First - will this info be part of the database, that is "stand alone"? (not linked) So we don't suffer from "missing website" disaster?
Second - can we modify an entry for a species if we want (actually, it's usually genus with lists of some of the species included)? I don't particularly need to search or sort this info (descriptive text is fine), but I might like to customize it to
my collection....From your example - I might go in and put the temperature degree F in there in () just so I don't have to think about it. That's minor, just an example...another more pertinent might be Attila's very detailed birch pruning directions (similar to what is in Mr. Harrington's list but more explicit - right now, I need explicit!). A third change would be to add a species that Mr. Harrington didn't put in his text. American beech? I don't blame Mr. Harrington for not including it in his Fagus entry - he made mention his genus/species database is written from a UK/European audience' viewpoint, and American beech certainly is more difficult of the beeches (not the 1st I'd recommend for bonsai), but I am intrigued with doing North American natives, and I'll probably do one eventually. I'd like to add any specific info on them when I do. American hackberry in the Celtis entry, American Linden in the Tilia text, etc.
Finally - can I add a genus/species that is not represented at all? Two examples, Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) and Jack Tree (Sinojackia xylocarpa, a Styrax cousin). No, they are not hypothetical. My Persian Ironwood (not a hornbeam ;-) went into a training pot this past spring. The Jack tree is young nursery stock I just found last Oct - I'll probably put it in the ground for a few years (any time now). I am sure others have species they want to add. Tropicals like Black Olive (Bucidas spinosa), Buttonwood (don't know this one off the top of my head), etc.
I don't mind sharing any new info I put in - with the understanding that I'm not a tree expert, so whatever I come up with is going to be researched from other sources. My personal experience with any particular tree is going to be something less than 5yr at the moment - I can't give y'all the benefit of 30yr trying something - yet. (Note to self: Keep track of sources & references!)
For the record - Harry Harrington's species info on
www.bonsai4me.com is **VERY** impressive. Great pictures, great info.... I mean no disrespect in the above requests -
but my interest in this software is 1st & foremost to be specific to my collection.... If I want a general bonsai resource - I've got lots of books, or I can go look at great websites like
www.bonsai4me.com.
Oh - one more thought. I think with this turn in the software, "TreeGenus" (also usable as Cultivar/Variety) disappears as a searchable entry? Your thoughts on where best to put cultivar name specific to a specimen now? I've got two Acer p. "Butterfly" trees and a bunch of other Acer p. trees, all will be tagged with the TreeSpecies Acer p. Is there any way I can sort out just the two "Butterfly" cultivars (as an access-to-data-records-quickly issue)? Juniper fanatics will have a similar issue with all the J. chinensis cultivars....