Author Topic: Demo for Chiltern Seeds  (Read 34787 times)

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Online ideasguy

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Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« on: January 15, 2006, 03:59:13 PM »
One of my current projects is a demo "Flower Genie Catalog on CD" for Chiltern Seeds.

Chiltern Seeds

If they go for it, you'll have a CD with their extensive range of seeds on a CD.

You'll be able to put this into your CD drive, select the Chiltern Seeds database on the CD using the "Other Source" pop-up  in Flower Genie,and browse the plant list.

Each plant will have a hyperlink to the BUY page on Chilterns on Line shop, so you can check out latest price and availablity.

It will be categorised by criteria which they use, like:
Perennial, Annual, Bees, Butterfly, First year flowering, Bonsai, etc

If you want to add a plant to your wish list, order a plant, or just plain like a plant, you can click a button and copy the plant from CD to your own database on your computer.

Do you think this would be useful to you?
Please PLEASE reply. Its one of my dreams to have this, but what do YOU think?

I'm making an appeal. Do you have photos of any plants you've grown from Chiltern Seeds? I'm looking for such examples to put photos to their plant names for my demo.
If you shop at Chilterns, you'll probably have noticed that they dont have a lot of photos in their catalog!
Photos will be very much appreciated.



« Last Edit: January 15, 2006, 04:10:30 PM by ideasguy »

Offline greenfinger

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2006, 08:16:45 PM »
The catalog of Chiltern Seeds is good reading (bed stuff). It's dimensions are practical to keep it with you, but the disadvantage is there is no space for illustrations. When I speak for myself I need photos before I buy seeds. I have done business before with Chiltern Seeds and when I wanted to make my choice I had to look things up in my reference works (by the way a very good one to do this is the catalog of Jelitto: www.jelitto.com. So I think there is a need for a joined CD with if possible more than one photo of the same plant. One photo only sometimes gives a wrong impression of a plant.

Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2006, 09:44:42 PM »
I totally agree with you that a good photo is required when you are buying plants, in more that one book!

I received my Jelitto 2006 catalog on Saturday!
Now, it IS a nice catalog!

However, Chiltern have such a HUGE number of plants. If they had photos for each plant it would be like a UK Phone book!

When I spoke to the lady at Chiltern, she remarked that people weren't buying as many seed nowadays.
She put to down to the TV gardens promoting "Instant" gardens in those makeover programs.

Back to the CD. Heres the structure
I'm making a "Gardener" called Chiltern Seeds (but it will show up as a Supplier)
Then the "Garden Areas" will be the different classifications they define for their seeds.
Perennials
Annuals
Bees
etc.
A plant can appear in one or more "Garden Areas"
Each time you select a plant, the Chiltern notes appear.And, if it gets going, at least one photo per plant.
The flower close up, the whole Plant, the plant in combination with other plants?
May take more than one CD, or a DVD

More comments from other members please!

Offline mikesanders

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2006, 09:52:03 AM »
Yes - in my limited time in this hobby of gardening, I had come to the same conclusion - a great range of seeds, but it is good to see the end product as a photograph.  That would make the Chiltern Seeds catalogue one of the best in the market place - and if it can all be tied in with germination, seedling care advice, then this would be great - obviously, from a commercial viewpoint, there has to be a comprehensive on-line ordering service to Chilterns - I have not yet used the Chiltern On-line facility yet (although it is high on my list of priorities to have a good look at their site), so can't comment on what it's like at present.

Great idea and i hope it copmes to fruition.

Mike Sanders

Offline greenfinger

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2006, 02:44:51 PM »

It's my experience when I make a planting plan it is most important to have good planting schemes, not to follow them blindly but to try out plants that have already got their marks from specialists. I can advice the books written (mostly in cooperation) by Piet Oudolf, Henk Gerritsen (two Duchmen) and not to forget Noel Kingsbury.
I think this can be a topic on the DVD:  lassooed garden areas with the plants this time not as a single item, but photographed in form and colour combinations. For me this kind of pictural info of plants in groups is at least as important as the photos of single specimens.

