Expert Resources for New Gardeners
To assist you in your gardening journey, we want to direct you to other trustworthy sources of information to help answer your questions and broaden your understanding of this rewarding and life-enhancing activity called gardening. These are just some of the expert resources we rely on for accurate, up-to-date research on a variety of horticultural and environmental topics important to us at White Flower Farm. We hope they will inform and inspire you, too.
https://ahsgardening.org
Founded in 1922, the American Horticultural Society is one of the oldest and well-respected gardening organizations in North America. Their website features articles from their member magazine, The American Gardener, on various subjects such as plant selection, materials and tools, soil health, water efficiency, and supporting pollinators and other wildlife.
https://gardening.cals.cornell.edu.org
Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has a Cornell Garden-Based Learning initiative with an excellent, down-to-earth website. There you will find a plethora of resources about soils and soil testing, weed identification, pests and diseases, botanical terminology, and other topics of interest to gardeners at every level.
https://finegardening.com
Fine Gardening strives to provide the highest quality information to people who are interested in the hands-on craft of gardening. Check out their “how-to” resources, including helpful articles and videos on topics as diverse as dividing perennials, protecting plants over the winter, and how to photograph your garden.
https://gardenia.net
Gardenia is a treasure trove of information about gardening. Get garden design inspiration, planting ideas, and information about plants and plant care. There is also a search feature that allows you to find just the right plant for your garden based on various criteria such as light level, season of interest, maintenance needs, and color.
https://nifa.usda.gov/land-grant-colleges-and-universities-partner-website-directory
The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has a searchable directory of land-grant universities throughout the country and their associated extension services. This is a critical network of experts and resources focused on agriculture, including all aspects of horticulture and at-home gardening.
https://xerces.org
Named after the now-extinct Xerces blue butterfly, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation seeks to protect the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. Their website has resources on numerous topics of interest to gardeners, such as attracting pollinators and creating habitat. Browse issues of Xerces’ own Wings magazine, read articles on their blog, and search for an array of published resources.
