THE GREEN THUMB ALMANAC 

Plants of outstanding quality and dependable performance for the lower Midwest. Grows consistently well in Missouri, central and southern Illinois, and the Kansas City Metro area.

Plant Select is a cooperative program administered by Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University. The purpose of Plant Select is to seek out, identify and distribute the best plants for landscapes and gardens from the intermountain region to the high plains.

Prairie Star Annual Flowers are varieties best adapted to the challenging prairie climate. Tested by Kansas State University, Prairie Star Flowers are the best of the best - flowers that grow and bloom abundantly with minimal care.

Proven Winners plants are unsurpassed in terms of flowering, growth habit, disease resistance, and garden performance. Proven Winners is committed to providing education and service to gardeners everywhere that helps them succeed.

Walter's Gardens has been North America's leading wholesale grower of perennials since 1946.

Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower is one of the largest commercial rose growers in the United States. Our top-quality plants are sold to nurseries, garden centers, and select mailorder outlets nationwide.

The Buchart Gardens are a dazzling example of a successful reclamation project. The land, used for years by Portland Cement, by 1904 had exhausted its value as a quarry. That's when Jennie Butcher, the wife of Portland Cement's owner, filled the space with soil from nearby farms. Her vision expanded into a 55 acre tract filled with 700 varieties of plants that bloom from March to October. Vancouver Island, British Colombia.

The famous French landscape designer Andre Le Norte laid out these gardens southwest of Paris in the 17th century at the behest of Louis XIV. The Sun King wanted them to magnify the glory of his palace Versailles, which was itself a monument to his absolute rule. The 250 acres are riddled with paths that lead to flower beds, quiet corners decorated with classical statuary, ornamental lakes, and a canal that King Louis used for gondola rides. Versailles, France.

In the early 1900's, Beatrice Ephrussi, a Rothschild baroness built a pink-confection, Venice-style villa surrounded by breathtaking gardens, with the sparkling sea beyond. Pathways meander through the seven themed gardens, with a lily-pad dotted pool, dancing fountains, and a Temple of Love replicating the Trianon at Versailles. There are also a Provecal garden, filled with olive trees and lavender, a lapidary garden, with sculptures too large to be displayed in the villa, and Spanish, Japanese, Florentine, and exotic gardens. St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France.

Kenrokuen in Kanazawa is justifiably classified as one of Japan's "three most beautiful landscape gardens" alongside Mito's Kairakuen and Okayama's Korakuen. The spacious grounds used to be the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle and were constructed by the ruling Maeda family over a period of nearly two centuries. Opened to the public in 1871, Kenrokuen features a variety of flowering trees which provide the garden with a different look for each season.

Keukenhof? That?s the place to see spring blossom. The park is unique, world famous, and has been one of the most popular destinations in the Netherlands for sixty years now. Haven?t seen Keukenhof? Then you haven?t seen the Netherlands. You won?t find such an abundance of colours and fragrances anywhere else. More than seven million flowers form a glorious decor for the most beautiful photos. Come to Keukenhof and enjoy the ultimate spring feeling, the wonderful works of art, the surprising insipration gardens and the many flower shows.

Throughout its history, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has made important contributions to increasing the understanding of the plant kingdom with many benefits for mankind. Today it is still first and foremost a scientific institution. With its collections of living and preserved plants, of plant products and botanical information, it forms an encyclopaedia of knowledge about the plant kingdom.

Frederick the Great of Prussia built this splendid rococo palace as his summer place, where he could live without a care, sans souci. Busts of Roman emperors, decorative statues, and a Chinese teahouse dot the lavish grounds. Potsdam, Germany.

Considered one of the world's prettiest botanical gardens, the Singapore Botanic Garden was established in 1859. Its 128 acres are divided into three "cores." Bukie Timah Core is geared for educational and recreational use. In Tanglin Core, visitors can find a bandstand and many statues sprinkled among favorite native plants and trees. The most popular core for tourists is Centre. The National Orchid Garden is in this section, atop the park's highest point, where more than 60,000 colorful orchids bloom. Singapore.

To the English gentry of the 18th century, the more classical something could be, the better. Stourhead is a grand example of genteel fascination with the past. Henry Hoare II punctuated the gardens of his Wilshire estate with re-created ruins and classical buildings such as the Panteon and Temple of Apollo. Warminster, England.

