New Student Suggestions

[Jessica ManningStudent]

As a new student, I find plant identification without my app “PictureThis” to be a bit scary while wildcrafting. How did you all manage this issue if you even had it happen without just growing your own plants?

• This topic was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by Jessica Manning.

7 users thanked author for this post.

Carol Rose, Carrie Cottrell, Sydnia Ginger Anady, Kimberly Zimmerman, Stephanie Terry, Karen Case, Michele Kimmis

[Michele KimmisStudent]

Thank you for the app suggestion, I’m going to check it out…I definitely need help as I’m learning. I’ve used the app Seek, but sometimes it has a difficult time fully identifying…which isn’t helpful. 😊

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Karen Case

[CeciliaStudent]

Books are a good way to start in obtaining an understanding of the different plants & how to identify them, Samuel Thayer has some good plant ID books with clear pictures and good descriptions of each plant.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Growing your own plants is a fabulous way to really get acquainted with them. The other option is to go out with a local that really knows his/her stuff.

I’m also adding more really detailed images in the individual plant lessons. That project has recently gotten my attention and is in the works.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

10 users thanked author for this post.

Carol Rose, Leslie Melby, Sheila Gaddis, Sydnia Ginger Anady, Leanna Cain, Zavier Banman, Trevor Ming, Susan Scaccia, CATHERINE FLOOD

[Barb RothStudent]

I have grown some herbs in the past and am so excited to add more to my garden this year.  I am also looking forward to learning about foraging wild herbs in my area.  This school is something I have wanted to do for a long time!  🙂

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Valérie

[Sydnia Ginger AnadyStudent]

last year i was able to hire a local plant person to come to my house for three hours and walk around the property helping me identify plants, we also walked down to the nearby lake and along the shore a bit.  I marked the plants with flags and kept a corresponding numerical journal… Blue – medicinal. green flags- edible, red flags poisonous/toxic, orange flags- invasive not medicinal or edible. i first needed to identify my environment as my grandsons were playing survival games in the yard ( new home and area to me)

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Ann Agent

[Sandy HayesStudent]

Doc Jones, this is fabulous. I find I can sometimes be on the fence about the identification of the plant. I look forward to this addition to the lessons.

[Christy DominguezStudent]

I am new to learning about herbs.  I have a plant app on my phone.  It can’t be trusted since I can submit a picture of a plant 3 times and get 3 different answers.  And many plants are identified to live in other countries and here I am in Texas.  I have trouble comparing plants from books to the real thing.  This leads me to be afraid to forage and just grow my own or buy from a reputable source. Any good resources to help?

[Trevor MingStudent]

I’m in southeast Texas (Piney Woods) and so far Picture This has been accurate, however, I’m looking to begin growing my own herbs…

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Sydnia Ginger Anady

[Kimberly ZimmermanStudent]

I have run across the same problem with plant identification apps. Picture this seems to be the best so far. I started growing some of my own plants last year. I have bought several books but it is still scary. I plan on finding someone near me familiar with our native plants to learn from. I would like to have the knowledge in case of an emergency.

[Susan LockhartStudent]

Which app are you using?  I have PictureThis.  I also live in Texas.  My daughter has a place in West Texas and has lots of Juniper or Cedar.  The app has identified them as both.  I don’t think Juniper grows this far south but I’m not sure.  I would love to have someone walk with me and identify plants.  Where do you live in Texas?  I live in Arlington and my daugher lives outside of Cross Plains.

[Katelynn NewellStudent]

I have found another app called PlantNet. It’s another option…

[Susan LockhartStudent]

Which app are you using?  I have PictureThis.  I also live in Texas.  My daughter has a place in West Texas and has lots of Juniper or Cedar.  The app has identified them as both.  I don’t think Juniper grows this far south but I’m not sure.  I would love to have someone walk with me and identify plants.  Where do you live in Texas?  I live in Arlington and my daughter lives outside of Cross Plains.

[Dan FlowersStudent]

Jessica, you must get the book Newcomb’s wildflower guide.  The wonderful thing about the book is that it enables you to identify just about any plant you can find out there.  Because of the way it is set up to identify, you don’t even need to have the book with you.  You just have to answer a few questions in your mind and remember the answers and when you get back home you can identify the plant using the book.  I taught wilderness survival at the college level and this is the book I told student to use.  Have used it for 30 years and have only found a few plants it could not identify.  Second book I would suggest is “Botany in a day” by Tom Epell ( might be spelt wrong).  With these two books you will be all set to learn with ease.

3 users thanked author for this post.

Cheryl Knight, Jennifer Brown, Jan Main

[Nannette BlairStudent]

The skill I have found most useful in identifying plants is learning morphology or plant structure. For instance branching opposite or alternate. Leaf shape like ovate, toothed, lobed, etc.  I learned this from horticulture 101 class at local junior college,  but very readily available online or in books.  I’ve never used an app I didn’t think I could trust these, but I just read doc Jones post I think I’ll try one of the 2 he recommends.

[Tami SchemanskiStudent]

Hi Nannette, I’m wondering what you meant when you mentioned above: “I just read doc Jones post I think I’ll try one of the 2 he recommends.”

What 2 did Doc recommend?  Can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks! Tami

[Beverly RingerStudent]

Thank you for the suggestion. I’m going to get this book.

[CatiecatStudent]

I always get nervous trying to remember what plants are what. I just learned about the picture this and Im going to download it today.

CatieCat

[Brigette DENNISStudent]

I learn one plant at a time. I use an app and identify the plant then I take several photos. Once home I look up and record everything I can about the plant then I print that sheet out along with the photos and put them in a 3-ring binder.  It helps me to continually be able to go back and study and since I find the plant and write down the info on it I find I can remember it better.

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