leave the entry un-filled, instead of checking N/A. My thought on this is that N/A might lead someone to believe it's been confirmed as safe to eat or whatever, whereas maybe it is toxic and we just don't know yet - ?

I know it would leave me one detail shorter each time, but hang the challenge - I just want accurate info in there.
What do you think?

Shannon

Spklatt

We agree with that, if you are unsure then leave it be.

Thanks, Baa! Hope you're having a good Sunday afternoon. :-)

No way can I win this.
I'm shooting for Accuracy.
And adding even if they don't
count on the challege.
I was addicted to plants and of course still am,
but now I'm now addicted to adding to the PlantFiles.
lol.Jody

I really don't care so much about a contest. I have been adding here and there mostly from experience and that is what works.
The selections aren't really very helpful in some categories where you choose from a drop down menu.
How would you choose from the drop down menu for type of foliage for cosmos bipinnata for example. There is nothing that describes that sort of foliage.

Don't forget there is a random drawing....you don't have to contribute the most to win that....you just have to contribute.

Besides, that thePlantFiles is enriched and you learn something....I'm not playing to win....just playing to make the PF better.

I'm having fun just increasing my knowledge base! Started with those plants that I had made zip code reports on, and now I'm researching anything that catches my eye... which doesn't take much when I start googling for info and see all those lovely gardens. ;)

Well, I'll be the lone ranger here. I DO want to win. We are on a very tight budget and any gift certificates would be awesome for me to get to buy some things I wouldn't have an opportunity to otherwise. I usually have to scrounge (scavenge) for plants as houses are demolished or new roads put in. I take people's cast-offs, work for plants, shop clearance tables, or ANYTHING I can do to get plants for cheap.

Having said that, I love adding information to the PlantFiles. I've been rather obsessed with it for the past 6 months or so. This just gives me a chance to get a tangible reward for my efforts. :) I can't afford to be proud. :)

smilin32, I have seen plants and trees, shrubs offered on freecylce sites. You could put a wanted add in there and see what happens in the spring time. I have seen boxwoods, crepe myrtles, barberry bushes and other types of plants offered . Someone even offered free mulch and firewood, a gazebo. If I had a truck I would respond to these. Some people might even have means to deliver them to you.

You are to far ahead of me to catch up.I'll be starting my meds again on Monday.I'll be to ill to keep up, let along catch you.I think you got it already.lol.Share some with your new gardening friend,me.lol.
Jody