Retired economics professor (“dismal scientist”). Married 40+ years to the love of my life; we have two grown daughters, both married, two granddaughters and a...
@congaree Thanks, John! My plant systematics expert has taught me that it's often [very] difficult to go from genus to species with leaves-only. That's why I only conjectured that this is a Hosta. Drilling down to species, I'm suspicious that this particular plant is something my MIL transplanted or started in Ohio from her former neighbor (a master gardener) in Michigan and that was a Hosta 'Regal Splendor'; see https://365project.org/rhoing/365/2014-08-21
I will have to revisit this plant at our next visit and hopefully see some flowers to help with identification (and possibly check in with the master gardener!). Thanks for your help and solidifying the ID down to genus!
@rhoing I love to know what the names of flowers and plants are m, but am not a gardener myself or a student of botany. However, I think well m-tended gardens are sublime when full of flowers. It’s an art and a science. I have used an app called “Picture This” for several years, and it has gotten better and more accurate since I first started using it. My sister is a master gardener and she loves it. I highly recommend it.
@congaree There was a 365'er many years ago who seemed perplexed by my desire to “name” and “classify” things. I don't know what it is about me that drives me to find out *exactly* what my bugs and plants are, but that's who I am.
In some cases, it's interesting (and frustrating) to discover that a species of plant has many common names, some of which are shared with other species. If only for that reason, I do try to find out the scientific names of things. See this post, https://365project.org/rhoing/365/2022-11-08
For insects and spiders IDs, I joined bugguide.net early on (2012). For plants, I have used my phone app (LeafSnap) to try and narrow the possibilities and then use a friend who is a retired professor of plant biology and another friend who is a master gardener.
Another reason I like to get scientific-name IDs is because it's sometimes surprising to learn that something you photographed is scientifically related to something you wouldn't guess is a relative. One relationship that comes to mind is Forsythia: it's in the Olive family (Oleaceae)!
![Swirls [SOOC] by rhoing](https://media.365project.org/1/9438360_dehkpry236_l.jpg "Swirls [SOOC] by rhoing")
![New place in Erie, PA [Travel day 1]](https://media.365project.org/1/9454211_ehtvxz1458_sq.jpg "New place in Erie, PA [Travel day 1]")
![Learning to read [Travel day 2]](https://media.365project.org/1/9454308_bcdhkxy126_sq.jpg "Learning to read [Travel day 2]")
I will have to revisit this plant at our next visit and hopefully see some flowers to help with identification (and possibly check in with the master gardener!). Thanks for your help and solidifying the ID down to genus!
In some cases, it's interesting (and frustrating) to discover that a species of plant has many common names, some of which are shared with other species. If only for that reason, I do try to find out the scientific names of things. See this post, https://365project.org/rhoing/365/2022-11-08
For insects and spiders IDs, I joined bugguide.net early on (2012). For plants, I have used my phone app (LeafSnap) to try and narrow the possibilities and then use a friend who is a retired professor of plant biology and another friend who is a master gardener.
Another reason I like to get scientific-name IDs is because it's sometimes surprising to learn that something you photographed is scientifically related to something you wouldn't guess is a relative. One relationship that comes to mind is Forsythia: it's in the Olive family (Oleaceae)!