From rusin@math.niu.edu Mon Sep 26 22:50:21 EDT 1994
Article: 44592 of rec.gardens
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From: rusin@math.niu.edu (Dave Rusin)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Horticultural database on the net - shall we write one?
Date: 24 Sep 1994 23:06:22 -0500
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Some time ago I proposed we collect net wisdom on cultivation of specific
plants in one spot, hoping rec.gardeners would seek data there (and reduce
netnews traffic). My suggestion was that we write up data files, one per
cultivated genus. This drew little notice, and response was limited to two
ideas:
	a) It can't be done.
	b) It's already been done.
Continued postings about garden databases prompt me to write again.

The reasoning in (a) is that there are tens of thousands of plant genera, and
even more "kinds" of plants; about each one might reasonably ask for many
data fields. This is a lot of data -- the Flora of North America will run
over a dozen volumes. Other valid objections question author credentials,
editorial consistency, etc. The reasoning in (b) is that, well, we do have
taxonomic and horticultural data -- they're in datasets called "books". I
have also found several gopher or WWW sites with good databases, as well as
stand-alone programs and CDROMS. Many people evidently keep private databases.

On the other hand, people on rec.gardens seem to keep asking about common
flowers. I have looked at a couple dozen of the catalogs most commonly seen
(in the US), and I notice that together they don't offer more than a few
hundred genera of flowering plants, excluding categories like vegetables and
houseplants. (Partial listing below.)

So maybe I should offer a new version of my previous proposal. I am seeking
100 volunteers, each one to write up a data file on the cultivation of common
garden plants in one genus. I would expect the data to come from a mixture of
experience, library work, garden lore, and whatever mailings or catalogs you
have handy. Your final product will probably be shorter than this post.
Your file will be publicly available on the net (FTP/gopher/WWW/email?).
Others will inevitably comment on or modify your work. I will provide a
template and some guides.

I'm just trying to act as a conduit for the exchange of plant-lovers
information on the net. If you have preferences for how this should be
accomplished I'd be happy to hear from you.

If you are interested in participating, email me for more information. I
expect most people would prefer to write about some genus/genera more than
others; please indicate your preference(s). If I can get commitments on most
of these genera I'll consider the project a 'go', otherwise all bets are off.

         Dave Rusin,  rusin@math.niu.edu
	
TODAY'S LIST: I excluded non-flowering plants (ferns, some hedges,...); plants
not primarily ornamental (veggies, fruits, nuts, herbs); and plants not
appropriate for a common N. American garden (aquatic plants, tall trees,
tropicals, etc.) (If you think this is too autocratic and limiting, write
about any genus that excites you!) Of the genera remaining, these seem to
be in the top quartile or so, and are common in local gardens too:

Achillea Ajuga Allium Althaea Alyssum Anemone Antirrhinum Aquilegia Artemesia
Asclepias Aster Astilbe Begonia Buddleia Caladium Campanula Campsis Canna
Celosia Centaurea Ceratostigma Cercis Chrysanthemum Clematis Coleus Convallaria
Coreopsis Coronilla Cosmos Crocus Dahlia Delphinium Dianthus Dicentra Digitalis
Echinacea Euonymus Freesia Gaillardia Geranium Gladiolus Gypsophila Helianthus
Helichrysum Hemerocallis Heuchera Hibiscus Hosta Hyacinthus Hydrangea Iberis
Impatiens Ipomoea Iris Kniphofia Lathyrus Lavandula Liatris Lilium Limonium
Linum Lobelia Lobularia Lonicera Lupinus Monarda Myosotis Narcissus Oenothera
Paeonia Papaver Pelargonium Phlox Portulaca Potentilla Primula Pyretheum
Ranunculus Rhododendron Rosa Rudbeckia Salvia Scabiosa Sedum Sempervivum
Syringa Tagetes Thymus Tropaeolum Tulipa Verbena Veronica Viburnum Vinca Viola
Weigela Wisteria Yucca Zinnia



From garyvg@aol.com Mon Sep 26 22:51:02 EDT 1994
Article: 44598 of rec.gardens
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From: garyvg@aol.com (Gary VG)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Horticultural database on the net - shall we write one?
Date: 25 Sep 1994 08:59:03 -0400
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I like your idea of putting together a collective database of the 100 most
common genera grown in the US, and you can count me in as a contributer. I
will read your listing offline and get back with my preferences. 

