Tree Seller's Photos often Poor or Non-existent - WHY?

16 years ago

I am so often disappointed with the photos of many tree (and for that matter most any plant) seller. I always want to see a good photo of the ENTIRE tree/plant, as well as close-ups of leaves or a branch. If it is described as having good fall color, I'd like to see a good photo of that too. It's good photos that sway me to make purchases, not descriptions. I find it very frustrating! I wouldn't think it would be that tough to get pictures - it's not like the plants are hiding or moving around or anything!! And I totally don't understand why many vendors have no photos at all!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (23)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
Hmmmm. I've not ever heard of this complaint before and it's interesting.

The production of four color photographic catalogs is very expensive, prohibitively so for the average wholesale grower. The wholesale business can be a 'break even' type of endeavor in the best of years. Adding hundreds of glossy images to a catalog would not be an acceptable overhead cost of doing business.

Retail nurseries or exceptionally large growers can and do spend that kind of money. On-line growers and nurseries typically have lots of flashy images, as well.

You need to BEWARE, though! Photographs can easily be dressed up and are a ready form of terrific propaganda, just as much as the written word. (Aren't some catalog descriptions hilarious??)

You may want to purchase a good field guide to partner with as you search through catalogs. That way you can learn a bit about site preferences, as well as see images of the foliage, flowers, fruits, etc. I've always been happy to recommend the Audubon Field Guide and have often taken it on client visitations for design services.
quirkyquercus
16 years ago
I've found the photos to be misleading illustrations of absolute perfect specimens. I'd rather see what the plant looks like that I will be getting. Even if it doesn't look like much now.
Related Discussions
Why are my beautiful mimosa trees dying?
Q
Comments (53)
@scarediecats,. I found this on the web. I live in a neighboring state, Ohio, and thought I'd look up about my sister beautiful mimosa. (Bark is falling off) enjoy . Native to Iran and China, mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) was first introduced in the United States in the 1780s. Since then, the tree has spread throughout warm, mild regions. In fact, in some places, it is regarded as a weed because the seeds prolifically self-sow. Mimosa doesn't grow well in northern climates, but is well-adapted to mild coastal zones. Cold injuries, though not impossible, are rare here. Cold Injury Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9, mimosa can tolerate more cold than many trees growing in Mediterranean climates. In fact, cold injury is rare in these regions. However, a sudden, prolonged freeze can cause damage. Twigs and branches turn brown and die back. In extreme cases, the entire tree might die back. Occasionally, the trees' trunks develop cracks, caused by alternating periods of cold and warm temperatures. Sunscald occurs when the harsh winter sun damages the bark of young trees, causing brown or sunken patches on the trunk. These problems are rare in mimosas planted in mild climates. Prevention and Treatment Although you can't prevent frost damage in all cases, a few precautions can minimize the risk. Trees stressed by drought, poor soil or disease are more vulnerable to frost injury. Proper growing conditions can help trees weather cold temperatures. Growing trees in a protected area near a house or other trees can also help. Mimosa trees should never be fertilized in late summer. Fertilizing encourages new growth, prone to frost damage. If a tree does sustain injury, the best course is to prune back the branches to remove damage. Dead branches can be identified in one of two ways. Branches that fail to produce new growth in the spring are likely dead. Live branches will have soft, green material if you scrape away a bit of the bark. but dead branches are hard and brown. Make clean cuts one-quarter inch above an outward-facing bud to encourage new growth. Disease Frost damage is rare in coastal regions. Disease is the more likely culprit of injury or death to the mimosa tree. One disease, in particular, fusarium wilt, commonly infects mimosas. Yellowing leaves or early defoliation is the first symptom. As the disease progresses, the bark cracks and branches die back. Sometimes, the tree oozes a foul-smelling white or yellow foam. Eventually, the entire tree perishes. Unfortunately, no cure is available for this lethal disease, but prompt removal can prevent its spread. Distinguishing Between Disease and Cold Injury Because treatments vary, depending on the cause of the injury, it's important to distinguish between frost and disease damage. Frost damage occurs suddenly after a cold snap, while damage from disease usually progresses over several months or even years. Symptoms from frost damage occur primarily in the winter; disease damage is often most evident in the summer and fall.
