Botany/Plants
- The Agriculture Network
Information Center
(http://laurel.nal.usda.gov:8080/agnic)
AgNIC is a guide to quality agricultural information on the Internet
as selected by the National Agricultural Library, Land-Grant Universities,
and other institutions.
- Curtis's Botanical Magazine
(http://www.nal.usda.gov/curtis/)
Antique illustrations of native plant species from around the world.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has created a database from the
information found in Curtis Botanical Magazine (published 1787-1807).
Use the search feature to find plants by common name, species or location.
- Flowerbase
(http://www.flowerweb.com/)
A database offering over 7,000 pictures of flowers and plants. Users
can search for pictures using either botanical or common names (the
latter in English, Dutch, German, Spanish, French, or Italian).
- Glossary
of Roots of Botanical Names
(http://garden-gate.prairienet.org/botrts.htm#top)
Did you know that 'Lavender' (Lavandula) comes from the Latin
word 'to wash'? Ever wonder why the daylily is called Hemerocallis?
Or what angustifolia means? Here are over 1,000 root word of
botanical names from a- to zyg-.
- Identify
America's Common Trees
(http://forestry.about.com/cs/treeid/a/100_trees_id.htm)
This searchable site from About.com contains information to help
you identify and name the 100 most common tree species native to North
America.
- International Plant Names
Index (IPNI)
(http://www.ipni.org/index.html)
A database of the names and associated basic bibliographical details
of all seed plants.
- Ohio State University
Plant Facts
(http://plantfacts.osu.edu/)
Over 250,000 pages of fact sheets on plant-related topics from university
and government sites and organizations in the United States and Canada.
Also includes: a searchable database of high quality images featuring
ornamental plants, turf, plant diseases and insects; a collection of
200 short gardening how-to videos; and illustrated answers to over
800 commonly asked gardening questions.
- PLANTS Database
(http://plants.usda.gov/)
The USDA's PLANTS Database includes names, checklists, automated
tools, identification information, species abstracts, distributional
data, crop information, plant symbols, plant growth data, plant materials
information, plant links, references, and other plant information.
Catalogs
- Bloomingfield's Farm
(http://www.bloomingfieldsfarm.com/)
Farm in Sherman, CT, specializing in organically-grown daylillies.
- Burpee
(http://www.burpee.com/)
Request a free catalog, order your seeds and plants online, or sign
up for free Burpee email updates. Use the garden wizard to find your
perfect plant.
- The Cook's Garden
(http://www.cooksgarden.com/)
Much more than just a catalog, this site provides information and
advice about gardening.
- Edmund's Roses
(http://www.edmundsroses.com/index.html)
Only roses.
- Gardener's Supply Company
(http://www.gardeners.com/)
An employee-owned company of avid gardeners providing innovative
products, practical information, and friendly service.
- Gardens Alive!
(http://www.gardensalive.com/index.asp?)
Gardens Alive! is one of the country's leading mail order companies
dedicated to biological control of garden pests.
- Jackson & Perkins
(http://www.jacksonandperkins.com/)
Roses and more.
- Park's Gardens
(http://www.parkseed.com/)
Commercial but informative.
- Seed Savers Exchange
(http://www.seedsavers.org/)
Seed Savers Exchange is dedicated to preserving historic varieties
of fruits and vegetables through the distribution of heirloom seed
samples.
- Select Seeds
(http://www.selectseeds.com/)
"Offers gardeners a fabulous selection of unique, high-quality seeds
and plants, specializing in old-fashioned and fragrant varieties, flowering
vines, and rare annuals."
- Stokes
Seeds
(http://www.stokeseeds.com/cgi-bin/StokesSeeds.storefront)
Their search engine allows you to search by variety, color, growing
difficulty, as well as unique features like scented types, or varieties
for canning, etc. Requires customers to register, then log in.
- Thompson & Morgan
(http://www.thompson-morgan.com/)
Over 2000 fully illustrated varieties of seeds, most with descriptons
and comprehensive sowing and growing instructions. This UK firm offers
worldwide delivery.
- Twombly Nursery
(http://www.twomblynursery.com/index.asp)
Information galore about plants and gardening from this Monroe, CT-based
nursery.
- Vermont Bean Seed Company
(http://vermontbean.com/)
Vegetable, flower, and herb seeds and gardening supplies.
- Wayside Gardens
(http://www.waysidegardens.com/)
Unique perennials, trees, shrubs, roses, and bulbs. Sign up for their
informative gardening newsletter and receive valuable news, gardening
tips and advice via email.
- White Flower Farm
(http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/)
Right here in Litchfield, CT! News, tips, an online catalog for plants
and seeds, and links to other gardening information.
Guides & General Information
- About:
Landscape Design for Beginners
(http://landscaping.about.com/cs/designexamples1/a/landscapeDesign.htm)
A straightforward, no-nonsense look at the ideas behind designing
a garden, supplemented with pictures.
