Wild Thumb: TX native plants

This app is a great start to what could be a really useful tool for those into native gardening. I would love the ability to customize the planting areas more. But the biggest thing that I see that could lead to quick improvements is just adding more plant options. I’d tackle our most populated eco regions first, as a DFW person, I’d even say Austin needs more options sooner than we do. I’m not a landscaper by trade, so this app did help me get started in my design, but ultimately I needed to draw what I wanted on paper and used the ladybird and NPSOT databases to help inform my plant choices, heights, bloom color, soil, light, spread, etc. Another but more nice to have is the ability to view your design from the ground view instead of the sky. Being able to see what a bed could look like from the street is super helpful in planning something beautiful AND eco friendly. Great work to the devs on this one. Y’all are truly using technology here to make the world a better place. Thank you!

I love this little app, it packs a big punch! I’ve used it to layout and install new garden beds from start to finish, find nurseries in my area, and just get general gardening advice. One of my favorite things about the robust plan layout is that the plants appear on the plan according to their nature footprint. So helpful to avoid overplanting. Looking forward to future releases that might include some of our wonderful small native trees like kidneywood, Texas black persimmon, and Anacacho orchid in the database.

I heard about your app on NPR this morning and downloaded it. Already, I found that your app is not fully accessible to screen reader users. Of course my vision impairment won’t change the fact that I can’t see pictures of plants as well as other people, but the check boxes in your set up cannot be recognized with VoiceOver on my iPhone. I had to turn VoiceOver off and get assistance to check the boxes that apply. Also, the buttons at the bottom of the screen do not say what their function is. When I click on them, my iPhone just says “button” and won’t say what the button does. When will app developers get it through their heads that their apps need to be checked out with all accessibility features so that they work as well as possible for everyone? I’m honestly tired of writing app developers about this issue and I’m tired of being left out because they won’t use the correct technology to program the app to be fully accessible or as accessible as possible. Will you please fix these issues. If you do, I will update this review.