...See More
When to Walk: Flakey Seller(s)
Q
Comments (59)
"Today, the seller offered to put on a new roof himself. Not hire somebody, but himself. He said I would not be able to choose the color or the shingle, but it would pass inspection although I would not like it." I would have walked too. If the roof leaked, who knows what type of water damage/mold you might have in the attic/walls. I also wouldn't like to be told I have to use a color/shingle that someone else chooses for MY house. As for shopping for a house in December, thats what we did. Our house had been on the market since July. We weren't willing to pay the original asking price so we were watching it to see if the price would go down. It did. By making our offer in crappy weather (Jan), we got it for $50k off. I'm glad we didn't wait until spring to purchase because I knew all the greenery and flowers would bring more buyers.
...See More
Why Blue?
Q
Comments (1)
Well I'm NOT a blue person. Indoors I have NO blue. My husband doesn't understand this. I have no idea why I feel this way. Outdoors things are different! I have a blue/yellow/white garden bed which I love. Yes, delphineums, catananche, campanulas, baptisia and more, are mixed with trollius, coreopsis moonbeam, peony Claire de Lune and low growing white clematis and aquilegia. It is a big mix and wouldn't be any fun at all without the blue! There are loads of clematis that are purple or blue/purple, but also some very nice blues I think. You do get into the question of "what is blue?" My husband and I think this could well be a male/female issue! Also, by saying a flower is blue, perhaps a catalogue gains more sales? * Posted by: coolbeans (My Page) on Sat, Feb 2, 02 at 13:12 This is my VERY favorite thread, and I totally agree with all those who feel that there is just "something" about blue flowers; they ARE magical, they ARE very special; and they make me happier than any other color flower. Don't know why...I just started a flat full of Bluebird delphinium seeds I saved from my one lonely plant last year. A bunch of them germinated, so now I can't wait to have a huge stand of them! Maybe they won't bloom this year, but maybe they will. And also "true blue" penstemons, I'm trying for the first time. I can't get enough of this precious color. * Posted by: Anne_Marie_Alb (My Page) on Tue, Feb 5, 02 at 17:47 WOW....... Did anyone realize that this thread started almost 5 years ago... on Feb. 15, 1997!!!!! I am amazed it has survived that long. Probably, the oldest thread still on the top page! I wonder if "Clare B" (who started the thread) is still an active member of the Garden Web!!! I personally love blue flowers (I mean blue, and not purple, which I also like). I can't believe how many blue flowers I am starting from seeds this year... and that was just a pure coincidence! I also love RED flowers.. Maybe, I should start a "red flower" thread! I will first check the archives! * Posted by: Clare (My Page) on Thu, Feb 7, 02 at 20:34 Yes, Ann_Marie, I am still here! I will be a bit sad to see this thread fade away when it hits the 100 posts mark. After that, the threads are closed. I don't think I have any true blue flowers still. "Victoria Blue" Salvia is the closest thing. I use it a lot. It is such a heavy, long bloomer, and about one in twenty of them will survive winter here. Just wish I could predict which would survive so that I could save seed from those alone and perhaps work up a more hardy strain. By the way, the Hydrangeas in Memphis, Tennessee are incredible. Some are so saturated blue that I'd have to call them navy. * Posted by: Dswan (My Page) on Sat, Feb 9, 02 at 22:37 I'm going to add to this extremely long thread only because there really is something to true blue. I grow from seed a very difficult plant to propagate called Penstemon cyananthus or Wasatch Penstemon. I cold stratify and plant these every year in hopes of gettting one or two in my garden every year. Absolutely gorgeous. * Posted by: Rosa (My Page) on Mon, Mar 11, 02 at 10:24 Did no one mention Gentians-now those are blue! (along with my favorite penstemson of course-some are indeed blue). * Posted by: pineshade7b ) on Mon, Apr 15, 02 at 11:02 i agree with gloria mc coy. i love blue and green , they are my favorite colors in