A Renaissance cardinal decided to make life in Tivoli bearable by turning a dilapidated Benedictine monastery into a lovely villa, the Villa d' Este. This was embellished by one of the most fascinating garden and fountain complexes in the world. Among the most bewitching of the mossy fountains are: the Fontana del Bicchierone; the Rometta fountain, which is a miniature Rome complete with wolf-sucking Romulus and Remus, and the Avenue of the Hundred Fountains, where animal heads, lilies, a small boat, basins, and so on all spurt water. Tivoli, Italy.

Probably the most striking aspect of the Botanic Garden is its physical face: beautifully designed gardens brimming with plants. Eighteen garden areas feature plant collections of three different types. Demonstration gardens showcase the best plants for the Midwest displayed in a variety of different settings. Research gardens hold plants that are being tested for the performance in our Chicago environment. Conservation gardens feature native and endangered flora of Illinois. Chicago, Illinois.

A mere 20 minute drive outside of Los Angeles you'll find a bucolic paradise with more than 100,000 plants and one of the world's largest collections of camellias. The gardens and woods of Descanso unfold over 160 acres of the San Rafael Hills. Don't miss the Japanese garden and the International Rosarium that is home to thousands of roses. Children particularly enjoy riding the Descanso Gardens Enchanted Railroad, a mini diesel train. La Canada Flintridge, California.

You might feel as though you've stepped into a Merchant-Ivory set in any of the gardens that make up this estate at the north end of Georgetown, one of Washington's nicest neighborhoods. Vines tumble down the stone walks enclosing the fountain Terrace. Lovers' Lane meanders past a Roman-style amphitheater built around a small deep-blue pool. And what used to be a simple cow path leading away from the pool is now called Melisande's Alice, perhaps as a nod to the haunting opera Pelleas et Melisande. Washington, D.C.

Longwood's 1,050 acres of gardens, woodlands and meadows showcase a variety of including: conservatories sheltering 20 indoor gardens, spectacular illuminated fountains, 11,000 different kinds of plants, indoor Children's Garden with maze, Idea Garden for home gardeners, the historic Peirce-du Pont House, outdoor theatre, restaurants and one of the world's mightiest pipe organs. Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

The Missouri Botanical Garden, the oldest botanical garden in the country, was opened to the public in 1859. It was established by Henry Shaw, a wealthy St. Louis businessman. The garden has grown to be internationally recognized for its horticultural displays, educational programs and scientific research. The gardens most notable displays are The Climatron, the world's first geodesic dome greenhouse, the 14-acre Japanese Garden and the Kemper Center for Home Gardening. The garden is a National Historic Landmark. (St. Louis, Missouri)

More than 3,000 kinds of woody plants from around the world are arranged for convenient study and enjoyment in this 1,500-acre Arboretum. Some plant collections are quite large, encompassing many acres, while others are small tucked away in intimate garden settings. These woody plant collections merge with natural woodland and wetland areas in a green tapestry of harmonious landscapes. (Lisle, Illinois)

16 acres of outdoor gardens featuring stunning landscapes and mid-west hardy plants. Visit the tropics in the Bolz Conservatory filled with exotic plants, flowers, orchids, birds and a waterfall. (Madison, Wisconsin)

Powell Gardens is a 835-acre botanical garden located 45 minutes east of Kansas City. Established in 1984, the gardens contain colorful flowers, native plants, ornamental grasses and seasonal plantings which offer changing vistas throughout the year. A large lake is surrounded by a Native Prairie Garden, Perennial Garden, Water Gardens, and the new Heartland Harvest Garden. (Kingsville, Missouri)

Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, located on 70 acres within Golden Gate Park, is San Francisco's municipal botanical garden. The garden specializes in the following collections: Mediterranean Collection, The New World Cloud Forest, Magnolia Collection, Rhododendrons, Camellias and native Redwoods. (San Francisco, California)

Formerly known as the Shaw Arboretum, the Shaw Nature Preserve is an extension of the Missouri Botanical Garden. It includes nearly four square miles of natural Ozark landscape and managed plant collections. It is maintained as an area for environmental education, ecological research, and for public enjoyment of the natural world. The preserve contains a 55-acre Pinetum as well as the Whitmire Wildflower Garden a native plant garden showcasing tallgrass prairie, savanna, wetland and woodland habitats. (Gray Summit, Missouri)

We are an online community of naturalists who enjoy learning about and sharing our observations of insects, spiders, and other related creatures.

This site exists to build awareness about the importance of going green and being environmentally conscious.

