Search tips

Our first tip is that we can always do the search for you. E-mail us your request and we will let you know with-in one day what we find.

We suggest you start your search by entering several terms and search “any of these words” on the search tool. You can then narrow down your search with the “refine” tool.

The database search tool finds all records that contain the word or string of letters that you search for and is not sensitive to quotation marks. It will find varigated plants when you search for gate. It will find pathway when you search for path but will not find path when you search for paths. Do not use plural forms when searching.

Vocabulary

The on-line database is exactly the same one we use every day in our offices. There is no controlled vocabulary and images can be found in many different ways. A walkway may also be a path; shrubs may also be found under hedges; a garden structure could be an arbor, pergola, or trellis. We urge you to use multiple search terms (“any of these words”). The text database is very quick and you can use our Clipboard feature to select images as you continue and refine your search.

Plant Names

The common names of plants can be quite confusing. A daffodil to one person is a jonquil to another or Narcissus in the proper Latin binomial system. For specific plant names and identification we use the standard Latin binomial nomenclature which classifies all plants by Genus followed by the species. In searching for specific named hybrids and cultivars do not use the standard convention of single quotes while searching the database.

A search by common name will not yield all photos of any particular plant because common names can be confusing. We have found a wonderful nursery website that offers a quick cross-reference of common with scientific names that may help you in defining your search for photographs on PhotoBotanic: http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/synony.html

We include common names as well on many images and encourage you to use multiple searches (“any of these words”). Even commonly accepted names for plants will not find all photos in our library because roses are rosa , tulips are tulipa, azaleas are rhododendrons. The list of confusing common versus scientific name goes on and on. Please contact us directly to do a thorough search for you.

Generic garden terms

To take full advantage of our database it helps to be as detailed as possible. A search for generic terms such as tree, flower, perennial, etc will not yield a comprehensive result. We do not use a controlled vocabulary that yields every flower, tree, or perennial in our inventory by using such broadly generic terms. A beautiful shrub photo might be best found by searching for Viburnum, a wonderful flower photo by searching on rose, a tree will be found at every Oak entry etc. We are constantly working to upgrade our vocabulary and anticipate the various search terms that clients are using but urge researchers to use multiple search terms when using the database.

You can always call or e-mail us for help. We are gardeners and pride ourselves on the information in our database.

Search tips Our first tip is that we can always do the search for you. E-mail us your request and we will let you know with-in one day what we find. We suggest you start your search by entering several terms and search “any of these words” on the search tool. You can then narrow down your search with the “refine” tool. The database search tool finds all records that contain the word or string of letters that you search for and is not sensitive to quotation marks. It will find varigated plants when you search for gate. It will find pathway when you search for path but will not find path when you search for paths. Do not use plural forms when searching. Vocabulary The on-line database is exactly the same one we use every day in our offices. There is no controlled vocabulary and images can be found in many different ways. A walkway may also be a path; shrubs may also be found under hedges; a garden structure could be an arbor, pergola, or trellis. We urge you to use multiple search terms (“any of these words”). The text database is very quick and you can use our Clipboard feature to select images as you continue and refine your search. Plant Names The common names of plants can be quite confusing. A daffodil to one person is a jonquil to another or Narcissus in the proper Latin binomial system. For specific plant names and identification we use the standard Latin binomial nomenclature which classifies all plants by Genus followed by the species. In searching for specific named hybrids and cultivars do not use the standard convention of single quotes while searching the database. A search by common name will not yield all photos of any particular plant because common names can be confusing. We have found a wonderful nursery website that offers a quick cross-reference of common with scientific names that may help you in defining your search for photographs on PhotoBotanic: http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/synony.html We include common names as well on many images and encourage you to use multiple searches (“any of these words”). Even commonly accepted names for plants will not find all photos in our library because roses are rosa , tulips are tulipa, azaleas are rhododendrons. The list of confusing common versus scientific name goes on and on. Please contact us directly to do a thorough search for you. Generic garden terms To take full advantage of our database it helps to be as detailed as possible. A search for generic terms such as tree, flower, perennial, etc will not yield a comprehensive result. We do not use a controlled vocabulary that yields every flower, tree, or perennial in our inventory by using such broadly generic terms. A beautiful shrub photo might be best found by searching for Viburnum, a wonderful flower photo by searching on rose, a tree will be found at every Oak entry etc. We are constantly working to upgrade our vocabulary and anticipate the various search terms that clients are using but urge researchers to use multiple search terms when using the database. You can always call or e-mail us for help. We are gardeners and pride ourselves on the information in our database.		Copyright PhotoBotanic.com