anything. just look in my house and closets. blue..ocean, blue jeans, my own eyes are blue and my husband's are green. many reasons to answer -why blue. although i do not "hyperventilate" , if i should go into a nursery and ask for a blue -flowering plant and the staff looks down their nose at me, i'll know now that they are only doing it because they think I'M a snob. until i adopted gardening as a serious hobby i had no idea that blue was a "snob" color. i just naturally began to look into flowers in the colors i liked personally. you learn something new everyday. i would have been hurt and confused to walk into a nursery and be looked at like a pariah, what did i say? now i know, thanks clare. * Posted by: DesertGardner (My Page) on Fri, Apr 19, 02 at 12:38 Wow - I never knew there was such a controversy over the color blue in the garden. After reading all the posts, I now understand why some gardeners prefer the color. And I have to say that I've never met any gardeners whom I would consider snobbish. Most of them are really quite down to earth! (if you pardon the expression...) I recently tried planting a red, white and blue flower bed, with 'Victoria Blue' Salvia being my blue color. It's a little too purple and doesn't look right as a "patriotic" design. I will probably tear out the red and white and keep the "blue" (purple) since it seems to like this desert heat. Someone mentioned black flowers, and I remembered seeing black pansies in the most recent Burpee catalog. They're a beautiful velvety black with a spot of yellow in the center. I think I'll plant some this winter, and start an obsession with black flowers! (just kidding Clare...) -Kara [* Posted by: yeona_sky (My Page) on Mon, Jun 24, 02 at 0:37 I just bought a blue poppy and am nervously watching its progress. My success with blues has been an up hill battle, but that hasn't changed my desire to spotlight it in my garden. Why blue?, again it's a passion with me. Clare, I hope you get the last word on this thread, and I hope you understand Why blue, a little better. * Posted by: Duster (My Page) on Wed, Jun 26, 02 at 23:56 I agree with the many others about getting annoyed when purple is referred to as blue. Maybe that's why I take up the cause of truly blue flowers! 99% of my Delphiniums are the true electric blue ones. I'd love one of the Himalayan Poppies but just not right for my little yard. I like the blue flowers, rather than the blue foliage plants. And no, blue is NOT my favorite color - I have nothing blue in my home decor. I just like the uniqueness of the TRUE blue and my stubbornness to get people to stop calling it purple!!!!
...See More
Non-existent front door, exterior help!
Q
Comments (15)
Can’t see the door to right that you said is entry to suite - is that an office or what is its use? No matter - seems to me the priority for your entry is light - it needs some! I would install a porch / front door light outside the entry on left - the side of the house. Make it look like an entry from street. Inside the entry I would install a ceiling mounted motion activated light & aim it towards the front door - spotlighting the front door. I would also invest in a ’fancier’ front door - light color wood as you have but a nicer window glass which is textured so it blocks outside view but doesn't need the blinds to obscure for privacy. If the existing door is in good shape, change out the glass. Having a nicer door at entry than the suite should make it obvious which is entry, Are those two steps up to code? They look pretty narrow - don’t know they could be changed without blocking suite access. Two more small things - add a bright cheery enty door mat & place a big & colorful pot next to bench - fill it with bright color annuals. That will draw eye to entry & not get in way of parking or block entry. ETA - Still absolutely first on list is to dig up all those overgrown shrubs covering up the house! Then, have fun creating a nice wide & curved planting bed along the entire front of house - take out some grass for it. Fil it with flowering small shrubs, evergreens for year round structure & perennials. And, have fun with that! A visit to nursery for planning design help will be first step.
...See More
suel41452
Original Author
16 years ago
I was speaking strictly of on-line vendors. I would take any photo with many grains of salt, but at least I could get an idea of what the entire plant can look like. For instance, I drool over the descriptions of many Japanese maples, and the online vendors only show a close-up of a branch or some leaves. I really would love to see the whole tree, no matter how idealized.
pineresin
16 years ago
I'd put the name into google image search, and see what other sites have.

