Monday, September 01, 2014
Mark and Gaz
Last week I attended the official launch of PlantSnapp, an iPhone and iPad based plant identification app. The premise of it is that you send a team of people working behind the scenes a photo of a plant you want identified using the app and within twenty four hours receive an answer, complete with care information and a list of suppliers.
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| George Williams, CEO and Founder of PlantSnapp warmly welcoming us all |
The event was relaxed, well organised, with lovely food and drinks, and I got the chance to know more about the app as I chatted to the team behind it. And they chose a perfect venue too for the launch, Clifton Nurseries which is a long running and well established garden centre right in the heart of London which somehow evaded my consciousness and have only heard of via the invitation to the event.
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| A couple of minutes walk from Warwick Avenue underground station and you'll arrive at this green urban oasis |
And it was a delightful gem of a place which I was glad to explore before most of the other guests have arrived.
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| Private gardens in Central London tend to be small so statement plants like these two Olive trees, Olea europaea tend to appeal to the locals |
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| Tall tree ferns, Dicksonia antarctica for the discerning London gardener... |
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| With the milder climate in the heart of the city, plants like this coning Cycas revoluta can be planted out |
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| Tetrapanax papyrifera 'Rex' does get everywhere... |
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| A Magnolia with beautiful large leaves - Magnolia 'Felix Jury' |
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| Gorgeous new growth on this Eriobotrya deflexa |
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| Ahh but there's always an Agave somewhere... |
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| Beautiful wall planters were also on sale there (with handsome price tags too) |
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| These two were my favourites, I wonder why... |
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| Bacchus would approve |
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| Tender tropicals in the conservatory |
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| Coning Zamia furfuracea |
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| Cycas rumphii |
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| They had some nice succulents too |
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| And they sell some fabulous and quirky pots too, like these ones |
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| A shed full of contemporary and modern garden furniture |
I wish the team behind PlantSnapp app the best of luck and success, and that hopefully it will eventually expand to cover other smartphones too as well as extend the service to their website.
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| The three gents behind the app, L-R Patrice Archer, Angus Rankine, and George Williams |
And I'm glad to have discovered Clifton Nurseries, a delightful garden centre not too far from where I work and will undoubtedly lure me from time to time when the call of plant retail therapy beckons after work (or if I just fancy a nice place for an afternoon tea).
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| The nursery cat which looks like our Knickers |
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
Beautiful nursery with some stunning plants (like that Eriobotrya deflexa). And that app sounds very interesting, I will have to check it out. You guys are so cutting edge!
ReplyDeleteIt's the first time I've heard of such an app Loree. It'll be interesting watch how it develops and expands in the coming months :)
DeleteInteresting. The plant ID apps I've seen advertised here are software driven. It's not clear to me from the website how this one works - it sounds rather like there's a team of plant experts in a back room somewhere making the IDs.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I gathered they do have a team of people behind the app that does the research as well as gathering more info for their database Kris :) as there are loads of plants out there, and new ones continue to come out this will be an ongoing process
DeleteHello Mark and Gaz,
ReplyDeleteOh, Clifton Nurseries in Little Venice is an absolute gem. It is a treasure trove of wonderful plants, especially those which thrive in an urban environment. Lucky lucky you going there!
And, the garden 'antiques' are so tempting. It is terribly difficult to go there and not come away with a glorious urn or sculpture or all manner of delicious garden ornament. Wonderful. We are sure that this would have been a marvellous day out and what an intriguing application. Gardening on the move......
It's a really lovely area isn't it Jane and Lance? Even more reason to wander down there now that I've discovered this charming nursery. I quite fancy some of their pots, might pick up one or two in the next few days :)
DeleteFab nursery and fab event - looks like you had a great time :)
ReplyDeleteHave you had a go with the app?
I had a lovely time Michelle :) and yes I had a go with the app and got an answer within 24 hours
DeleteClifton Nurseries did one of my favourite displays at the Grow London show, and they're not too far from me either, especially by canal barge! I'm so pleased that you've brought this app to my attention; I knew it was out there (Into Gardens referenced it earlier this year) but couldn't remember the name. Sounds perfect for frustrated memory-poor gardeners like me! PS LOVE that plant that looks like ric-rac braid … oh yes, and those fab-u-lous pots! Heaven!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me of Grow London Caro, I remember their stand now! It's a lovely nursery and how lucky that you live near to it :)
DeleteLovely nursery!!!! it is exciting when there are nurseries one doesn't know yet! the app is interesting too:)
ReplyDeleteIt is Lisa :) the app is a fab concept and looking forward to seeing it develop in the months to come
DeleteNow that sounds a most useful app - if only I could get to grips with using the camera on my phone and iPad. For some reason it's completely beyond me.The nursery looks a most inviting place to visit and how handy that it's so near to work for you to visit. Now that you've found it no doubt you will be a regular customer :)
ReplyDeleteIt'll be an incentive for you Anna to master the use of your camera on both devices so you can use this cool app :)
DeleteGosh, what a nice zig-zag cactus! Funny how local nurseries can get by us -- I've experienced that a few times this summer too.
ReplyDeleteThat zig-zag cactus is a stunner isn't it Denise? Would mind that in our sun room!
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