Offline The Gardener

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2006, 05:17:04 PM »
I've been a customer of Chiltern Seed for probably 20 years, and have steered loads of people in their direction (I've got a link to their site on my website).  I find their catalogue really comprehensive in terms of the number of plants they offer, and the number of rarely available plants.  Over the years, I grew a lot of plants from Chiltern seed because a) it was cheaper to grow from seed, b) I had lots of room in my garden (not now!), c) I had a lot more time than I have now, d) I was young enough to wait until the seeds had grown to maturity or near-maturity (especially shrubs or trees) and e) Chiltern had the best selection of unusual plants, and I'm a sucker for anything unusual!  I used to browse the catalogue for any perennial I'd never heard of, then look it up and see if it was something I'd like.  I learned about a heck of a lot of new (to me) plants like that. I often thought it would be good to see photos of plants so that I could see immediately what they looked like. If they had a cd, then the customer could read about the plant, and maybe see a picture, and if they wanted to order it, one click takes them there.  What could be more simple and convenient.  Come on Chiltern - go for it!!

Offline Pixydish

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2006, 09:42:30 AM »
Just checking in with this thread about the CD catalog. I see that the lady at Chilterns is concerned that fewer people buy seeds now. I'm sure she is correct about that. People do tend to go for things that they can see instant results from. All the more reason to have photos attached to catalog items, in my view. When you are trying to compete with the 'instant gardening' crowd, the more information you can offer a customer, the more likely they are to buy. In addition, young people growing up now, the future gardeners, are extremely visual. They have grown up in the media age and are accustomed to modern media formats. They will be the ones buying seeds when we're all gone.
So I'd really like to see a catalog that has photos, as well as complete germination information. It's not enough for me to know that a seed needs 'warm soil' vs. 'cool soil'. I want to know the best temperature range for that seed to germinate, whether is likes dry soil or moist once it has germinated, how much light, etc. I end up having to do a lot of research on my own to get this information, no matter where I buy the seeds. I don't know very many people who love gardening enough to go to all that trouble (except on this forum!). They certainly sell more seeds if they gave more information.
I recently ordered about 30 different seed varieties from a seller in California (USA) who has a catalog the size of a good paperback book. No photos at all, and only brief descriptions of the plants. If he had a catalog on CD, not only would I have saved many hours of research time, but I likely would have placed an even larger order. I order from another American company that has great seeds, and many unusual ones, but they have the exact same germination information on each packet, no matter what plant the seeds are from! Not exactly a key to success if you follow their instructions without thinking. And were I a new gardener, I'd give up on seeds fairly quickly with this sketchy information.
A CD catalog would be a perfect venue for offering more information and photos, and much cheaper to produce in the long run than a paper catalog.

Offline gardenfan

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2006, 06:11:26 PM »
I, too, find the Chiltern Seeds catalogue good reading. I have been using Chiltern for some years now - my only problems are restraining myself from buying too many and finding the space for the plants I grow.
I find plants grown from seed often survive better than larger plants bought in nurseries. Our garden soil (in East Anglia) is so light and dries out very quickly but plants grown from seed seem to develop the ability to survive here.

Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2006, 06:48:34 PM »
I'm still working on the Chiltern demo, Sylvia, so if you have any photos of plants you've grown from Chiltern seeds they would be much appreciated.
Andre (Greenfinger - Belgium)  has sent me a good selection. I held back to get them added to give more content.

Anyone who sends a few photos can have a copy of the demo.

Offline The Gardener

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2006, 12:10:36 AM »
Over the years I've grown lots of plants from Chiltern Seeds, and probably photographed most of them, BUT - I can't remember what I've ordered in the past from them, so I can't tell which are theirs and which aren't! I wonder if they have an archive of orders and can tell me what I've ordered in the past ten years  :)

Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2006, 01:13:08 AM »
At this stage I'd be quite happy to have a few photos of plants in their catalog, just to fill out the demo a bit.

SEND with Flower Genie if you have a couple to spare, then the names and data will be in the exact format. The jpgs will not appear on the CD. The images will be encapsulated in the database using that new feature I told you about to protect photos when distributing SWAP CD's.

RE: I wonder if they keep archives?
I expect they do. I gave the lady from Chiltern the link to the forum, and asked her to look in from time to time. Perhaps she will grace us with a comment at some stage.