It may be tough to get commitments from 100 different people for a project
like this. If each who offers to contribute was willing to do several
genera, there may be a more realistic possibility of actualy getting
enough contributers.

Gary VanGelder


From thomasw321@aol.com Mon Sep 26 22:54:21 EDT 1994
Article: 44601 of rec.gardens
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From: thomasw321@aol.com (ThomasW321)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Horticultural database on the net - shall we write one?
Date: 25 Sep 1994 10:07:02 -0400
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In article <9409250407.AA02509@clinch.math.niu.edu>, rusin@math.niu.edu
(Dave Rusin) writes:

Hi Dave:
I would be very interested in helping out with the creation of the kind of
database you describe.  I would prefer to work with mums, and related
plants (i.e. asters), roses, geraniums, poinsettias, etc.  If I could
offer another suggestion, it would be to include any folklore, history, 
and other related stories about the plants in addition to the basic
cultural information.  Let me know what I can do to help.  Thanks, Tom.


From jhaneyzz@aol.com Tue Sep 27 10:42:04 EDT 1994
Article: 44685 of rec.gardens
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From: jhaneyzz@aol.com (JHaneyZZ)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Horticultural database on the net - shall we write one?
Date: 26 Sep 1994 23:24:05 -0400
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In article <9409250407.AA02509@clinch.math.niu.edu>, rusin@math.niu.edu
(Dave Rusin) writes:

-- Horticultural database on the net - shall we write one?

Absolutely a great idea I would love to contribute. Let me know what I can
do. Particular fancier of Digitalis, larkspur, Lavatera, aster, Althea and
lots of others and have a nice library of resource materials. 

I would love to make this a winter project as that is when I do most of my
research and planning for the following year.

james haney -- chicago IL
jhaneyzz@aol.com


From wallen@quapaw.astate.edu Thu Sep 29 21:28:13 EDT 1994
Article: 44742 of rec.gardens
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From: wallen@quapaw.astate.edu (William Allen)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Horticultural database on the net - shall we write one?
Date: 27 Sep 1994 10:31:43 -0500
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I like the idea a lot.  I would be willing to help someone compile info
on hydrangeas.  I'm reluctant to say that I could do it by myself.  My
passion for hydrangeas exceeds my expertise.
william allen
wallen@aztec.astate.edu




From joanne@ios.com Thu Sep 29 21:28:44 EDT 1994
Article: 44796 of rec.gardens
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From: joanne@ios.com (Joanne Darrington)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Horticultural database on the net - shall we write one?
Date: 28 Sep 1994 13:42:51 GMT
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Dave Rusin (rusin@math.niu.edu) wrote:
: Some time ago I proposed we collect net wisdom on cultivation of specific
: plants in one spot, hoping rec.gardeners would seek data there (and reduce
: netnews traffic). My suggestion was that we write up data files, one per
: cultivated genus. This drew little notice, and response was limited to two
: ideas:
: 	a) It can't be done.
: 	b) It's already been done.
: Continued postings about garden databases prompt me to write again.

Count me in!  I think it's a wonderful idea.  Would prefer to work on 
perennials.

Joanne@ios.com




From steve015@maroon.tc.umn.edu Thu Sep 29 21:29:20 EDT 1994
Article: 44847 of rec.gardens
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
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From: "Polly Stevens" <steve015@maroon.tc.umn.edu>
Subject: Re: Horticultural database on the net - shall we write one?
To: rusin@math.niu.edu
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On 24 Sep 1994 23:06:22 -0500, 
Dave Rusin  <rusin@math.niu.edu> wrote:

>Some time ago I proposed we collect net wisdom on cultivation of specific
>plants in one spot, hoping rec.gardeners would seek data there (and reduce
>netnews traffic). My suggestion was that we write up data files, one per
>cultivated genus. 
>If you are interested in participating, email me for more information. 

I'm a newbie at this email stuff but I would love to participate in 
information gathering and compiling!! I live in Minnesota and have at 
least four months of "down" time as an outdoor gardener.  
I am currently interested in the following genera for research this 
winter:  
Aquilegia, Cosmos, Delphinium, Echinacea, Lilium, Lobelia, 
Monarda, Oenothera, Paeonia, Salvia, Veronica, Weigela.  
Not that I'll have time to do them all, just that those would be 
most interesting!

