Each month we post a question to garden centre members via e-mail and print the responses. We thank those members who responded and encourage others to share their thoughts and venture into this forum.

This month, we’re looking at the ever-expanding amount of information available on the world wide web. There’s so much out there, that it’s tough to read everything. So this month we’re asked “What online resources do you find useful? What websites do you regularly check out to get answers to your questions? And, are there business or garden blogs you enjoy?”

There were not a lot of responses to this question, so I’m not sure whether everyone has closed up shop for January, or if the e-mails aren’t getting through. It’s not too late to respond. If you have some useful websites to recommend to other retailers, please take a moment to send them to sarahw@landscapeontario.com and I’ll add them to the list I post on www.horttrades.com.

Rosanne Ballast, Stonepath Greenhouses, Tweed says:
When looking for interesting web sites I usually Google the name of the tree/shrub I am looking for information. The best web sites I find are usually from the universities, but don’t have one in particular that I prefer. I usually look for zones, growth habits, specific flower colour if I have a name and no colour, things like that.

Perry Grobe of Grobe’s Nursery and Garden Centre in Breslau recommends:

• OMAFRA’s seasonal Agrifax, written by Jen Llewyllen. You can sign up to have it emailed to you, or you can go here for it - http://apps.omafra.gov.on.ca/scripts/english/crops/agriphone/index.asp
• www.greenbeam.com and all companion magazine sites and blogs found there
• Donald Cooper’s Enewsletter, sign up for it at www.donaldcooper.com/pages/home.htm
• Local radar station on Environment Canada’s website. Find the site nearest your location at www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/radar/
• A relatively new site, but has some helpful videos and information. www.giftandhomechannel.com/
• Free website content... www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/
• A variety of good gardening information - www.gardening.cornell.edu/

Sarah Willis, Landscape Ontario recommends:

• For correct nomenclature: www.internationalplantnames.com/ or http://www.itis.gov/index.html.
• Jim Hole’s Notebook at www.enjoygardening.com/?cat=20 combines insider information with consumer-friendly content.
• The Blogging Nurseryman writes from a small garden centre in California, but has thoughtful insight that applies to much of what we do http://thegoldengecko.com/blog/
• www.gardenrant.com – four garden sceptics I read just to know what they are saying about the green industry.
• www.hopesbag.com/ - new product finds by an award-winning retailer. The selection can be narrowed down by searching products for ‘Garden.’
• http://johnstanleyassoc.typepad.com/john_stanley_associates/garden_retail_articles/index.html for articles on retailing.