There are plants growing in my yard that I have already added several pictures of to the data base. Now I debate with myself the value of adding more as they grow this spring. On one hand there are already a number of pictures of that plant on the data base. On the other hand if I post a new picture it may appear on the screen for a few minutes and a casual lurker may see it , enlarge it, and then see the other pictures in the data base. If it hadn't appeared the viewer may never have seen the other pictures. Does that make sense? What is your opinion....maybe Dave will comment.

I've had this same question in my mind before, too.

I'd say if the photos represent a new view of the plant that isn't in the db, then by all means add it. But if it's just another photo of a bloom that looks much like one you already uploaded, then I'd say skip it.

Thanks Dave......good advice. I guess another option might be requesting that a lesser quality picture be deleted before adding another better one of the same plant.

That would also work!

And don't forget, we also want photos of seedlings, seeds, newly emerging spring growth on perennials, lots of things other than flowers to snap!

I especially like to see shots of the entire plant. It puts it in perspective as to size, shape, growth habit, etc. A few close-up shots of of blooms are nice, but more tend to be much the same.

Karen

And my feeling is that we don't want to just show pretty pictures, but to provide as much comprehensive information on any given plant as we can pull together. But then, I'm greedy. I want it all. And I want it all in one place. Right here!

woofie said: And my feeling is that we don't want to just show pretty pictures, but to provide as much comprehensive information on any given plant as we can pull together. But then, I'm greedy. I want it all. And I want it all in one place. Right here!

This.

Glad to see that y'all think that way, too. Case in point, last fall I planted some big leaf magnolias from my favorite semi-local native nursery. Basically, I planted a stick with a terminal bud on the top of it, kind of like a 3ft spear when you look at it. This spring, the terminal bud was brownish-black, and that scared me. BUT the bud leafed out, just like it's supposed to. I've been taking pictures of it every few days cause nature just astounds me, but have questioned the wisdom/virtue of adding said pics to the DB.

Maybe I will (if I haven't already), for the very reason Woofie and the rest of you have given here.

Now, when it comes to daylilies, the more bloom pictures the better, because they have different colors based on the growing conditions (or so I've gathered, still being a DL novice). But it would be nice if the folks would caption the photos to give that info. I think I'll go suggest that in the DL forum.

>> I've been taking pictures of it every few days cause nature just astounds me, but have questioned the wisdom/virtue of adding said pics to the DB.

Maybe make a picture-rich thread or a blog article, then add a comment to the plant entry in the database. Describe your photo sequence and provide the link in the database comment.

Just a thought!

Good suggestion, Rick!

I often have wondered why there are so many seemingly duplicitous photos, sometimes by the same poster. Personally, I think a bit of editing would be nice -- how many pics of the same (beautiful) bloom does one need to get the idea of what a plant looks like? I'd personally not be offended if the administrators/moderators declined a photo I submitted that doesn't really add anything to the database, or even if they deleted one I had submitted in favor of a subsequent one that was in better focus or composition. Of course that then requires a judgment call and could lead to some hard feelings. So, a bit of a conundrum. I would encourage posters to check out the existing database and be their own editor before posting a photo, first asking themselves - does it truly add to the database?

And I second the ideas to take and post photos of various stages to the plant's growth - emerging, seeds, leaf, stem, etc. That would be more helpful than a bagillion pretty blossoms.

That said, thanks to everyone for posting their photos -- no bad mojo intended.

Here is my quandary. Perhaps I have added several pictures of a specific plant/flower in 2011 and 2012. Now I see some nice bloom on that plant and add some pictures 2013 even though they may be similar to what is already there. I see real value if those new pictures appear on the screen as recently posted and a new person or browser sees them. They might have never looked on the data base to find that plant but if they see the new picture and enlarge that picture they can see what is already there. Pictures of seeds or emerging seedlings are nice if there is something distinctive about them. I have posted many pictures of Gerbera Daisies. All are different and distinct. One picture of Gerbera seed would probably be sufficient but one picture of bloom would eliminate many gorgeous flowers. So what does it all boil down to? I guess we will each post what we enjoy unless Dave fires or cans us. I second Deb's thanks to everyone who provides the great diversity [a PC word] to ATP.

Good point Paul, hadn't thought of that. Perhaps in that scenario, the original poster could then review his/her photos and decide which might be the best shot and delete others that he/she decides may be similar/inferior? Assuming the original poster can in fact delete his/her own photo??

I have requested at times that a photo be deleted because I decide it was of poor quality and a moderator has done so. When you enlarge a picture that option is available at the bottom of the page. You hit delete, it asks why, you say poor quality, and the next thing you know you get a message that it is deleted. As always, great service.....

I'm probably one of the worst offenders when it comes to uploading photo's that look very similar. I'm really trying to be better about it, really I am! One of these days I need to sit down and propose deletions of many of my pictures but if anyone else happens to be browsing the database and comes across entries of mine that have lots of what appear to be duplicates or close matches ... feel free to help me out and propose deletion of said photo's.

I want to chime in on adding photos of different stages or components of a plant. I love, love, love the flower on George Burns roses. At least, I love all the photos I've seen of the bloom(s) and was planning on adding it to the yard in the near future. However, when I saw the photos skiekitty entered of the THORNS this guy has, I changed my mind reaalllllll fast. Without her photos, well...

Debra,

Thanks for that quote from Maxine!

Made my day.

no pill:

pink pill:

Hurray for pink pills!