Many of the photos submitted to Plant Combinations do not have any of the plants identified. NONE! Many of the photos are really great to look at, but I learn nothing. ZERO! When I search for a particular plant, it would be nice to see what plants go well with that plant. Since most of the plants in "Plant Combinations" are not identified they will remain in that black hole.

So, here is my solution. Dave should write an algorithm to identify the plants in the photos submitted to Plant Combinations OR maybe require submitters to ID at least one or two of the plants...

I really like Plant Combinations. It could be better.

Love the plant combinations, but there is great disappointment when I "mouse" over, and find no information.

Those that add photos with an iPhone or iPad can't add tags.

Could there be a , I hate to say, prerequisite, to add info, not necessarily tagging, but at least a listing of the plants in the photo. Maybe in the " more info portion of the photo".

Plant combinations can be very"pretty" to look at, but if not tagged, or listed in some way, they're just pretty, and not informative.

Unfortunately the program set up for the horticulture/ common names of plants , set up to roll a mouse over does not work on my IPad .

Actually when I took the time to write up a separate list to go with the combo pics no one looks…. But each combo submission is worth 1️⃣ acorn, representing years of work, planning and care thru winter storms, summer heat and everything in between.

My garden is a mature garden. I have planted over 250 trees and shrubs, perennials and more over the years. I have posted over 200 combo pics of just my garden. It changes every year… also all my winter pics are helpful how to use evergreens for winter color as well as autumn pics showing color .

In my experience I have stated if anyone interested in the plants just ask…and no one asks. Everyone has their own style and garden zone. So I just left it where if anyone wants the name of any of the plants in any of my combos all they need to do is ask…

In the case of my garden combos most members by now most know my garden pics and are familiar after 5 years of posting. Very seldom has any enquiries regarding plant ID come up in over 200 combo pics posted.

The best part about posting combos is that I also receive lots of acorns and thumbs of support from many different members in many different garden zones . I sincerely appreciate those who take the time to look and support everyone's combos. Combo pics are exceptional pictures representing many different garden styles from all over the world.

Actually in the past 5 years if my memory serves me right maybe 5 requests asking about the plants in a combo submitted. The most requests are generally in the pics in the bees posts.

Most of my garden combo plants are listed in my data base.

By the way most do know most of the plants they are looking at… except some trees and shrubs or one or two plants. Then just ask .

I always support every one who posts in combo pics, and everyone in single pics…A lot of planing and work goes into the many different plants planted in ground and even pots displayed in combos. Everyone needs to be appreciated for the hard work efforts and sharing. I think combo pics shows how to place plants to show the best combinations throughout 1-4 seasons depending on zones.

Good comments, Bea. An acorn for you!

pardalinum Hi Connie Thank you for the acorn…

From a fellow Oregonian: you're welcome .

@bumplbea
So, when you are "Pushing up the Daisies" will all your excellent garden photos remain unsearchable and waiting to be discovered by future paleontologists? I think your combination photos are great, but I am not going to ask for additional info for each photo you submit.

frankrichards16 said: @bumplbea
So, when you are "Pushing up the Daisies" will all your excellent garden photos remain unsearchable and waiting to be discovered by future paleontologists? I think your combination photos are great, but I am not going to ask for additional info for each photo you submit.

Hi Frank…
When that time comes for me to be planted …. I would much rather be "Pushing up Amaryllis". I like the bright colors, show stopping blooms and the ability to bloom throughout the seasons. Nothing against daisies. Just a preference and experience with amaryllis I would like to think I'm as resilient .

for not asking what all the plants are in all my combos. It's not just 2 or 3 different plants but dozens of different plants. My memory is not as good as it used to be . Just because I planted them all doesn't always mean their names are on the tip of my tongue. But they are all in my database (mostly), which helps with the ID .

But if you asked for ID, I would be happy to fill in the blanks. I have admired your beautiful garden and combos/plants for many years. "You got skills". It's always a pleasure to learn and share with other like minded gardeners.

I upload a lot of photo combinations sometimes from Big Box Stores arrangements and I may not always know the names but I like how the combinations look and use it as inspirations for future combo creations of cacti and succulents. (I am a visual person.) I put together a lot of mini gardens for my use or for gifts.

