Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but is there a way to narrow search results to only see the entries with photos? I was trying to identify a hibiscus by the flower but there are sooooooo many entries and many with no photos. Also was trying to look for ideas to put in a yellow section of the garden, but same problem...whether it's roses or daylillies you have to look at each description instead of just scanning the photos.

I don't think there is a way to select for photographs only, but it is an interesting idea. Dave will probably chime in and let us know if it is feasible.

I agree!

I would also use such a feature. And the ability to search w/o cultivars in the results, just species.

I agree it would be helpful to search for only plants with photos. On another site (Find A Grave) we have the option of searching for memorials that have a photo so I thought it might be possible here on ATP so I had suggested that idea about a year ago and got a "no" answer; maybe is too difficult to program?

In my spare time I try to add as many photos where needed but whew, it's a big job.

It's not a matter of being too difficult to program, but keeping the search engine that we have simple and intuitive for users.

Most people who use that search engine are just looking for a plant and they won't be bothered with lots of options to check off that change the search. Once you start offering those options you end up making a complicated thing that frustrates people.

Maybe what we really want is a separate "Expert Mode" search engine. Then we can throw every bell and whistle we want at it, and the regular users don't have be burdened by it.

The current facility for specifying criteria in a search is wonderful! A similar facility for sorting results would be a great hit, I think! Only those interested would click on it, similar to the way one can do a basic or more advanced search already.

Dave, I see your point about keeping things simple--I know *I* often get confused if there are a lot of options.

Do like the separate "Expert Mode" idea.

+1 for the separate "Expert Mode" idea.

I am by no means an expert at anything, but I would love more options in doing searches.

If the results were in alphabetical order by species (when searching a genus,) that would help.

I don't see how a button or link to "remove cultivars from search results," would confuse people, or any other options to sort search results. If they didn't know what it was for, they would ask, ignore it, or experiment with it & self-teach.

If folks were going to be intimidated by something, I think it might be how their personal plant list is arranged only by botanical name, even though the common names appear first. It's so hard to scroll quickly through the list since one can't maintain focus on the botanical name used to order the list.

Hope I don't sound complain-y. Just trying to help make my fav plant forum site even better! This is where I keep my plant list & is the most useful site I know for plant lovers. Thanks to everyone who helps out!

Tiffany, the results are in alphabetical order by species when you browse by genus. If you search for Tagetes, for example, you get these results:

http://garden.org/plants/searc...

Click on "View all plants in the genus Tagetes." Those results will be in alphabetical order by species.

http://garden.org/plants/brows...

Thanks for your reply!

It's possible I'm the only one who expects such a thing, but if I search "Dracaena," for example, I can't find any order to the results. Not all genera have a parent plant to click.
Here's a screen shot from part of the search results:

I'm not saying you should click on the parent plant. I'm saying that you should click on the link at the top, which says "View all plants in the genus Dracaena."

http://garden.org/plants/searc...

Another way to do this is to open any Dracaena entry and click on the underlined name of the genus. If you open Dracaena marginata, for instance, you see this:

Dragon Tree (Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia)

Click on the underlined name of the genus and you'll get these results:

http://garden.org/plants/brows...

Thank you for these answers Zuzu. A lot of us can use this type of info. I didn't know most of this.

Maybe there could be some kind of "sticky" on the database home page to explain this kind of stuff.
I'm still confused by the difference between 'search' and 'browse'. I keep plugging away until I find what I'm looking for but there is probably a better and easier way to find stuff.

There's also another way to get the results, listed alphabetically by species and followed by the alphabetical list of cultivars.

Go to the home page of the database:

http://garden.org/plants/

Click on "Browse by genus":

http://garden.org/plants/brows...

Look up the genus you want, using the alphabetical letters at the top. Click on the name and you'll get the list.

Yep, that still confuses me.

Anyway, the OP was asking about looking at only entries that have a photo so I guess I'm veering off topic, sorry.