“anyone with an iPhone can just use the camera to take a photo and press the i info icon to find out the name of the plant”.
perhaps the ease and accuracy of this is a bit overstated. It’s great that you are excited OPW. There is a fairly constant discussion on the forum as to which apps work best and new innovations. Maybe that’s why we are not popping corks. It’s not negativity. I didn’t know that photos on iPhones had an ID function. Thanks for that.
I am out in the field with a small day pack for the week, and ID apps are invaluable here - for flora and fauna. It helps me get a deeper connection with what I’m looking at. I discover I’m walking through a field of fleabane. I had no idea! Discussion in the forum is so useful too.
There is a danger of me (us) spending so much time iding on apps that we don’t put our phones away and just enjoy being out. For sure. (Mental note to self) 🌱
Sounds like an interesting job you have Fire. I take kids up into the hills for duke of Edinburgh hikes and Do the same. It’s a great way to engage the children and put names to what they just see as another boring flower!
not expecting popping corks, but have been able to ditch my paid for plant app, so just spreading the love!!
Just taken a pic of my pic on here and this time it tells me gunnera manicata or rodgersia so we're getting there. I'll have a look at the Google Lens later, thank you for that. Despite my advancing age I'm very much into new technology and have a need to learn but I won't say something is good for me if it isn't, that isn't helpful to anyone.
I don't find the apps of any use whatsoever for wild plants, they can't tell me which hawkweed or which penny cress I am looking at, only a good field guide can manage that.
For garden plants they might work for me, as I am not as good with them.
Which reminds me I think found field pennycress in my vegetable patch but I needed to wait for some seed pods to be sure. off to check.
I really don't see the need for the RHS encyclopaedia anymore. Lots of information in old gardening books sadly no longer stands due to changes in weather patterns. If I want some information about a plant I look on line. Posting on this forum not only gives you the name of a plant it will be more accurate as it is viewed by so may. Nothing is as good as hearing from other gardeners who are growing certain plants here and now.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
... Despite my advancing age I'm very much into new technology and have a need to learn but I won't say something is good for me if it isn't, that isn't helpful to anyone.
I don't find the apps of any use whatsoever for wild plants, they can't tell me which hawkweed or which penny cress I am looking at, only a good field guide can manage that....
Ditto ... a good field guide ... or more often @nutcutlet
The other problem with ID apps is that some/many of them seem to be US focussed ... and identify common Northern European plants as similar but different common North American plants ... and new gardeners don't have the little 'Ping' that sounds in their head meaning, 'That's rather unlikely ... let's get another opinion'.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It worth saying that you need to build up good ID skills before you build up good ID skills. Learning the commonly notable features of a daisy or a moth is a field in itself - what to look for in a bee, a bat, a mushroom, a fly or an umbellifer. A lifetime of study.
Posts
perhaps the ease and accuracy of this is a bit overstated. It’s great that you are excited OPW. There is a fairly constant discussion on the forum as to which apps work best and new innovations. Maybe that’s why we are not popping corks. It’s not negativity. I didn’t know that photos on iPhones had an ID function. Thanks for that.
There is a danger of me (us) spending so much time iding on apps that we don’t put our phones away and just enjoy being out. For sure. (Mental note to self) 🌱
not expecting popping corks, but have been able to ditch my paid for plant app, so just spreading the love!!
Wild Edges, Silver Surfer and Nut are also walking encyclopaedias. Many thanks to all the forum sages who share their insights. 🌱
Despite my advancing age I'm very much into new technology and have a need to learn but I won't say something is good for me if it isn't, that isn't helpful to anyone.
Skandi said: Ditto ... a good field guide ... or more often @nutcutlet
The other problem with ID apps is that some/many of them seem to be US focussed ... and identify common Northern European plants as similar but different common North American plants ... and new gardeners don't have the little 'Ping' that sounds in their head meaning, 'That's rather unlikely ... let's get another opinion'.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.