Resin
texasredhead
16 years ago
Would you be willing to spend $5 or $10 for such a catalog providing the cost would be applied to your first order of let's say $50? In an unrelated situation, Home Depot and Lowe's charge to do estimates. Thinks it's $50. If you purchase the job they reduce the cost by that amount.
Embothrium
16 years ago
Sources with multiple fancy images will be paying for them through their pricing. It's the same as with other kinds of products, there are posh department stores and discount outlets both offering home furnishings, for instance. The ones with the career clerks and big displays have big prices, too.
alabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama
16 years ago
Some of my best plants have been from places with no photos. I agree with Resin's advice on Googling images of what you want. Most photos that you do see are of trees pumped full of fertilizer and fungicides, not what you would have in the real world. I think they doctor up the photos a bit on the fall colors too.
cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
16 years ago
I couldn't shop without two browser windows open- one on the vendor site and the other doing research.

For online purchases where shipping is costly and returns unmanageable I would certainly not purchase a plant by looking at only one photo or description no matter how good it is. Eventual plant "sizes" vary from site to site and local environmental conditions can greatly influence how a plant looks and performs.

I use the vendor site to identify candidates then do searches to ferret out more information and a plethora of images. Then I head to a source of regional data to verify that local conditions are favorable and that there isn't something I have overlooked or forgotten- it happens.

By the time I actually plunk down hard earned money I've done everything I can to assure myself that I have chosen the right plant for my needs, and have saved particular photos of it for later ID purposes.

In house photography and catalog production isn't my first requirement of a vendor- I'll happily order from a typed up price list if the cultivar is right and the vendor has good feedback at the various ratings sites like here or Garden Watchdog.

And even if you do find a photo of something the image has likely been snagged from someone else- it is hardly ever the plant you will actually be receiving unless it's a specimen specifically arranged for.

We ask a lot from our online vendors- I say let them concentrate on growing stupendous plants instead of taking photography classes and publishing coffee table quality catalogs.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
a lot of vendors.. are just old people.... lol ...

10 years ago .. most of them didn't even have a computer .... let alone know how to turn it on ...

let alone have a digital camera.. let alone know how to turn them on .. though most knew how to snap a picture ... though they didn't know how to attach it to the computer and download the pix ...

let alone cut the bare minimal profit margin and have a website developed and upload pix ...

then dad died ... and middle aged offspring came along... and realized that they needed to get wired to the world ... but is still lacking in world wide web technology ...

hopefully the barely profitable nurseries... will linger long enough for the next generation to come along... having the technology ... and the plant knowledge to tap the market you are in ...

my best advice to you .. is turn off the computer.. and hit the road.. very soon as the trees are just turning color ... visit local arboretums... or tree sellers.. as the trees are turning color right now in my z5 .... and see them with your own eyes ... a good arb has all their trees labeled .... and you can snap your own pix .... track down some tree nurseries ... you have to get out in the field and see.. feel ... smell the trees to really learn about them ... then with all that knowledge... come back online and track down some stock ...

it took me a couple decades to get it through my thick skull.. that visiting gardens and nurseries.. is not limited to spring and summer ...

after 20 years of gardening .. i just learned in the last few years.. to go look at conifers in the middle of winter... not really to buy them.. but to see what they look like in winter.. that realization opened a whole new world to me ..

if fall color is what you seek .. then you have to go look at them during fall color .... as you note... it doesnt help to go looking for stock in spring.. when they are all green ....

good luck

ken
suel41452
Original Author
16 years ago
Well, these are all excellent points. I guess I can't expect vendors to have realistic photos since they have such a vested interest in showing only the most fabulous possible tree. I can also check out Hortiplex here & and Dave's Garden where people also regularly post "real life" non-touched-up photos of plants.
I'd like to hire "greenlarry in the UK" to take photos of trees I'd like to see. Check out his posting: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/trees/msg1006561620556.html?13
Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!!!!! If I was trying to sell trees, those are the type of photos I'd post online!
Embothrium
16 years ago
Companies such as forestfarm with online presence and huge plant listings, likely to snare a variety of shoppers may have something like 6000 items for sale at one time. I've seen a professional photographer I know, who takes very sharp, magazine quality pictures (and used to specialize in plant and garden images) spend as much as 20 minutes getting each shot.
suel41452
Original Author
16 years ago
Let's see: 6,000 plants @ 20 min per plant = 120,000 min. = 2,000 hours = 250 workdays (8 hr. ea.)at a minimum + days to locate plants to photograph...yep, when you do the math there is a lot involved!
texasredhead
16 years ago
You mean there's no free lunch? Go figure!
suel41452
Original Author
16 years ago
Actually, Gardenweb is my free lunch! Lots of great plant photos & great advice for free!!!
Embothrium
16 years ago
Well, lots of advice anyway.
suel41452
Original Author
16 years ago
Well, I guess I was thinking about other forums, such as the daylily forum. If you like to see fabulous real-life daylily photos, you can't beat it!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
plants sold as flowers.. need pix of flowers to bring in the buyer ....

plants sold for wood .... which all trees basically are for... are not usually sold based on color.. hence.. perhaps... pix aren't thought to be all that important ... especially by the older generations as i noted before ...

besides... i don't want to start anything here.. but the daylily people ... well ... they are a bit excitable about their preferred plant ... lol .. and that is putting it mildly .. lol .. i know of no people willing to fight over their opinions of trees ....

ken
suel41452
Original Author
16 years ago
Hmm.......I could refer you to posts of people's...ahem...differing opinions of trees, but I don't want to start anything either lol!
heptacodium
16 years ago
In our modern world, you can't just post a picture, esp. if you are business trying to sell something. You have to have the rights to that picture, or at least to own it.