Our purpose is to inform decision makers of the significant environmental, health, business productivity and aesthetic benefits of including live plants in our indoor environments.

The Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States is a collaborative project between the National Park Service, the University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The purpose of the Atlas is to assist users with identification, early detection, prevention, and management of invasive plants.

The Johnson County Extension Master Gardener volunteers preserve and beautify the environment and improve quality of life in the community by promoting sound horticulture practices with honesty, patience, and respect for the publich and each other.

Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources Extension seeks to bring research-based information to the people of Kansas and support the Kansas Horticulture industries.

Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City is a University of Missouri Extension volunteer program that educates and promotes research-based horticulture information and training to the gardening public. MGGKC covers Jackson, Clay, Platte and Cass counties.

Monarch Watch is a nonprofit educational outreach program based at the University of Kansas that focuses on the monarch butterfly, its habitat, and its spectacular fall migration.

The primary purpose of the University of Missouri Extension is to serve Missouri by reaching out and extending the research based knowledge and problem-solving resources of the University of Missouri system to people throughout the state.

The US Composting Council (USCC) advances composting and promotes compost use to enhance soils and provide economic and environmental benefits for our members and society.

Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. Wild Ones is a not-for-profit environmental education and advocacy organization.

The American Conifer Society was formed in 1983 by a small group of conifer growers, educators, enthusiasts, and collectors.

The American Orchid Society is more than just a flower club. Throughout its 85-year history the AOS, in keeping with its vision and mission, has strived to bring our members timely and state-of-the-art orchid information, support basic and applied research in orchids, and monitor and support conservation effort both here in North America as well as throughout the World.

Founded in 1892, the American Rose Society is the oldest single plant horticultural society in America. The ARS is an educational, non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to the cultivation and enjoyment of roses.

The Cactus and Succulent Society of America (CSSA), founded in 1929, is a worldwide community of avid gardeners, hobby and commercial horticulturists, nurserymen, and professional scientists who all share an appreciation for cacti and other types of succulent plants.

A non-profit, international association dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of the water gardening hobby.

We are an organization of orchid societies dedicated to preservation of orchids in their natural habitats, the propagation of orchids by seed and cuttings, the development of new and better plants through breeding, and providing information to growers who subscribe to our principles. The MAOC holds a meeting and show each Spring and Fall sponsored by one or more of our member societies. We provide internationally recognized speakers on orchid topics and workshops for members of our societies. The public is invited to visit parts of each show with no admission charge. The orchid displays and vendor area--offering a wide variety of plants from around the world--are open to the public. The MAOC sponsors six American Orchid Society judging centers in central US and Canada. We cooperate with the American Orchid Society in training orchid judges, supporting the judging centers, and providing information to individuals who grow and show orchids

The purpose of the Missouri Native Plant Society is to promote the enjoyment, preservation, conservation, restoration, and study of the flora native to Missouri; to educate the public about the values of the beauty, diversity, and environmental importance of indigenous vegetation; and to publish related information.

MPF works with public and private partners to protect and restore our prairie and native grassland communities through land acquisition, management, education and research.

The National Chrysanthemum Society was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1954. It has members living in nearly all states in the USA and many foreign countries. The Society's members include chrysanthemum specialists, horticulturists, nurserymen, as well as garden clubs, botanical gardens, universities, and libraries. NCS is primarily for the amateur gardener who enjoys growing chrysanthemums, but also welcomes commercial growers.

The National Foliage Foundation is a non-profit corporation organized exclusively for charitable, educational and research purposes. NFF organizes programs that address specific problems affecting the foliage industry.

The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) formed in 1992 is, by far, the largest group of people in North America (Canada, United States, and Mexico) interested in butterflies. We are a membership-based not-for-profit organization working to increase public enjoyment and conservation of butterflies.

For gardening enthusiasts interested in alpine, saxatile, and low-growing perennials. We encourage the study and cultivation of wildflowers that grow well among rocks, whether such plants originate above treeline or at lower elevations.

The Perennial Plant Association is a trade association composed of growers, retailers, landscape designers and contractors, educators and others that are professionally involved in the herbaceous perennial industry.

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK's leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. Our goal is to help people share a passion for plants, to encourage excellence in horticulture and inspire all those with an interest in gardening.

Sequim Lavender Growers Association, SLGA, is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about the benefits of using and growing lavender. Through individual and collaborative actions using environmentally responsible and sustainable farming practices we have grown the Sequim-DungenessValley into the Lavender Capital of North America�?®.