External Links

Our site offers a wealth of gardening information, but the world of gardening is vast, with endless knowledge to explore. This page connects you to a variety of external resources that can help answer nearly any gardening question you may have, from plant care and soil health to landscape design and sustainability. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, these links will guide you to expert advice, research-based insights, and helpful communities eager to share their knowledge.

Botany

• American Society of Plant Biologists
  Offers educational resources, teaching tools, and outreach programs to promote plant biology.
• Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
  Provides educational programs, conducts research, and maintains a diverse collection of plants.
• Botanical Research Institute of Texas
  Engages in plant research, conservation, and offers educational programs to the public.
• Botanical Society of America
  Provides resources for plant science education, including teaching materials, career information, and research updates.
• Botany Depot
  Offers free teaching resources and educational inspiration in botany, including lecture slides, videos, and activity modules.
• Botany Everyday
  Provides a series of classes and resources aimed at teaching plant identification and uses.
• Botany in a Day
  A guide to learning plant identification through patterns method; includes tutorials and resources.
• Flora of North America
  A collaborative project documenting North American plants with detailed descriptions, identification keys, and distribution maps.
• Hortipedia
  Welcome to hortipedia, the plant database that lets you search and find plants by life-form, bloom color, bloom time, size, and many more…
• Inflorescence
  Wikipedia article on inflorescences, with diagrams and photographs.
• Leaf Morphology (shapes, margins)
  A chart showing leaf shapes and margin types
• Missouri Botanical Garden’s Education Section
  Offers educational programs, resources, and virtual tours focused on plant science.
• New York Botanical Garden – Learn
  Offers a range of educational programs, online courses, and resources in plant science and horticulture.
• Outschool – Botany & Plant Sciences Classes
  Offers live online classes for kids and teens to explore botany and plant sciences.
• Plant Propagation
  Kentucky Master Gardener Manual Chapter 3. Adapted from the Virginia Master Gardener Handbook.
• PlantingScience
  A learning community where students engage in hands-on plant science research with scientist mentors.
• Plants in Action
  An online resource covering plant function and growth, suitable for advanced students and educators.
• Smithsonian Botany and Horticulture Research Guide
  A curated list of resources for botany and horticulture research, suitable for students and educators.
• Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
  Conducts research on coastal ecosystems and offers educational programs on environmental science.
• The Seed Site – Fruits
  With clear descriptions and photos, this page takes a fun and informative look at different types of fruits, from juicy berries to dry seed pods.
• The Seed Site – A Bit of Botany
  Botanical terms and other technical things
• The Seed Site – Flower shapes
  Diagrams and photographs of the main types of flower shapes.
• Tree of Life Web Project
  A collaborative project providing information about the diversity and phylogeny of life on Earth.
• University and Jepson Herbaria
  Houses extensive plant collections and offers resources for botanical research and education.
• University of British Columbia Botanical Garden
  Provides educational resources, workshops, and courses on botany and horticulture.
• University of California Botanical Garden
  Provides educational programs, workshops, and resources on plant diversity and conservation.
• University of Michigan Herbarium
  Maintains extensive botanical collections and provides resources for research and education.

Local Gardening Organizations

• Alpine Gardeners of Central Vancouver Island
  A group focused on sharing information about alpine flowers and plants through meetings, events, and plant sales in the Qualicum area.
• Arrowsmith Organic Gardening Group
  Connects experienced food growers, permaculturalists, and beginners in the Arrowsmith area to share knowledge and support organic gardening practices.
• Back Yard Gardeners of Vancouver Island
  A group for gardening enthusiasts to share experiences, tips, and questions related to flowers, shrubs, and food cultivation across Vancouver Island.
• Coastal Invasive Species Committee
  Our Vision: Communities, resources and ecosystems in the Coastal ISC service area are protected from the negative impacts of invasive alien species.
• Cowichan Valley Rhododendron Society
  Based in Duncan, this society promotes the cultivation and appreciation of rhododendrons through meetings, garden tours, and plant sales.
• Food Gardening Vancouver Island
  A platform to discuss, share, and learn about growing food crops and medicinal plants in the Vancouver Island climate.
• Gabbing About Gardening
  A friendly community sharing a love for gardens and gardening, complemented by a weekly radio show/podcast.
• Grow Food Everywhere Comox Valley
  A public group encouraging Comox Valley residents to engage in discussions about food-growing, share resources, and inspire each other.
• Ladysmith Community Gardens Society
  A community garden focusing on organic gardening, education, and community building in Ladysmith.
• Mount Arrowsmith Rhododendron Society
  One of the largest and most active chapters of the American Rhododendron Society, offering educational talks, garden tours, and plant sales in the Qualicum Beach area.
• Nanaimo Community Gardens Society
  Offers horticultural workshops, work parties, and community gardening opportunities year-round to promote local food security and sustainable practices.
• Nanaimo Gladiolus and Dahlia Society
  Focuses on the cultivation and appreciation of gladiolus and dahlia flowers, hosting meetings and events in the Nanaimo area.
• Nanaimo Horticultural Society
  Gardening in Nanaimo and on the West Coast – Plant Smiles Grow Friends Harvest Knowledge
• Nanaimo Rhododendron Society
  The purpose of the Society is to introduce members and the public to rhododendrons through meetings, garden tours, and flower shows and to provide an opportunity to meet people with similar interests.
• Nanoose Garden Club
  Cultivating Vancouver Island Coastal Communities through Learning, Participating in Meetings, Workshops, Garden Tours and Outings as we Fertilize Friendships and Grow as Gardeners.
• Salt Spring Island Garden Club
  Engages members with monthly meetings, garden tours, and educational programs focused on gardening in the Salt Spring Island area.
• Vancouver Island Bonsai Society
  Meets monthly to share knowledge and techniques related to the art of bonsai cultivation on Vancouver Island.
• Vancouver Island Rock and Alpine Garden Society
  A club of plant lovers meeting to study, photograph, draw, and grow alpine plants, bog dwellers, and woodlanders, encouraging propagation and distribution.
• Wynn’s Island Gardens and Plants
  Focuses on a wide range of gardening and landscaping topics, emphasizing good design and uncommon plants suitable for island gardens.

