Plant Records: More than Inventory

I was lucky enough to grow up in Colorful Colorado, where spending time outdoors was 
the daily norm. Apart from the pansies on my front porch, the tomatoes in my backyard
and the cottonwood trees I knew I was allergic to, I remained largely unaware of the 
diverse species of plants surrounding me — a phenomenon known as "plant blindness." 
It wasn't until I began pursuing a degree focused on plants that I started to 
recognize the variety and ecological importance of our flora.

Over the summer, I had an opportunity to combat plant blindness in my own way 
through my work as an intern specializing in plant records at Denver Botanic Gardens.
Plant records involve documenting, mapping and verifying the location of each plant 
that enters the Gardens. Computer-generated maps of the Gardens are created using a 
system called BG Maps, which connects with AutoCAD and integrates with BG Base. 
BG Base stores all data collected about a plant, including its identity, date acquired and 
source and links this information to its precise location.

My work primarily saw me mapping plants in the areas affected by recent 
renovations, updating data on existing plants and inputting information about new 
plantings. I worked closely with the horticulturists and curators of these gardens: Sonya, 
of the Birds and Bees Walk, and Amy, of June’s PlantAsia. My responsibilities included 
recording each plant's location, condition and phenology on paper maps, which were 
later transferred onto the computer. This stored data enables horticulturists to monitor 
plants and their growth patterns. Most importantly, these maps connect to Gardens
Navigator.

Gardens Navigator makes information about the plants in each garden accessible to 
the public. Visitors can use it to find specific plants, locate plants in bloom or identify 
unlabeled plants. By transforming abstract plant data into an interactive and educational 
experience, plant records encourage greater awareness and appreciation of the plants
around us, bringing us one step closer to reducing plant blindness.

This article was contributed by Taylor Archer, a student at the University of Arizona pursuing a major in landscape architecture. Originally from Greenwood Village, Colorado, Taylor was drawn to Tucson for its unique desert flora. She plans to further her education by obtaining a master’s degree in landscape architecture after completing her bachelor’s degree.