Gardening, Biology, and Ecology Links
Good plant databases
Gardenweb's Hortiplex Database
- I love this database! Metasearches some of the other databases listed
here. Plus, information added by "civilian" gardeners. Database includes
garden cultivars.
USDA Plants Database - a very thorough
database: technical info, taxonomy, some photos
Michigan
State University Extension - technical plant info, but no pictures
Ohio
State University - searchable database of plants, pests, and diseases,
including photos
Flora of North America - a
work in progress; this will be the alpha and omega of plant databases! Includes
drawings and copious details.
Illinois Plant
Information Network - technical info and distribution by county
Illinois' Best Plants at
the Chicago Botanic Garden - includes photos; searchable by criteria such
as color and habitat
The Tallgrass
Prairie in Illinois - photos of prairie plants
Ecological organizations of interest in northeastern Illinois
Chicago Botanic Garden
The Morton Arboretum
North
Park Village Nature Center
Chicagoland Environmental Network
- includes a listing of internships and volunteer opportunities
Chicago Wilderness
Illinois Natural Resources
Information Network
Illinois EcoWatch
Network - become a Citizen Scientist
Sierra Club - Illinois chapter
North Branch Restoration
Project - stewardship and restoration on the North Branch of the Chicago
River
Save the Prairie Society
- Visit Wolf Road Prairie, one of the finest prairie remnants left in Illinois
Illinois Native Plant Society - See
their list of invasive plants; you may be surprised!
Wild Ones - promoting landscaping
with native species
Weed control laws
- why are we so married to our manicured lawns? Is a naturally landscaped
lawn something that respectable cities should ban?
Nurseries
Prairie Nursery - excellent
stuff!
Art and Linda's -
find them at a local farmer's market near you
Logee's Greenhouses - Okay, it's not
natives...but they have the absolutely coolest houseplants!
Ion Exchange - a native plant nursery
in Iowa. Lots of interesting stuff on their website, including an impressive
bookstore.
The Morton Arboretum's Naturalist Certificate Program
The NCP is a certification program with classes offered by the three partner
institutions: the Morton Arboretum,
the Chicago Botanic
Garden, and the Field Museum.