Technology in the Garden

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Last week, my father touched on the ever growing use of AI and how it can complicate gardeners’ expectations. A good rule of thumb is if it looks like a Thomas Kinkade painting, it’s likely AI or enhanced. The one area where this new technology can really help us is in identification. It’s not without error, however apps are coming out that have been trained solely for plant identifications that boast an over 90% success rate.

Some may be tempted to ask how these apps differ from Google Lens. Pl@ntNet (available for iOS & Android) was trained using plant images from Flickr, bringing first time accuracy from 57% on Google up to 73% with Pl@ntNet. They even have a web version. As with any machine learning technology, the more it is used, the more accurate it gets. Flora Incognita is another great ID app which utilizes multiple photos and angles of the plant in question to give a more accurate assessment. Use these apps to identify delights you find in the wild, and keep track of your “dream plants” in your Notes app or favorite notebook.

The immediacy of AI artwork may feel like a revelation, but the long route has time-tested advantages too. The scratch of pencil against paper is almost a reward in itself. Take time, be deliberate, and the treasure that unfolds before you will be a unique reflection of your mind and life experiences. We’ve been taught to be mindful of our water usage, and using water cooling dependent AI is no exception. Use these tools sparingly, and save the water for your plants & future generations! If you ever need help with design or ideas for an area of your paradise, we are always happy to help you.

Technology and gardening have always had a relationship — from the multiple printings of Thomas Hill’s posthumous collection The Gardener’s Labyrinth in 1577 to the many resources we enjoy online. You can always ask us too. We’re on the air Saturday mornings at 8am on Gardening Inside Out, live on Facebook and YouTube. Catch our podcast version on your preferred platform. See what we’re getting into on Instagram as well. Tag us when you plant — we want to see your gardens!

Sara Bates

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