@Polymerous that sounds simple enough!!
😉😉

Sabrina!

I'm finding that a combination of this and that, from everybody, is beginning to come together, thus far......including you, Sabrina! 😂😂

I guess though, that an Excel type program would be best, for mobile and PC sync, in my particular case.

Perhaps other Rookies may find the following info useful:
I did find the Polaris Office 5 app preinstalled on my Android phone!! (There's an iPhone version, too!) What a novel idea!! Check the phone's preinstalled apps, right?!?
Forest........Trees...

Babyboomers! Sheesh!!

Anyway, I digress!!
Polaris is a less expensive version of MS Office, of which I'm currently paying for, on a monthly basis (no free PC version of Office). Although, it will be interesting to see if both versions of Excel are compatible with one another 😉
Here's PC World's take on it......
https://www.google.com/amp/www...

I keep the cell with me at all times, outside, for safety reasons (in the hood!) and in case of an emergency, which I had fallen and got a concussion, while gardening in 2012, and no cell on me to call anyone! So it's already handy!

It seems that Polaris can be used quickly for keeping track of blooming, when strolling around the gardens, and then perhaps use a pocket size spiral pad for more detailed info, when working out there, and then enter that info on the phone or PC during water breaks, or at night, etc. I'm not sure about the pad yet. One more thing to carry and not lose, while outside working! (well, two). Plus, I'm all about efficiency. Do it once to save steps back and forth to the tablet or full size notebook, and Keep It Simple Silly!! 😉😉

Last growing season, 2016, our PC was busted, so I relied on my (now busted) tablet and hand-written notes (which, like you @Sabrina , I ultimately lose, especially in the off-season!).

I had just started an Excel document, a couple of nights ago, before reading up on Polaris, after all, it's already on the phone, right? It's simple to use, which is good! It took just one hour to familiarized myself with it (Okay, I confess, the *free mobile version* of Polaris is a watered down version of MS Excel!) and complete a blooming sheet! (Okay, Okay! Confession #2! Not much data to input on a blooming sheet, at this juncture, but in my defense, the idea was to get a feel for the program, without much effort. Plus, I'm lazy! AND I was drifting off to sleep periodically!! )

I'm aware that everyone is different, so clearly it's trial and error, which follows me around like a fly on a wet suit!! 😃

I'm wondering if anybody out there has used Polaris, or is using it, and what you think?? 😃😃

Well, I wrote a short article here on NGA about my method of recording out in the garden (in case you hadn't read my idea):

https://garden.org/ideas/view/...

This method worked out really well for me last year.

@Beckygardener Thank you very much! Your article is very helpful!

Does anybody know if Plantstep has an android mobile device app?

Dana - I have no idea about any apps for Plantstep.

I need to update my new recording method. I love the white clipboard, but I find that I am having to try to organize my writing on it and am not totally happy with trying to do that. So .....

I have now printed out a Microsoft Word page that I laminated and now have it clipped it to my clipboard. I can write on the laminated sheet with a whiteboard marker and erase (with a magic eraser) just like I did with the clipboard. This makes my written recordings of my daylilies more consistent and easier to decipher what I scribbled down on the board. I have listed the facts that I wish to record and also left room at the bottom for any notes about each cultivar or seedling.

Here is a photo of it:



This also means that I do not have to purchase a "white" clipboard. Any color will do! I still take a photo of the recorded data and add to the cultivar or seedlings folder on my computer.

I am obsessed with data from my garden! How else could I decide which plant to remove?

Anyway, I keep an Excel database, a 4x6 cardfile (where the plant details are kept for years, plus there is a big photo album for pictures. This is what I have done for the past 25 yr both at our Marietta house (BIG garden) and here in this little place. It keeps me sane--there are places to note quirks. I'll post the headings I use on my database. That might make it quicker for people to develop a document that suits them.

Oh forgot. I also do budcount documents and fan count documents and use that data up update the cards. Did I mention that I was trained as a Financial Analyst. Analysis comes easily to me and so do forms and records.