IMVHO, the tagging should not be mandatory for Plant combinations. I think it will defeat the purpose if people like me will stop uploading (because I use iPhone and cannot tag) and we can't show beautiful inspirations for container gardens or garden in general. (Bea, I didn't know you could get s, I almost always run out of it as I give them away as fast as I get them to show appreciation for those photos that I admire.)

Here is the rule I see when uploading plant combinations and I follow this rule strictly:


If tagging is a mandatory requirement, it needs to be added on this rule and I will stop uploading photo combinations since I cannot tag using my iPhone and I may not know a single plant of the combinations I am uploading (like when I am at Busch Gardens).

There's a feature in the plant combinations for discussions, if curious minds want to know anything about the plant combinations. (I know I can't identify some of mine ) or to simply add a comment of appreciation.

I have another suggestion though that might be helpful. For the other members who have the ability to tag the photos, can other members be allowed to tag someone else's photo combinations that they can identify they grow or like?

I do see the value of tagging. I would have no objections if someone has identified or will tag my photos.

Some of the plants are not in the database, and trying to add one is kind of a chore. I like the tags as well, but I am not always able to tag them.

I don't post a lot of plant combos but in order to tag I need to transfer the photos from my phone or iPad to a laptop and then go through the posting process. The one time I did that I realized I had transformed a joyful experience (look I actually have a pleasing combination!) into a slog. If tagging was required I would not post combos.

I appreciate the tagging that people perform but this feature is just not universally available nor easy to use. If there was a simple way to just list the plants in the photo rather than box the locations, this would make tagging more accessible and perhaps more user friendly

GigiPlumeria said: I have another suggestion though that might be helpful. For the other members who have the ability to tag the photos, can other members be allowed to tag someone else's photo combinations that they can identify they grow or like?

I do see the value of tagging. I would have no objections if someone has identified or will tag my photos.

Only admin can create or edit the tags for other members. I've done that a few times.

I also didn't understand this comment "we can't show beautiful inspirations for container gardens or garden in general".
There are several forums where you can share those photos like the Containers forum or Garden Photos forum. Just check the Forum list for other possibilities.

Maybe just a bit of additional text along the lines of "If you know the plants names and can include them, it would be helpful to members."

I agree making it mandatory isn't a good option. There are many times people just don't know the names or the varieties, but post the combinations because they are so pretty. I would also think if anyone wants to recreate a combination, they could ask what the plants are, or post the question if the uploader doesn't know.

You have to remember this isn't a strictly scientific site. It's for all levels of gardeners who treat it more as a hobby and not necessarily a scientific study. Some members do really get into the science of it and that's fine, but most members will be considered casual and just won't have the knowledge to always post full names.

Calif_Sue said: Only admin can create or edit the tags for other members. I've done that a few times.

I also didn't understand this comment "we can't show beautiful inspirations for container gardens or garden in general".
There are several forums where you can share those photos like the Containers forum or Garden Photos forum. Just check the Forum list for other possibilities.

Sue, I am aware there are a lot of container forums, I'm not active in most of those as the majority of those beautiful container plants I can't grow here so I don't even visit those forums. I do enjoy them when uploaded under the plant combinations. I am mainly speaking about our current topic of uploading photos in the section for the plant combinations upload. Also, I find it easier to go back to my profile photo or someone's profile for the plant combinations upload that inspired me to see what I could recreate. I am literally restating (maybe not in an eloquent way) the purpose of uploading the photo combinations as stated here:



If admin's consensus is to share them in the container forums if you can't tag names, then the rules need to be made clear. That's all I am saying, so we won't upload photos in the plant combinations anymore. I don't own a laptop, I have no need for one, and I can't tag photos using my iPad or iPhone.

Tagging certainly isn't mandatory. It's just that the photos will not become part of the database unless the plants are tagged. In essence, a non-tagged combination photo is an ephemeral thing. It's shown on the home page only until it's superseded by more recent combination photos, after which it disappears and is of little use to gardeners looking for effective combinations of plants.

zuzu said: Tagging certainly isn't mandatory. It's just that the photos will not become part of the database unless the plants are tagged. In essence, a non-tagged combination photo is an ephemeral thing. It's shown on the home page only until it's superseded by more recent combination photos, after which it disappears and is of little use to gardeners looking for effective combinations of plants.

That is why tagging should be made more accessible. We have been complacent about the fact that some people can't do it on their devices. If the locating the plant on the picture can be disabled then perhaps all can be able to use this feature