Websites
Here are some interesting Plant and Garden related websites
Landscapes That Work for You: Putting Trees to Work
Articles and related resources about planting shade trees to reduce home energy costs and provide privacy. Includes material about types of trees to plant, creating windbreaks, and trees and backyard wildlife. A special feature from the website for This Old House magazine.
URL: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/html/portals/landscape/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/21709
Landscaping for Energy Conservation
This fact sheet provides energy-conserving landscaping ideas, such as planting shade trees and creating windbreaks. Includes explanations of concepts related to heat exchange in the home, and illustrated tips for planning a home landscape. From the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension.
URL: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/garden/07225.html
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/21708
Heat Island Effect
This site addresses the concept of heat island effect, which "describes urban and suburban temperatures that are 2 to 10°F (1 to 6°C) hotter than nearby rural areas." Discusses impacts (including air pollution, air conditioning costs, and heat-related illnesses), ideas for reducing temperatures and energy use (such as green roofs and cool paving materials, and shade trees), and related research projects. Includes a FAQ and glossary. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
URL: http://www.epa.gov/heatislands/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/21696
National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII): Your Home for Biological Information on the Web
The NBII provides links to "diverse, high-quality biological databases, information products, and analytical tools" in the biological disciplines of botany, fisheries and aquatic resources, systematics, and reptiles and amphibians. Includes materials on specific regions and on topics such as biodiversity, invasive species, coral reefs, and wildlife diseases. Includes an image library and teacher resources. From the Center for Biological Informatics of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
URL: http://www.nbii.gov
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/21679
Parkitecture in Western National Parks
Review of early 20th century rustic design and naturalism in architecture in national parks in western states. "Architects, landscape architects and engineers combined native wood and stone with convincingly 'native' styles to create visually appealing structures that seemed to fit naturally within the majestic landscapes." Includes images of gateways, transportation systems, hotels, and more in parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Denali. From the National Park Service (NPS).
URL: http://www.cr.nps.gov/habshaer/parkitect/
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/21767
The California Backyard Orchard: Figs
Publications on growing fig trees in the home garden. Covers varieties for California regions, planting and care requirements, harvesting, and pests and diseases. Also includes links to commercial fig production materials. From the University of California, Davis.
URL: http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/Fig.shtml
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/21739
California Figs
Consumer materials on this fig industry marketing site include basic history of figs, nutritional profile, and recipes for dishes such as chocolate-dipped figs, figgy pudding, fig bars and cookies, and "figs in a blanket." Also provides "Fig Ideas A-Z" (such as in ice cream and salads) and instructions for home drying of figs. From the California Fig Advisory Board.
URL: http://www.californiafigs.com
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/21737
On this website for Washington state beekeepers find a table of honeybee diseases and pests (with symptoms and suggested treatments), and a collection of how-to articles, "written with the Inland Northwest in mind," on topics such as queen bees, assembling equipment, and controlling swarming. Also includes a newsletter, events calendar, and links to local organizations and related sites.URL: http://www.wasba.org
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/21502
