Garden Web

GardenWeb is the biggest and most comprehensive forum service for gardeners on the net. There are over 100 forums covering an enormous range of subjects, related either to location, plant type or gardening style. Both exploring and using the forums is made simple, and is clearly explained for the new user. There is a useful test forum where nonsense may be posted in order to acquaint oneself with the procedure without appearing foolish. It is a little unclear how messages are listed on the boards, although they are easy to read and latest messages appear first.

SPECIAL FEATURES

The main page lists forums by type, topic, plant, or alphabetically by title. There are forums dedicated to gardening in the UK, a European plant and seed exchange, and others devoted to every popular garden plant and many different types of gardening. Posting or responding to a message involves the filling out of a simple on-screen form, and you can choose to be notified by email when you receive a reply. Anyone can take part, and there's no need to subscribe or register.

Apart form the forums, there is an interactive glossary containing over 3500 horticultural and botanical terms, and a large number of links to other sites organised by subject.

Directory lists links to gardening organisations and plant societies;

Bazaar concentrates on commercial sites and Topics has links ordered into groups such as roses and wildflowers.