RE: Thoughts about new Heronswood Web site

I look for photos because frequently, I will be looking for a color or an
effect.  That is difficult to tell from a description only.  However, I will
also Google a photo if I have to see if the plant is a match for what I'm
looking for.

I like the Park Seed sight because they will have groupings of plant types
on the home page that I can go directly to and search for something just
right.  There is another site I love (can't think of the name off hand but
will send it when I do) that will search for a particular set of
circumstances, i.e., zone 5-dry shade-blue-perennial.  It will find all in
the catalog that matches those criteria.  It certainly makes it easier for
someone just starting out to find what will work in a particular area of a
garden.  They use a set of check boxes for each criterion and proceed from
there.  (This may take some time to set up and be for another year because
I'm sure you'd need some type of key word association within each
description to pull that off and that would take time to set up.)

Thus far, I like your catalog, Chris.  I doubt you can "do it all" the first
time out.  I'll keep checking in.

Blessings,
Bonnie

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gardenchat@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf
Of kmrsy@netzero.net
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 9:20 AM
To: gardenchat@hort.net
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Thoughts about new Heronswood Web site

Re>> I also found that when I was trying to 'browse' I would skip any boxes
that didn't have photos.  I don't know why -- I just did.

Chris, I think that's why a lot of companies go for the heavily pictured
catalogs. People gravitate more readily toward photos than toward just
text. I know that I'm a little different in that; my favorite catalogs
are those with no pictures. They tend to hold the most secrets. But I
know, marketingwise, pictures sell. If the description is really
exciting I am perfectly willing to go find a pic on the internet
somewhere or in one of my books. Even when I do see a picture, I know
that it is usually a photo of the best specimen, not necessarily
representative of what I can expect. Same with descriptions. Some
catalogs stretch the zones, so I always research other sources of a
plant I'm considering.


I do understand the "picture not available" postings. Sometimes it is
really hard to obtain a photo. But it shouldn't be overused. A seller
should make an effort to get a photo online. In the case of Heronswood's
new site, I'm betting they aren't really missing all those photos, they
are just behind schedule in getting them uploaded.


Kitty


-- "Christopher P. Lindsey" <lindsey@mallorn.com> wrote:
Thanks for all of your comments about Heronswood.  It helps me solidify
my thoughts about how things are set up and about how I want to run my
site.

I think my biggest problem with the site is that I can't just 'browse'
the site.  I have to know what plant I'm looking for by scientific name
first.

I also found that when I was trying to 'browse' I would skip any boxes
that didn't have photos.  I don't know why -- I just did.  

It's tough to say more right now because their site is down and I'm doing
it all from memory.  D'oh!

Chris

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