Everything You Wanted to Know About Gardening, but Were Afraid to Ask!

After reading EDGE's interview with Sean Conway last week, you're now ready to run over to the nearest garden center and start stocking up on greenery, garden donkeys and all things 'verdant.' But before you hit the nursery, farmer's market or corner stand, think about what will work well in your home. Remember what Sean said: "The most important thing to remember is to choose plants whose growing needs match the conditions you have in your garden."

Internet Information

The web is a fabulous resource for gardening information. Go over to Grow It (www.growit.com) and under plant selectors (using their simple menu) you'll be able to find which plants will work not only with your exposure, but you're experience. Martha Stewart of course has a gardening section in her website (www.marthastewart.com) complete with an online forum. It's a great site for oohing and aahing over the photos, but there's a caveat about the forum; not every question is answered. Years ago, I left a query wondering about the possibility of growing miniature roses in an apartment (sigh, a dream of mine) and none of the other gardeners ever answered me. I guess it's just a dream.

Better Homes and Gardens (www.bhg.com) has information for the novice and experienced gardener and of course, pretty pictures. For more pictures, helpful gardening hints and information, you also might want to take a look at the Clean Home Journal put out by S C Johnson, (www.cleanhomejournal.com/gardening). There are some easy plant guides that are definitely worth reading.

Garden Web (www.gardenweb.com) has so much information you might either get lost or cross-eyed from it. There are online forums for every region and almost every city in the country. There are also expert sections and beginner sections; in short something for every gardener out there.

Another informative website is The Practical Gardening Institute (www.practicalgardeninginstitute.com), with expert gardener Janet Macaunovich on hand to deliver tips. You can visit the site for free; if you'd like a membership, it runs $25 and with it you get a copy of Macaunovich's book, "8 Months of Color."

Turning Leaf Vineyards has a website (www.turningleaf.com) that always has great entertaining tips and recipes. This May, they're opening up Leaf Scapes (www.turningleaf.com/leafscapes). The site will feature seasonal recipes and gardening tips from urban gardener guru Gayla Trail. Turning Leaf is presenting free-to-the-public seasonal, educational and enjoyable Leaf Scape events in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Miami. Go to the site and RSVP.

Speaking of Gayla Trail, take a look at her website- You Grow Girl- (www.yougrowgirl.com), a fact-filled site that not only answers questions for the urban gardener, but make you laugh too. Her book, You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening (Fireside), is a fun quirky approach to getting dirty and growing a few things.

Books

Speaking of books, you might want to look at The Window Box Gardening Book: An Inspirational and Practical Guide, by Anne M. Halpern (Quarry Books) or Linda Yang's The City Gardener's Handbook (Storey Books). Both contain pictures, plans, and advice for all levels of gardeners.

The Fun Stuff

Now we come to the fun part of gardening; shopping! You can buy anything from plants to bistro tables online.

Before: Buck Angel

Before: Buck Angel as a woman.

Mosiac Birdhouse from Jackson & Perkins

Jackson & Perkins may be known as the place to go for roses, but they've also got a cornucopia of other gardening delights; bulbs, plants, planters even gift baskets you can send around the world. They also have a marvelous collection of birdhouses, planters and tools. www.jacksonandperkins.com

Purple Passion Pot from The Growers-Exchange

If you've been think about container gardening as a good and easy way to start getting dirty take a look at the container gardens from The Growers Exchange. They're a nursery that started out in an abandoned Texaco station in Virginia back in 1985. By 1987, they opened up their own nursery and now have five distinct growing environments where they raise everything from herbs to produce. Their line of container gardens is pretty extensive; two to try are The Salad Bowl ($45- one pot that has everything you need to grow your own meal) or the Purple Passion Pot ($55), which is a grouping of low maintenance plants (lavender, Blue Fescue, Purple Supertunia, and Coleus "Religious Radish") in a one container.

www.thegrowers-exchange.com

Pansies Growing in an Aerogrow Garden

If your space is tiny, you can still grow plants. Take a look at counter-top aeroponic mini-gardens like the one created by AeroGrow ($150). It's small but can grow almost anything, so you can have fruits, vegetables or flowers growing in the corner of your kitchen. Find it online at www.aerogrow.com or www.surlatable.com or any Sur La Table shop.

Gardening is a fun and pleasurable way to re-connect with the earth. It's relaxing and productive at the same time. One of the nicest things about gardening is that you can share the fruits of your labors; think about it- what better way to make a good impression on a date or meeting someone's family for the first time when you give them a gift from your garden. If you've got the space (even a small one) think of how much nicer it'll look (and smell) sipping margaritas after work surrounded by flowers and vines...