Offline The Gardener

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2006, 11:57:50 AM »
I haven't got an up to date catalogue, I think mine is either 2002 or 2003.  Still, I don't expect there's a vast amount of change, so I'll have a look and see what I've got.  I'll SEND them to you when I've got a minute!

Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2006, 01:45:44 PM »
That will be very much appreciated Chrissie.
You'll get a copy of the finished article, of course, plus the one for Farmyard Nurseries (see other thread).

Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2006, 11:14:08 PM »
After a break, I'm back on this project again.

Any photos of plants which are in the Chiltern catalog would be very much appreciated.
They dont have to have been grown from seed, as long as its a photo of a plant in their catalog.



Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #14 on: August 23, 2006, 11:38:38 PM »
Back to this project once again!

When the program FG037 in Flower Genie starts, the first plant alphabetically is selected and clicked by the program, thus showing a photo of the plant.
I'd like the first plant in the Demo database to have a photo, so if you'd like to help, then try this:
Go to the Chilterns web site
http://www.edirectory.co.uk/chilternseeds/
Under Search for a product, Enter capital A in the Genus field, and click Go to do a search.
Their Catalog items beginning with A are shown.
What's the first plant in the list that you have a photo for?
If none on page 1, proceed to page 2 etc.

Email photo(s) to ideasguy@gmail.com (with the name of the plant of course).
If you have Flower Genie please use the SEND feature.

A few photos of any plant in their catalog would also be appreciated. It would be nice to make the demo a combined effort.
It might encourage them to "go for it"

Thanking you in anticipation!

Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #15 on: August 30, 2006, 12:42:53 AM »
Many thanks to André for emailing a number of batches of very high quality photos. Its a treat to look at them in IG and FG, and they are very interesting plants!

These will be available to all members, of course, in the next copy of the Master Database.

Your photo contributions will be very much appreciated towards the success of this fantastic IG Community project.
Email to:
ideasguy@gmail.com
 

Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #16 on: December 24, 2008, 08:18:07 PM »
I cant believe that its almost 3 years since this idea was "hatched" and the catalaog on CD still hasn't materialised.

I'm determined to make amends, and have this wonderful resource released in very early January 2009
and available to you
a) as a download (only a few photos) and
b) on CD, with all the photos we can muster from our members and beyond.

This time around I'm delighted to say that Chiltern have been very supportive.
First, Pat (my contact at Chiltern) supplied an Excel file with details of all the plants in their catalog.

Over 4000 items with Catalog reference, Genus, Species, Cultivar and Price.
I then asked if it was possible to have a list of the URL's (web address) of the BUY pages for each catalog item.
I'm very excited to say this has also been supplied.

First step was to import the plant names into Ideas Genie Pro format. I decided to add them to the Master Database, as Ive now adapted that as the resource to store all the research I do into plants during my various projects.

Progress at time of writing. I'm on the last 500 items. When that slog is over, its time for the fun to begin and start work on the Catalog proper. (The Master Database now has over 35,000 plants)

I'll be renewing my request for donations of photos from our members for use in the Catalog.
If you have photos of any of the plants listed in the Chiltern Seeds catalog, please send them along to ideasguy@gmail.com

Please help make this project a success. If it works well, it will pave the way for other suppliers to follow suit.
« Last Edit: December 24, 2008, 08:19:39 PM by ideasguy »

Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #17 on: January 24, 2009, 06:18:16 PM »
Almost ready to upload the new Chiltern Catalog, updated GA040 etc.
Its a culmination of a couple of months of really hard slog.
I realised that there might not be a big take up of the Catalog on CD, whereas people download most things nowadays.

Including photos would have been a problem for downloading.
Instead I did some testing by linking the Chiltern seeds list to some of our own WPG photos. I was so excited by what I was seeing!

Ive asked permission from some of our members to link to their WPG photos, and I have been delighted with the positive responses.
Its been a pleasure working with your photos, and its a delight to play with the catalog, wondering whose photos are going to appear.
 
Watch this space if you'd like to give it a try.

Offline Lyn and Malcolm

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #18 on: January 24, 2009, 10:29:47 PM »
 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)  ;D

Looking forward to seeing the results of all your hard work with the Chiltern cat George.

One question...................What are you going to think up next  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D

Or is it time to get that rusty fork out of the shed, and get out into the garden ?

