Today is momentous. Ive just despatched Flower Genie and the Sherwood database to Sir John and his wife, Prudence.
Lady Prudence made contact way back in November and, when I asked how to address her, insisted on being called Prue in our correspondence!
David, her brother in law (Flower Genie user- 1st Vista customer- heartbreak), had related the wonders of Flower Genie (nice to see it being recommended!!) and she sent me an email telling me about Sherwood.
They have tree National Collections of plants: Magnolias, Berberis, and Knaphill Azaleas.
Prue explained that she was dabbling with the Demeter software, developed especially for the NCCPG for record keeping by Collection holders. She's had the luxury of a day of training with the software, something I'd love to offer for IG pro!!
I offered to have a look at her old database, in Lotus Approach (I'd never heard of that database) and see if I could convert it to FG/IG format.
4 months later, job done. I was working on a number of projects of course - not all dedicated time!! This was the fun time project.
I managed to convert the Lotus Approach database quite easily. Then I had a look at the data, and found 2708 plants!!
I asked the obvious question - are they all grown at Sherwood?
Yes, was the answer. Better still, there were images for many of the plants.
What more inspiration could a guy need. I set to work.
You may recall I did a quick web site to give you a glimpse of the garden Go to:
http://www.ideasforgardens.netand look up Sherwood
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/Sherwood/Azaleas/When you are there, look up Davids web site, Higher Knowle:
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/higher-knowle/There are very few photos of Higher Knowle, but Prue has promised to take some, so I can do a better job on Davids web site.
Converting the Higher Knowle database was simple!!
However, converting the Sherwood database was was extremely tricky (more about that later)
The most difficult was the genus Rhododendron. Now, job done, at the click of an FG037 button, I can see there are 583 Rhododendrons in the database.
Type in Azaleas, click a button, and theres also 462 Azaleas.
Click through the list, and I see the photos (I linked them all, a few exceptions) - images of the most beautiful plants imaginable.
You probably know already, but the RHS dont have a Genus called Azalea. All Azaleas are listed as Rhododendrons, so theres close to 1000 Rhodos at Sherwood.
Thats dual name thing is only a minor confusion, considering the other "problems" I encountered when converting this database.
I have to say, I had absolutely NO idea the Genus was so complicated.
I told our own forum resident Rhododendron expert, JohnB about the project, and he did forewarn me!!
I'll explain the project in small steps in this thread, but first I'll use this opening message to post links to web sites I used during my extensive research in this project.
Heres a lovely one for you to read:
http://www.rhododendron.org/v50n2p95.htmI worked to 2:00 am most night this week to get that package delivered before Easter. Tonight, I'll relax (huh!)
Thers MUCH MUCH More to be added to this message - revisit and start at the top each time. Go ahead and post replies of course.
In particular, let us all know if you know the gardens mentioned, or have visited them.