And a better picture is always available.

And if you have a picture of the form of a tree, someone wants a picture of the leaves...in summer as well as fall...and the bark...and the fruit...and the flower...

To further illustrate our examples, let s take the initial example offered, Acer palmatum. I can take two pictures in silhouette, one of a weeping, probably lace-leaf variety, and one of an upright ascending, probably full-leaf variety, and say I have pictures of the form of most of the varieties you're gonna be looking at. The differences are not so much in the shape and structure of the plant as they are in the detail...shades of color, amount and degree of variegation, how finely toothed are the incisions of the leaf.

I have two books on Japanese maples. Yes, there are quite a few pictures of entire plants, but there are far more pictures of close-ups. If an author of a book specializing in one particular, rather narrowly focused group of plants finds it unnecessary to provide all pictures of all characteristics of a certain cultivar...

Oops, I forgot something...you don't want the book. You'd have to pay for it. You want the seller to provide it for you, for free, of course. I mean, doesn't Wal-Mart provide incredible customer service as well as that low price?
quirkyquercus
16 years ago
There's a nursery that is famous for it's catalog or website of unbelievable photos with sexy swimsuit models posing with the trees. I think it's amusing but the sad part is they have a reputation for stealing and fraud and treat their customers very poorly.
fatamorgana2121
16 years ago
I have to agree with those that are saying to do your own homework, whether it is googling images or visiting locally growing trees/shrubs/plants of that type. Before I buy trees and shrubs I read up on what conditions they like, how big they get, what they look like (incl. fall color), etc. While I appreciate nice photos on-line and in-print and often the "pretty pictures" do catch me and make me do some work looking up about that tree/plant, I don't need those pictures if I have the scientific name. With all the images and information on-line and in books, I can find out what it looks like without someone trying to sell me something. All the better if I can find one growing locally. Some things do have different habits and appearance depending upon local conditions.

I guess that would be my suggestion to vendors, include the scientific name. I'm reluctant to buy from places that don't because I don't know what I really will be getting. So scientific name is the main course while the pictures are just gravy. ;)

FataMorgana
Embothrium
16 years ago
With books including color photos costs tens of thousands of dollars for even a comparatively small amount.
suel41452
Original Author
16 years ago
Quirky - that's a new one! one wild plant seller!! Or just weird!!!
Heptacodium, I did get books such as "Japanese Maples: Momiji and Kaede" By J. D. Vertrees and read them cover to cover. But I did get them free at my public library heheh.
Everybody disses the big box stores, but it's Walmart, Sam's Club, Lowes and Home Depot that have allowed me to afford to plant the garden of my dreams. I purchased 2 red knockout tree roses at Walmart on sale for $6.00 each and I've seen the exact same at local nurseries for $89 each. Walmart iris are dried up, true, but hey they still grow and mine are blooming like mad! The peony roots I bought at Sams are HUGE and have bloomed the first year planted! Also I got a beautiful Cherokee Princess dogwood at Walmart for $9.99 and 3 dwarf Burford hollies for $2.50 each that are doing beautifully! I say, hooray for big box stores!!

Tree Seller's Photos often Poor or Non-existent - WHY?

Comments (23)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

quirkyquercus

Related Discussions

suel41452
Original Author

pineresin

texasredhead

Embothrium

alabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama

cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

suel41452
Original Author

Embothrium

suel41452
Original Author

texasredhead

suel41452
Original Author

Embothrium

suel41452
Original Author

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

suel41452
Original Author

heptacodium

quirkyquercus

fatamorgana2121

Embothrium

suel41452
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Tree Seller's Photos often Poor or Non-existent - WHY?

Comments (23)

Related Discussions

suel41452Original Author

suel41452Original Author

suel41452Original Author

suel41452Original Author

suel41452Original Author

suel41452Original Author

suel41452Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

suel41452
Original Author

suel41452
Original Author

suel41452
Original Author

suel41452
Original Author

suel41452
Original Author

suel41452
Original Author

suel41452
Original Author