Malcolm
« Last Edit: January 24, 2009, 10:31:51 PM by Lyn and Malcolm »

Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #19 on: January 24, 2009, 10:41:26 PM »
Quote
Or is it time to get that rusty fork out of the shed, and get out into the garden ?
I KNEW there was something I was forgeting!  ;D
 
RE:
Quote
What are you going to think up next 
Depends on how long I sit on a bus travelling to and from my day job!
I call it a cruising dream machine - mind goes hyper with ideas on the way to work.
I have a nap on the way home. I think the only person who doesn't is he driver.

Seriously, these things just evolve.
The Catalog thing pulls a whole lot of things together. It was interesting!
The proof of the pudding will be in the hands of the IG and FG users very soon


Offline roiphil

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #20 on: January 26, 2009, 08:24:02 PM »
George
Quote
I have a nap on the way home.

i call my naps power naps  ;D, helps you get a bit more energy for all those jobs that need to be done

Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #21 on: January 26, 2009, 08:54:35 PM »
This power naps are real good! My wife is amazed that I wake up before my stop!

The Chiltern catalog will give you a few ideas Phil! Working at it now.

Offline roiphil

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #22 on: January 26, 2009, 10:18:37 PM »
hurry up then  ;) cant wait to see the chiltern catalogue

Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #23 on: January 26, 2009, 10:43:54 PM »
I'm doin' me best <puff pant>  :)

Online ideasguy

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Re: Demo for Chiltern Seeds
« Reply #24 on: January 27, 2009, 01:18:15 AM »
The first glimpse
Its test mode at this stage folk.
The prices are 2008. Perhaps Pat will be kind if you are the first to send in an order using the Mail Order button!

First, download the updated Catalog program:
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/dl/GA040-dl.exe
1.29 mb
When installed should indicate Version 14

then the catalog itself
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/dl/Chiltern-dl.exe
Its about 4.92 mb Eric, so you should be able to manage it.

Things to note:

About GA040
Ive been experimenting with resizing options.
Normally screens in IG Pro open up full screen. Ive been using a wide screen monitor, and the screens look tooooo distorted, so this is my attempt to tackle that.
Try this (NOT ALL SCREENS YET)
Click on the title bar and drag to position the screen
Click on the lower right hand corner of a screen and drag to the size that looks good.
Note that when you close that screen and re-enter, that screen resizes and re-positions to the size last used.

Next:
Navigate to show the selection of plants Plants with web photos da-daaaaa ;)
Get to screen GA040S14
Click the Web photos button
Takes you to screen GA100S31
Did you notice anything?
The screen you left behind goes shaded.
Ive tested this on two computers
On one its very fast. On the second the darkening is a bit slow (like watching curtains drop)
If its too slow, go to the initial screen of the program and uncheck the Shade in-active windows checkbox

About the catalogYou can buy on line, or create a mail order.
Go through the motions of both if you will. Try adding to basket, continue shopping and add more items.

Chiltern withheld on the plant data information. Its rather precious information and I can understand their reason for guarding it.
This means when you click on a plant, you wont see any plant information.
However, Ive written a bit of code under the Plant Info button in screen GA040S14
When you click that, the program visits the Chiltern Website,the exact page where you would buy the plant, and extracts the Plant information and displays it in the appropriate box.
If you want the program to look up for info every time you click on a plant,you can check the Get plant info on click checkbox
By default its unchecked as it slows the clicking through plants down (you are waiting for a response from the Chiltern server).

Destinations
In the mail Order option, Ive set up the delivery options for all the countries to suit our members. Theres more if required.
As you see, they deliver to US Toby, if you see anything you like.

So off you go and give it a birl.

Edited to say:
STATUS

1) Email function incomplete. Will work on that this evening.
2) The changes I made may mean the Imberhorne and Gower catalogs may not produce a Mail Order printout. Will fix that ASAP.
3) Catalog sections:- These are examples only, as to what the program can present. Suggestions welcome!
I'd like to add sections like
Applications (similar to the current section:- Alpine Plants)
Border Positions (Front, middle back)
More sections by Colour Group
However, all of these require information per plant, and theres about 4,000 of them!
4) The search buttons in GA040S02 are not taking you to the plant you select. Work on that later

I'll remove this message when Status has changed.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2009, 10:57:20 AM by ideasguy »