It's that time of year to start digging in your backyard, pulling weeds and planting flowers.  The library has everything you need to answer your toughest gardening questions.

Online Resources

  http://www.gardenweb.com - This site has the largest online forum of gardeners where you can post questions, get advice, join discussion groups, and much more.  Access the HortiPlex database, which contains over 100,000 entries of plant names, nicknames, images, and plant ratings.

  http://www.chicago-botanic.org - The Chicago Botanic Garden's website has a large database of Illinois plants.  Take a class, find out what is blooming right now or fill out a simple questionnaire to see what plants are right for your particular garden.

  http://www.yardcare.com - This website sponsored by the Toro company has what you need to make the most of your lawn, including information about lawn diseases, controlling weeds and pests, mowing and irrigation.

  http://www.backyardgardener.com/veg/ - Do you want to try your hand at growing your own vegetables?  This website will help you plan your garden, decide which vegetables to grow and how to care for them.  For herb gardens, try http://www.backyardgardener.com/herb/.

Still need inspiration or looking for something different to do this summer that's close to home?  Check out the Volo Bog Natural State Area, the Cuneo Museum, the Morton Arboretum or the Chicago Botanic Garden.