Nurseries of Vancouver Island

• C & C Growers
  Provides quality wholesale annuals and perennials to retail outlets on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and the Lower Mainland.
• Dinter Nursery
  Offers a wide range of plants suited for Vancouver Island's diverse growing conditions.
• Down to Earth Gardens & Nursery
  Offers a variety of plants and expert gardening advice.
• Fraser’s Thimble Farms
  Specializes in rare, unusual, and native plants, including hardy orchids and perennials.
• Frontrunners Garden Centre
  Offers a variety of plants and gardening products.
• Fruit Trees and More
  A specialty nursery and demonstration orchard offering a wide variety of fruit trees, including citrus, Mediterranean, and temperate varieties.
• Galiano Conservancy Native Plant Nursery
  Maintains a selection of native and edible plants suitable for the unique climate of the Gulf Islands.
• Green Thumb Garden Centre
  A family-owned garden centre providing a variety of plants and gardening accessories.
• Island Home and Garden
  Gabriola's one-stop shop offering a wide range of high-quality products for home and garden needs.
• Island Passions Nursery
  Focuses on unique, long-blooming plants that add a 'wow' factor to gardens.
• Island View Nursery
  A wholesale-only nursery catering to landscaping and maintenance companies.
• Kleijn Nurseries and Garden Centre
  A family-run business with over 30 years of experience, offering a wide selection of quality plants and supplies.
• Lakeside Garden Nursery
  A family-run nursery specializing in perennial garden flowers and landscaping plants.
• Lochside Nursery
  Provides a selection of plants suitable for the local climate and conditions.
• Marigold Nurseries
  Provides a wide range of plants and gardening supplies.
• Native Plant Nursery – NALT
  Provides a variety of native plants and seeds, promoting biodiversity and habitat creation.
• Nature’s Garden Seed Co.
  Offers a variety of native plant seeds for gardening and restoration projects.
• On the Porch
  After moving to the Nanaimo area, I noticed a demand for Native plant material and decided to incorporate the two, Native plants in Containers!
• Outback Nursery
  Specializes in Japanese Maples, hedging, conifers, and ornamental trees.
• Paradise Plants Garden Centre
  Provides a wide selection of plants, statuary, pottery, and water features.
• Queenswood Victoria
  Provides a range of plants and gardening services to the local community.
• Russell Nursery
  Offers a wide range of quality plants, including trees, shrubs, perennials, and Japanese maples.
• Satinflower Nurseries
  Focuses on ecologically and culturally important plants native to southern Vancouver Island.
• Streamside Native Plants
  Specializes in native plants for landscaping and ecological restoration projects.
• Twining Vine Garden Seed Store
  Offers a variety of seeds for native plants, available through online orders.
• West Coast Plants
  Features an edible perennial plant nursery, farm stand, and organic fruit and vegetable garden.
• Wheelbarrel Nursery
  A local nursery offering a variety of plants and gardening supplies, with knowledgeable staff to assist with gardening needs.
• Wild Rose Farm & Garden Centre
  Provides a wide range of gardening tools, fertilizers, planters, seeds, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and more. Also offers bulk materials like soils, mulches, sand, and gravel.
• Wildwood Outdoor Living Centre at Cannor Nursery
  Provides a wide range of plants and gardening supplies for enthusiasts.
• Yellow Point Propagation Ltd.
  Specializes in wholesale seeds, promoting native plant cultivation.

Other Master Gardeners Groups

Here you will find links to other Master Gardener groups, mostly in Canada.

• Toronto Master Gardeners
  A group of more than 130 trained horticulturists who volunteer their time to provide advice to home gardeners in the Toronto area.

Plant ID

Websites to search for and identify plants.

• Dave's Garden Plant Finder
  The database has 184,602 entries, 285,446 images and 113,868 comments.
• E-Flora BC
  An biogeographic atlas of the flora, fungi and slime molds of British Columbia.
• Kwantlen Plant Database
  Search by scientific name or use the dichotomous key to find a plant. Provided by the Kwantlen Polytechnic University School of Horticulture.
• Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
  Look up, view a photo and read about over 7,500 plants by scientific name, common name and/or selected plant characteristics.
• University of Washington Herbarium at the Burke Museum
  Houses extensive plant collections and provides resources for plant identification and research.

