Nearing the 100,000th plant entry

What kind of celebration is there going to be?
Door prize? hehehe.

I made an important mistake on one of my Plant File entries sometime back. About a month ago, I finally figured out how to edit and correct it. I use the Plant Files database continually. To me, it is THE major asset of Davesgarden.

-Ron-

I'm in the PF all the time, too. There's so much I have yet to learn!

How do you decide which photos make it to the plant files? Can anyone submit photos? Where would one go to submit one?

Yes, anyone can submit a picture, even if it doesn't belong.

Hi jdee -

Anyone can submit photos to the PlantFiles! As long as you know what your plant is (botanical name &/or common name) you may submit one or more photos.

First do a search for your particular plant to see if another member(s) has already entered the plant listing. Just hit the PlantFiles Tab at the top of any page.Once you locate the entry for your plant, scroll down to the bottom of the page and look for the link for adding an image. There is also a place to enter your Zip Code and add a comment on your experience with a particular plant.

If you do not find an entry for your plant, go to the bottom of the main PlantFiles page reached from the tab above. Way down at the bottom is a link for adding an entry. You will need to know the Family, Genus, Species, Cultivar if applicable. If you make a mistake, not to worry, you will have a chance to go to the entry page and correct info and/or typos. Once the plant is entered you can also check off the appropriate check boxes about your plant. (Tip for doing this easily........go to the bottom of the listing page and hit the "live view", then back to the top for "Set All Details".)

It is interesting, educational, and helps other gardeners around the world learn about the plants we all love growing.

If you need additional help, just ask or feel free to email me.

Here's how you add a photo for an existing entry: http://davesgarden.com/faq/pf/#19

We generally accept most images, as long as they meet the following criteria:

a) it's yours, and not "borrowed" without permission from another site or book;

b) you're certain of its identity (we can't accept unknown or unnamed plant images within PlantFiles; and

c) the image is clear (not blurry) and - if the entry already has several images - it is unique from the others. (Often we will have dozens of images of a plant's blooms, when we could really use some good images of its leaves, stem (or bark and trunk), seeds, and even roots.

All images submitted go into a queue where they're reviewed before being released. Generally, if you only have one image in the queue, it will be released within 24 hours. If you submit a bunch, it could take a while for us to work through them all.

We try to select one image-per-submitter to appear in the daily newsletter, so if you submit multiple images of the same plant, one will be selected for the newsletter while the others that are accepted will go directly into PlantFiles. (Some days I release hundreds of "overflow" images - if we put them all in the newsletter, it would clog up people's email inboxes.)

Sorry Terry, didn't mean to be treading all over you........ :-)

Thanks for the info. I'm still just a beginner, but who knows...maybe someday, I'll have some nice pics to share. I have pictures of a few houseplants that might make it there, when I get brave enough. lol

Candy I guess we managed to post simultaneously, huh? (As they say - no harm, no foul ;o)

So, what's the answer to Xenomorf's question in the first post above??

I don't know. We have 3,500 plants (give or take) to go before we get there. So unless the "elves" get really busy, we have a bit of time to think about it ;o)

well I added a few today finaly so that helps lower the number needed, LOL. Im always so tickled when I can add a pic to the PF when there arnt any in there for a particular plant. Makes me feel like Im really contriburting.

Ok, I've got one other question. I've noticed that sometimes there is an entry but not a photo. Does that mean that someone just entered an entry but nothing else? I've got some things that I haven't made an entry for because I don't have an appropriate photo (yet).

So, can we just enter an entry under the expectation that we will be adding a photo later--or is that not preferred?

-Ron-

It's an open database project, so if one person adds a plant (it's name and whatever else they might know about it, or feel comfortable adding). Others can come along later and help fill it in with additional details, comments, images, etc.

Thanks Terry,

I'm going to go nuts now. I've got some real off-the-wall stuff in pots everywhere.

Maybe I'll start with some small immature specimens. There are some hard to get things that I want, but can't find (or get) too.

I try to be as accurate as I can and verify the plant I'm entering into the PF.

-Ron-

That sounds perfect Ron - thanks!

Is there a way to pull up plants for which there are currently no images? It would be cool for people to be able to have an idea of the "most wanted" list. There are a quite a few local arboretums and greenhouse businesses with a wide variety of plants, and I've thought about taking photos of plants for the PDB...But knowing which ones are especially needed would be helpful.

*Bump* Sorry, just really would like to know, because I'm eager to get pictures of needed plants. :)

If you pull up a particular species, you can see at a glance which varieties don't have images. But I don't think there's a way to pull up a report of ALL entries that don't have images (it would be a really long list ;o)

For example, here's a list of Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple) varieties - you can see which don't have images: http://davesgarden.com/pf/b/Aceraceae/Acer/palmatum///

If you know a few species that you want to work on, you could print off the resulting page(s) from your PlantFiles searches.

Otherwise, your best bet is to take the camera and a clipboard and pen/pencil to keep a perfect record of what you photographed.

Okay, will-do. That's better than the needle-in-a-haystack approach I was embarking upon!

Tip: I tend to take a macro shot of the plant tag/label, then take photos of the plant. That way, it's all there and I don't have to write it all down.

That's definitely a great idea. I spent about an hour and a half at the UT (Knoxville) demonstration garden today, and really wished I had my camera. (DH and DD thought it was more important to use it to take pictures of themselves with the football players during fan appreciation day....sigh. WHERE are their priorities????)