Just a note: Usually I don't take anything outside to write on. I sit at the breakfast room window, looking at the boxes in the back yard and whatever notes I thought of just seem to come back to me when I get the note cards out. Unless, of course, I'm counting fans or inspecting foliage.

I tried to show the headings but I think a picture might work better. Later!!

Now that I think about it, the plantstep software lacks is something, or is not well organized. I was trying to record number of fans with dates, but no place is right for it in the software. So I simply write it in the generici note sections, it's not immediate as having a table with everything under the eye.

Lets see if this works. I took a picture of the data base headings on the computer screen. Hope it helps!




Just click on it to get all the titles.

Well, I just had a first bloom yesterday (and today) that I recorded from Beautiful Edgings:

So here is the laminated info sheet that I wrote on with a white-board marker. I recorded the info and then took a photo of it:



And then I took photos of the bloom and entire plant for a new file folder (that I will start on my computer) under "Beautiful Edgings" inside the general folder named "Daylilies 2017".

Bloom Photo:



And entire plant:

Beautiful, Becky!

The laminated sheet is a wonder but I keep on thinking about the first bloom.. in february...
Until the end of may no blooms here!!

So I erased the laminated sheet with the magic eraser and wrote down the stats of another daylily that bloomed for the first time yesterday as well. (I had 2 daylilies blooming for the first time yesterday!)

See this post for the other daylily bloom: https://garden.org/thread/view...

@beckygardener Beautiful, Becky!! Even the NOID!!!

As a former Residential Building Designer, it turns out that I'm seeking a (cheap) program, that includes a CAD drawing feature, where I can draw out the gardens, in addition to keeping records of the daylilies. I'm still planning a new, and final garden to install, if the house goes through, and I'll be doing my annual "musical gardens", so drawing it in plan view helps a great deal (plus it would be a great deal of fun!). It seems that Plantstep may be the answer, in my case. I was outside two days ago, checking out the daylilies, and my growing/blooming chart on the mobile Polaris app worked fine. Apparently, the PC version *is* compatible with MS Excel, so I downloaded free version of Polaris to the PC, but I can't find the darn thing to open and see how well it imports an Excel template!! I'd like to replace Excel with Polaris, on the PC, if all is compatible, and get rid of my monthly MS Office payment, so I'm not giving up yet!!

@florange Arlene, I also enjoy statistics (in a non-professional way). I'm not a hybridizer, but I'm attempting to plan for the future, if I decide to dabble in it.

For iPad/ Apple users- I found an app called Plant Album- I downloaded it and so far, it seems helpful. I wish I knew how to do a screen shot...anyhow, I can create gardens, add plants and photos, notes, etc. It comes in two versions- lite (free) and the full version for 7.99. I am trying the free version.

I also googled apps for Google/android products and there are a couple of apps that look promising.

I purposefully got a tablet for use in the garden, because I hate taking photos on my phone and then uploading them- one too many steps for me. So much easier to take the photos with the tablet...

Im another that uses Plantstep. I have found it really versatile. I used to also take a pad and pencil outside when I wanted to take notes, but now I just use my Smartphone. I have a droid, and with that I just talk into my phone. I say "okay google" then "note to self". Then I can say whatever I want to say, such as Victorian lace, bloom March 1, 5 fans...or whatever. Then I take it in the house and move the notes to Plantstep. And then back it up. Plantstep will also make a catalog for you and post it on the Plantstep website.

@ShakespearesGarden Diana, Thank you. The iPad was mentioned earlier, too. Great idea!! Perhaps one day, when I have the doe for an iPad.

@ocalagal Kathy, Thank you. That's a great idea!! I'll try that on my android, next time I survey the gardens!!

Everybody has been so helpful! I really appreciate it!!

Keep the tips and ideas rolling!!

@bloominholes2fill Dana, I had a birthday-made sure to repeatedly tell the hubby that I wanted one...
Otherwise I'd just spiral notebook it and eventually upload photos from my phone...

@ShakespeatesGarden Diana....
Funny how that works!

So, I learned how to take a screen shot... I tried the lite version of plant album (Apple app) and liked it well enough to shell out the 8 bucks for the full version.






I spent sometime last night getting stuff recorded- lots to go!

It looks a very good app!