Plant Science

• Biota of North America Program
  Provides North American plant distribution information and related resources.
• Botany One
  A blog promoting various aspects of botany, from cell biology to ecosystems, run by the non-profit Annals of Botany Company.
• Center for Plant Conservation – Saving Endangered Plants
  A network dedicated to safeguarding rare plants through science-based conservation practices.
• Consortia of Pacific Northwest Herbaria
  A collaborative project providing access to regional herbarium specimen data and resources.
• E-Flora BC
  An biogeographic atlas of the flora, fungi and slime molds of British Columbia.
• eFloras.org
  Hosts a collection of online floras, including the Flora of North America and the Flora of China.
• Flora of the Pacific Northwest
  Several comprehensive reference books offering identification keys and descriptions of plants in the Pacific Northwest.
• Great Plant Picks: Unbeatable Plants for the Maritime Northwest
  An educational program recommending outstanding plants for gardeners in the Maritime Northwest.
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System
  Offers authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes.
• International Plant Names Index
  Provides nomenclatural information for scientific plant names.
• Internet Directory for Botany
  A categorized collection of botany and plant biology information from various providers.
• Native Plants and Fungi of the Pacific Northwest – Library Guides
  Resources from Western Libraries, including identification manuals and field guides for native plants and fungi.
• Native Plants PNW
  An encyclopedia designed for professionals and enthusiasts interested in the cultural and natural history of Pacific Northwest native plants.
• Nature Plants
  A scientific journal publishing primary research papers on all aspects of plant biology, technology, ecology, and evolution.
• Oregon Flora Project
  Provides comprehensive information on the vascular plants of Oregon, including an atlas, photo gallery, and rare plant guide.
• Organizations & Research Centers – Botany & Plant Sciences
  A compilation of organizations, research centers, herbaria, botanical gardens, and arboreta related to botany and plant sciences.
• Pacific Northwest Native Plants Resources | UBC Botanical Garden
  A collection of web resources related to plants in the Pacific Northwest region.
• Pacific Northwest Research Station – USDA Forest Service
  Conducts research to understand and manage ecosystems and resources in the Pacific Northwest.
• Pacific Northwest Wildflowers
  Features over 16,000 wildflower photographs, aiding in the identification of plants in the Pacific Northwest.
• Pacific NW Native Plants by Plant Community – OSU Extension Service
  Information on native plant communities in the Pacific Northwest, including common species and their habitats.
• Plantae | The Digital Ecosystem for Plant Science
  An open global online community for plant science, offering virtual education, networking, and collaboration opportunities.
• Plants of the World Online | Kew Science
  A comprehensive database providing information on global plant names, descriptions, and images.
• Region 6 – Plants – USDA Forest Service
  Information on botanical collections, herbaria, and plant identification resources in the Pacific Northwest.
• University of British Columbia Herbarium
  Maintains a vast collection of plant specimens, supporting research and education on plant biodiversity.
• University of Washington Herbarium at the Burke Museum
  Houses extensive plant collections and provides resources for plant identification and research.
• USDA PLANTS Database
  Offers standardized information about the vascular plants of the U.S. and its territories.
• Washington Native Plant Society
  Dedicated to the study, education, and conservation of Washington's native plants and habitats.
• WSU PNW Plants
  A database providing full-size photos for plant identification, growing tips, and categorized images of plant types.

Public Gardens of Vancouver Island

• Abkhazi Garden
  A heritage garden created in 1946, known for its impressive trees and dramatic landscapes.
• Esquimalt Gorge Park
  A historic park featuring North America's first Japanese Garden, established in 1907, recently restored to its former beauty.
• Finnerty Gardens
  Located at the University of Victoria, featuring over 4,000 different trees and shrubs, including a significant rhododendron collection.
• Government House Gardens
  The official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, surrounded by 36 acres of formal gardens and woodlands.
• Hatley Park National Historic Site
  Features Edwardian estate gardens, including Japanese, Italian, and rose gardens, surrounding the historic Hatley Castle.
• Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens
  A 24-acre garden known for its extensive rhododendron collection and natural woodland setting.
• Milner Gardens & Woodland
  A 70-acre estate featuring an ancient forest and extensive collection of rare rhododendrons.
• Shepherd’s Garden
  A family-operated garden featuring an abundance of perennials, shrubs, trees, and animals, perfect for a relaxing stroll.
• The Butchart Gardens
  A National Historic Site featuring 55 acres of diverse floral displays, including the renowned Sunken Garden.
• The Gardens at Horticulture Centre of the Pacific
  Offers nine acres of demonstration gardens and the largest outdoor bonsai garden in Canada.
• Tofino Botanical Gardens
  A 12-acre garden showcasing native plants, rainforest ecology, and art installations.
• Victoria Butterfly Gardens
  An indoor tropical rainforest housing thousands of butterflies, tropical birds, and plants.