diff --git a/botany-view.py b/botany-view.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5f73817
--- /dev/null
+++ b/botany-view.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python2
+from botany import *
+
+def ascii_render(filename):
+    # Prints ASCII art from file at given coordinates
+    this_dir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)),"art")
+    this_filename = os.path.join(this_dir,filename)
+    this_file = open(this_filename,"r")
+    this_string = this_file.read()
+    this_file.close()
+    print(this_string)
+ 
+def draw_plant_ascii(this_plant):
+    # this list should be somewhere where it could have been inherited, instead
+    # of hardcoded in more than one place...
+    plant_art_list = [
+        'poppy',
+        'cactus',
+        'aloe',
+        'flytrap',
+        'jadeplant',
+        'fern',
+        'daffodil',
+        'sunflower',
+        'baobab',
+        'lithops',
+        'hemp',
+        'pansy',
+        'iris',
+        'agave',
+        'ficus',
+        'moss',
+        'sage',
+        'snapdragon',
+        'columbine',
+        'brugmansia',
+        'palm',
+        'pachypodium',
+    ]
+    if this_plant.dead == True:
+        ascii_render('rip.txt')
+    elif datetime.date.today().month == 10 and datetime.date.today().day == 31:
+        ascii_render('jackolantern.txt')
+    elif this_plant.stage == 0:
+        ascii_render('seed.txt')
+    elif this_plant.stage == 1:
+        ascii_render('seedling.txt')
+    elif this_plant.stage == 2:
+        this_filename = plant_art_list[this_plant.species]+'1.txt'
+        ascii_render(this_filename)
+    elif this_plant.stage == 3 or this_plant.stage == 5:
+        this_filename = plant_art_list[this_plant.species]+'2.txt'
+        ascii_render(this_filename)
+    elif this_plant.stage == 4:
+        this_filename = plant_art_list[this_plant.species]+'3.txt'
+        ascii_render(this_filename)
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    my_data = DataManager()
+    # if plant save file exists
+    if my_data.check_plant():
+        my_plant = my_data.load_plant()
+    # otherwise create new plant
+    else:
+        my_plant = Plant(my_data.savefile_path)
+        my_data.data_write_json(my_plant)
+    draw_plant_ascii(my_plant)