Ah, spring! If you are from those parts of the world from which most of us hail, the first day of spring is cause à célébrer. In our homelands, between winter and March 20, we dream of warmer temperatures, leafing trees, and various forms of gardens. Just because we now live in a subtropical paradise doesn't erase our almost instinctive need to plan and plant at home. While we are indeed blessed with year-round flowering beauty, our Lakeside gardens too, must be planned, tended, and protected. Perhaps the sites listed below will increase your knowledge of gardening and help you create or enhance your own gardens.
General Gardening Sites
These sites give general information about the various plants (annuals, perennials, shrubs, etc.) found in most gardens. They also include tips on selection, design, and care.
About Garden Plants (http://www.aboutgardenplants.com/)
Home & Family Network: http://www.homeandfamilynetwork.com/gardening/flowers.html
Nature Hills (http://naturehills.com/)
Specialty Sites
There's no end to the various types of specialty gardens that can be created. Let's start with low-care garden suggestions. The sites listed below include tips, plant selection, landscaping design ideas, and more. Perhaps some of the sites listed will spark your interest and imagination.
Succulents and Cacti
Succulents are amazing! In addition to their ability to store water for long periods of time, their flower colors range from dark rust to yellows and every shade of green. Enjoy the photographs, along with useful information, on the following websites:
http://www.lotusland.org/gardens/succulent.htm
http://www.collectorscorner.com.au/Cacti/Cacti%20&%20Succulents%20main.htm
http://www.cactus-mall.com/pictures/gallery.html
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/cacti/
EuphorbiasYes, you heard right-of course they have "common" names that you will probably recognize! Get acquainted with this family of low-care interesting plants.
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Euphorbiaceae/Euphorbia.html
Xeriscape
Xeriscaping is landscaping with drought tolerance in mind, and who doesn't want to lower the water bill? In addition to the fairly dry requirements of cacti and succulents, you will find the following websites expand this concept.
http://www.xeriscape.org/whatis.html This website demonstrates that gardens designed with low-water requirements can be colorful if you follow their guidelines.
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Xeriscape.htm
An extensive listing, with photographs, of drought-resistant plants can be found here.
Rock GardensRock Garden Plants (http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/GARDEN/07401.html)
About Rock Gardens (http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/planning/rock.asp#)
*Rock (Star) Gardens (http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_gardens_other/article/0,1785,HGTV_3591_2337362,00.html) Okay, I just can't resist giving this site to you. In my general Google search for "rock gardens," this site appeared. This site does not feature rock gardens; it features the gardens of a select few rock stars --Gracie Slick, John Oates, and Darius Rucker being among my personal favorites. What can I say? There's just no end to the interesting possibilities when you search the Net!
Vines
If you like greenery and color year-round or perhaps want to hide a chain-link fence or boring wall, why not mix and match one or more vines? In addition to viewing many examples on local walls, these websites will assist you in deciding which ones are pleasing to you.
http://www.alohatropicals.com/TropicalVines.html
http://www.jungleseeds.com/SeedShop/TropicalClimbers1.htm
Landscape Design
In addition to the above sites that often include landscape designs, you may wish to check out these sites as well:
Designs http://www.snwa.com/html/land_designs_mojave.html
Plan 3D (http://www.plan3d.com/pages/landscapingfeatures.aspx) is an online design tool that allows you to "create" possible landscaping designs with the click of a mouse. There is a cost of $35.40 for a year's subscription, or you can subscribe by the month for $15.95.
Home & Garden TV (http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_landscaping_design/0,1784,HGTV_3596,00.html) There are lots of photos and helpful tutorials here to help you visualize the possibilities!
The sites listed above are general in nature but are, I hope, useful to any gardener, especially those of us new to gardening. For specific plant enthusiasts (e.g., roses or orchids), there are sites readily available about the selection, planting, and care of them. You've only to do a Google search to find exactly what you need.
Welcome to spring and best of luck to you in your gardening endeavors!