- The American
Horticultural Society Heat-Zone Maps
(http://www.ahs.org/publications/heat_zone_map.htm)
The Heat-Zone Map divides the United States into regions of varying
severity of summer heat (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader). "The 12 zones
of the map indicate the average number of days each year that a given
region experiences 'heat days'-temperatures over 86 degrees (30 degrees
Celsius)." The site has a Zip Code Zone Finder so users can determine
their garden's heat zone and choose plants accordingly. The heat zones
complement the well-known system of USDA Hardiness Zones, which measures
winter cold in a similar fashion.
- Better Homes
and Gardens Gardening
(http://www.bhg.com/bhg/gardening/index.jhtml)
Articles, videos, plans, discussion groups, and gardening guides.
- Clemson University Home and Garden
Information Center
(http://hgic.clemson.edu/)
Hundreds of factsheets on Landscape, Garden & Indoor Plants;
Insects, Plant Diseases & Other Problems; and Food Safety & Preservation.
- DIY Gardening
(http://www.diynet.com/diy/gardening)
The Do-It-Yourself Network's information includes a complete archive
of articles.
- Garden
and Forest: A Journal of Horticulture, Landscape Art, and Forestry
(http://lcweb.loc.gov/preserv/prd/gardfor/gfhome.html)
Digitized versions of all 10 volumes of this historic periodical.
Contains over 8,000 pages with over 1,000 illustrations. Topics covered
include horticulture, botany, scientific forestry, and national and
urban park development.
- The Garden Gate
(http://garden-gate.prairienet.org/)
A carefully selected and well-organized collection of links to informative
and interesting horticulture sites around the world.
- GardenGuides
(http://www.gardenguides.com/)
A sizable collection of basic guide sheets for annuals, bulbs, perennials,
vegetables, and herbs, each with a photo and basic planting and care
information. Also included at this site are concise tips on topics
such as raised beds, compost, container gardening, starting seeds,
and vegetable companions.
- The Garden
Helper
(http://www.thegardenhelper.com/houseplants.html)
Step-by-step guide to gardening indoors. The plant index is searchable
and browsable by either common or botanical name.
- The Gardening Launch Pad
(http://gardeninglaunchpad.com/)
GLP contains more than 1700 gardening links in 60 categories from
information on African violets to a weed guide.
- GardenWeb
(http://www.gardenweb.com)
Magazine articles, a forum for questions, information on botanical
gardens, wildflowers, and even a horticulture contest.
- My First
Garden
(http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden/fundamentals/index.html)
For students and young gardeners.
- The Old Farmer's Almanac
(http://www.almanac.com/)
Essential information for gardeners past, present, and future.
- Seed Germination
Database
(http://www.backyardgardener.com/tm1.html)
Hints and instructions for germinating seeds from perennial garden
plants.
- Suite 101 Gardening
(http://www.suite101.com/topics.cfm/635)
Articles and links on all sorts of garden-related topics.
- Yard & Garden
Solutions
(http://www.solutions.uiuc.edu/index2.cfm?series=4)
A no-nonsense site from the Illinois Cooperative Extension Solutions
series, with categories for Flowers, Fruits, Houseplants, Lawns and
Groundcover, Pests, Diseases and Other Problems, Soils and Fertilizers,
Trees and Shrubs, and Vegetables.
Pests & Problems
- HGIC's
Plant Diagnostic Web Site
(http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/hgic/diagn/home.html)
This University of Maryland site offers photographic keys to help
diagnose and solve plant problems, using Integrated Pest Management
principles. See also the University
of Connecticut Integrated Pest Management site.
- Landscaping
for Deer Control
Useful site for people who want to have an attractive garden in deer
country, with lots of information on deer resistant plants and landscape
design.
- USDA Regional Pest Management
Centers
(http://www.ipmcenters.org/)
Links to the four regional pest management centers. Each provides
links to information on reduced pesticide use, enhanced environmental
stewardship, and sustainable systems.
- Pests in
the Northeastern United States
(http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/factsheets/)
Currently only insect pests of some vegetable crops are available
on this site but expansion to diseases and weeds is planned in the
near future. From Cornell University.
Public Gardens
Societies/Associations
- American Horticultural Society
(http://www.ahs.org/)
Articles from The American
Gardener and an invitation to join the Society.
- The American Orchid Society: OrchidWeb
(http://orchidweb.org/)
OrchidWeb offers an online introduction to the art and science of
growing orchids.
- American Rose Society
(http://www.ars.org/)
"Dedicated to the enjoyment, enhancement and promotion of the rose." Includes
an "ask the experts" section, a Rose of the Month (pictures and descriptions
of selections going back to January 1996), rose care articles, a directory
of more than 380 rose societies, roses recommended by the Society,
and the national Rose Show winners.
- Botanical Society of America
(http://www.botany.org/)
Includes the BSA Online Image
Collection, an outstanding teaching tool.
- National Gardening Association
(http://www.garden.org/)
Lots of gardening information and resources including sections on
flowers & bulbs, fruits, veggies & herbs, home & hearth,
lawns & landscaping, garden care & pests, and kidsgardening.com.
- Plant Conservation Alliance
(http://www.nps.gov/plants/)
Information on native plants, invasive plant fact sheets, and more
from this collaborative association of 10 federal agencies and over
145 non-federal cooperating organizations.