The Inside Dirt @ iloveplants.com - May 2008

This past month more regional gardening information has been added to our Regional Directory. For your convenience, you can now access a link for your state in the right hand column of our blog. Gardeners located in Texas, Utah, Washington state and Virginia will find a number of new links with information for their particular state. Visit our See What's New page to find these links as well as others for nurseries and garden blogs. In the coming month, I will be adding more links for a number of other states as well. If you have a favorite you'd like to share with others, please send it me via e-mail. I hope you enjoy the many links we have featured this month on sustainable gardening this month.

FEATURED WEBSITES

The Basics of Sustainable Gardening
Since “being green” is so popular these days, it seems appropriate to feature information on sustainable gardening. The term “sustainable gardening” is a fancy term for natural gardening - working in tandem with Mother Nature. The Basics of Sustainable Gardening written by Julie M. Young at do-it-yourself.com is a great basic introduction to this new term but old-time successful gardening practice.

Here are more links that cover the four basic concepts of sustainable gardening:
* Composting by the EPA
* Mulching for a Healthy Landscape by the Virginia Cooperative Extension
* Practice Smart Watering for Healthier Plants by King County.
* Natural Garden Pest Control by Earth Easy.

GARDEN NEWS

Win a garden makeover in Preen Garden Makeover Sweepstakes
This is the third annual Preen Garden Makeover Sweepstakes. The Grand Prize is a $2,500 garden makeover. What a great prize that would be to win! In addition, there will be 3 first place prizes of $500 each also awarded. Visit Preen to submit an official online entry form. Entries must be submitted by July 1st.

GARDEN BARGAINS ONLINE

Jackson & Perkins is featuring their annual Rose Tag Sale. During the month of May you can save up to 54% on your favorite roses. Check out their Knock-out rose. It is beautiful and practically care-free.

FEATURED GARDEN BLOGS

In Keeping with our “green theme” this month, we’re featuring blogs that feature sustainable gardening practices.

Blooms and Bees
Kristi in Los Angeles, California is a garden designer and writer who refers to herself as “The Green Garden Girl.” She chronicles the joys of environmentally responsible gardening in her blog.

The Compost Bin
A self-confessed “compost addict,” Anthony grows vegetables with his homemade compost. Lots of great information here for anyone who is interested in composting and growing organic vegetables.

The Manic Gardener
An ex-New Yorker now living in Montana, Katie Gardner started her organic gardening blog in November of 2007. She’s off to a good start, and while she’s busy gardening and building her blog, you can check out the 50 Tips & Tricks and the Glossary of sustainable gardening terms.

THE LATEST GARDEN BOOKS

Rosalind Creasy's Recipes from the Garden by Rosalind Creasy. More than 200 recipes from appetizers to desserts using your local or homegrown harvest.

The Informed Gardener by Linda Chalker-Scott. The most common myths and misconceptions regarding sustainable landscaping practices.

Why do Violets Shrink? by Caroline Holmes. Answers to 250 thorny questions on the world of plants.

Great Landscape Evergreens by Vincent A. Simeone. Information on more than 80 species of evergreens for landscaping purposes.

For more great horticultural websites, please visit iloveplants.com – your online garden resource!