Cd-rom

[Paul Narramore]

Neil

Just to show you that I really am a numbskull on the computer, I finally loaded the Complete Gardens CD-ROM - how long ago was Hampton Court? I tried to search for a rose, any rose, wrote 'Rose' and ticked 'Common Name' and got.........five Rosemaries. Tried 'Rosa' and that was better and I got some roses. Tried 'Rosa Albertine' and got a zero. Tried 'Albertine' and got a zero. In the time it took me to fail to find 'Albertine', I could have stretched out my left hand, got one of my rose books from the bookshelf, looked up 'Albertine' and made myself a cup of tea.

Is there a quick way to search for an exact plant, or am I expecting too much.

I also have a GPS for my motorcycle. I've used it half-a-dozen times and have since gone back to paper maps. I remember the Coronation. Is that a clue?:confused:

[Neil Bromhall]

Hi Paul,
Yes it is very easy to search but if anyone has any problems they can always call me. It's a normal landline.
To search by common name tick the circle next to common name and then type the letters rose.
All the 228 roses listed on the CD will appear in alphabetical order by their common name.
Unfortunately we don't have Rosa Albertine listed.
If you want to search by a Latin name tick the circle Latin name and type in rosa.
The roses are listed alphabetically by their Latin names.
If there is a similar rose listed we suggest that the user can add it to the list and then add ther own notes. Being added to the list will remind you when and how it needs pruning.
Rosemary appeared in your search because the letters rose are in the first part of the name.

We don't have every rose, clematis iris etc but what I've asked the Authors to do is to give us as wide a variety of plants as possible so that the plant care is covered be it for a climbing rose, bush, miniature or floribunda etc.
Someone thought our water lilies were lacking because we only had 7 varieties lsted - but we have made sure we had examples to cover the plant care covered deep water and shallow water varieties.
Also I'm not a big publishing company and don't have the vast resources and backing that say the BBC or RHS have. I make updated version with a further 500 plants which customers can buy as a loyalty CD.
People can trial the software by streaming it so that potential customers can play around for 24 hrs to see if the plants cover their needs.

[Paul Narramore]

Hello Neil

Thanks for that explanation. I had roughly worked out much of that but I think I'm expecting too much from the CD. For instance I tried using it to identify the unusual plant which has just appeared on the forum, you know, the dark red, almost clover-like leaves, and tiny white flowers. Nothing appeared even similar when I put in the flower & leaf colour and habitat (indoor).

[sue1002]

When I search for plants on the CD I usually put in the name of the plant rather than the actual variety, then all the varieties come up, then for my own notes I can use a similar variety if I've got a different one.

Even I have trouble with modern technology these days Paul, so you're not the only one:D, my son knows a lot more than I do when it comes to computer stuff.

[Neil Bromhall]

The CD does have some indoor plants but it's mainly for out door plants.
There are 70,000+ garden plants not including the indoor varieties so we certainly don't purport to having every plant on the CD - then no book does either.
We do try to add plants that people want on the CD so although we have two Oxalis on the CD-ROM, Oxalis regnellii atropurpurea has been marked as needing adding.
There is a very good nursery that does indoor plants
http://www.complete-gardens.co.uk/online/online-browse-plant-garden-suppliers-view.php?id=269
which might be worth looking at.