Please email me with more information!!

Polly Stevens at steve015@maroon.tc.umn.edu


From rusin@math.niu.edu Mon Oct  3 12:10:15 EDT 1994
Article: 44959 of rec.gardens
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From: rusin@math.niu.edu (Dave Rusin)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Horticultural database on the net - shall we write one? (update)
Date: 30 Sep 1994 14:14:48 -0500
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I'm the fellow who began this thread last week. The response so far has
been gratifying. It looks like there's sufficient interest, so the
project will go; but there is still plenty of room for more volunteers
(and, likely, there always will be.) If you'd like to participate,
please email me at rusin@math.niu.edu. (Avoid posting unless you have
something to say to everyone.) I'd like to clarify a few points.

I've set down a more detailed description of the project; it can
be retrieved via FTP or gopher (and thus thru WWW) by:
	Anonymous ftp     to    math.niu.edu, /pub/papers/Rusin, or
	gopher            to    math.niu.edu, Faculty Publications / Rusin
I can email whatever you can't get any other way. It's 500 lines, 27K.

Also there is a sample of what we might provide in the database. I wrote
up an article on Molucella (Bells of Ireland), [partly because that plant
is frustrating me right now and I hope someone can add to what I wrote
and help me out]. Some of the people who have volunteered seem like
real experts in certain areas; I hope their articles are much better.
Other people seem just to be willing to help out writing about anything;
that's wonderful too and I'd be happy to accept articles from them
which are even more cursory than mine. We can always add to them later.

Finally, one person suggested that some of the flowers might be better
recognized by common name than by genus. While this is true I am a bit
reluctant to leap into the morass of common names. Nonetheless I am
reprinting the names of the plants I posted before, but with a common
name (or two) replacing the name of the genus which includes them.
If this encourages any volunteers that's wonderful.

I appreciate all the supporting comments. The timetable in my project
description is too ambitious, but I still hope to confirm assignments
with volunteer authors in about a week, if enough people continue
chiming in to make the project complete enough to be useful.

Dave Rusin    rusin@math.niu.edu

ORIGINAL LIST ("translated into English")
Ajuga Allium Alyssum Anemone Artemesia Aster Astilbe BabysBreath
BachelorsButtons Beebalm Begonia BlackEyedSusan BleedingHearts BurningBush
Buttercup ButterflyBush ButterflyPlant Caladium Candytuft Canna
CanterburyBells Carnation Celosia Chrysanthemum Clematis Coleus Columbine
Coneflower CoralBells Coreopsis Cosmos Crocus Crownvetch Daffodil Dahlia
Daylily Delphinium EveningPrimrose Flax ForgetMeNot Foxglove Freesia
Gaillardia Geranium Gladiola HensAndChicks Hibiscus Hollyhock Honeysuckle
Hosta Hyacinth Hydrangea Impatiens Iris Lavender Liatris Lilac Lily
LilyOfValley Lobelia Lupine Marigold Moonflower MorningGlory MossRose
Nasturtium PaintedDaisy Peony Periwinkle Phlox PincushionFlower Pinks Plumbago
Poppy Potentilla Primrose Redbud Rhododendron Rose Salvia Sedum Snapdragon
Statice Strawflower Sunflower SweetPea Thyme Tritoma TrumpetVine Tulip Verbena
Veronica Viburnum Viola Weigela Wisteria Yarrow Yucca Zinnia


From wallacec1@jaguar.uofs.edu Mon Oct  3 12:11:07 EDT 1994
Article: 44938 of rec.gardens
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From: wallacec1@jaguar.uofs.edu
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Horticultural database on the net
Date: 30 Sep 94 21:39:11 EST
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I too would be interested in researching a plant and writing it up for
a horticultural database.  I love lavenders, cosmos, artimesias, poppies
(annual and Oriental) and just about everything else.

Would you (Could you) post a sample of the kind of write-up you
have in mind?  I love to write, and love to rsearch, but am not 
sure of the kind of resources I'd require.  A sample would help--I
might be willing to take on even more if I thought I could!
Carol Wallace



