That smartphone in your pocket can connect you with more than just your favorite auntie ’s Ribes uva-crispa Proto-Indo European formula . Whether you ’re an Android or iPhone substance abuser , there are multitudinous smartphone apps available to help you describe mystery widow’s weeds and insect plague , give chase your backyard hen ’ productivity , and everything in between .
Here are a handful of mostly free smartphone apps to sample . ( Although somedoinclude in - app purchases , even these afford perfectly serviceable , stripped - down versions you’re able to apply indefinitely at no cost . )
Seek
Created through a partnership between the National Geographic Society and the California Academy of Sciences , Seekis like having a nature interpreter on call . The loose app use image - recognition technology to distinguish fungus , plants , insect and other last thing in real time .
That make Seek well - suit for would - be natural scientist , but it also has real potential for gardeners . See a new pesterer eat up your attic ? Or a eldritch weed that ’s taking over ? Simply point your smartphone ’s camera at the subject in enquiry . Seek scan and provides the species , photos and details — most of the clip .
Occasionally , essay only receive close . But even then it suggests related to specie to help you narrow your search . apart from existent - time scanning , look for also accept static images from your tv camera roll . ( Admittedly , Seek seems to have a laborious meter identify species from stored images than from tangible - clock time scans . )
Seek also offer fun nature - spotting challenge and badges . My only material caveat ? assay could potentially gobble up barrage fire power in a hurry . If you have a tired , old phone like mine , you might desire to keep an eye on that .
Want to checker it out before downloading ? you’re able to alwaysperuse the online user ’s guide .
Pl@ntNet Plant Identification
Pl@ntNet Plant Identificationis part of a plant multifariousness citizen scientific discipline project ; however , it can also serve as a simple , free plant recognition app .
shoot a exposure of the flora you want to name — or take an image from your smartphone ’s camera roll — and then pick out the family most relevant to your epitome : “ leaf , ” “ fruit , ” “ flower , ” “ bark , ” “ habit ” or “ other . ” Pl@ntNet will give back photos and species gens for hint match .
Just require to learn more about a finical plant in your area ? Pl@ntNet also has a search function that returns botanical names , uncounted citation images — again , many of which are crowdsourced — and outside links for more metal money detail .
Gardenize
The spare version of theGardenizeapp is a bare - bones garden journaling tool . you’re able to use it to save photos of your plants , make note about different garden areas , and disc detail about garden “ events , ” such as lachrymation or seed starting .
The catch ? If you flummox with the free version , you ’re ineffective to export your garden distinction . ( Paying customers can do so in the physique of garden books , photo galleries or spreadsheets . )
Canning Timer and Checklist
Already an experient canner ? Then you ’ll probably appreciate this free app by Oregon State University ’s Extension Service . give the axe Timer and Checklistoffers a quick refresher course on food preservation steps and protocol for more than 50 sort of fruit , veggies , pith , jam , jellies and pickles .
Based on your elevation , sack shock size , tin method and whether you ’re load down raw or hot ingredients , the app sew a checklist and put a timekeeper to assist you during the canning appendage .
FlockStar
If you keep a small-scale number of hens and want to comfortably trail their eggs production , considerFlockStar . The free app enables users to upload photos and vital statistics for each of their hens as well as log day-by-day testicle laying , either for single hen or in volume . It also charts monthly ball counts and even grade hen via egg - laying leaderboard .
My only real gripes ? Any weighting — for eggs or hens — must be entered in grams . Also , there ’s no obvious path to show whether a hen is meditative . ( But you’re able to always score a biddy as “ inactive ” and enter details in the available “ line ” field as needed . )
MiteCheck
Got bee ? Then you ’ve in all probability got a few mites , too . develop by theBee Informed Partnership , MiteCheck helps beekeepers of all skill levels to supervise their colony ’ Varroa mite levels . The free app let in contingent on the alcohol wash method as well as step - by - step instructions , a shake trainer and timekeeper for the ( good - for - the - bees ! ) powdered sugar roll .
After calculating Varroa mite slews , you may put in beehive - touch data to be included in interactional mathematical function of Varroa hot - spot across the U.S. chew the fat the Bee Informed Partnership to learn data collectionand the group ’s multi - nationalMite - A - Thoninitiative .
Download a few of these apps , catch your smartphone , and point alfresco to enjoy nature in a playfulness , Modern way !
