If you are like the rest of us, you may need a little help when it comes to gardening and planting in Oklahoma. You may need answers to questions such as, what variety of plant is best? Is it a native species? When does it bloom? How much light does it need? When do I prune it and how do I make it all look beautiful? Your Metropolitan Library System has numerous resources such as books, reference guides and videos to help you make informed gardening decisions. So please avail yourself of the following information or just follow your eyes to the color green.

• Oklahoma’s Gardener’s Guide by Steve Dobbs 635.909766/D632ol
• Best Garden Plants for Oklahoma by Steve Owen
     635.909766/OW978b
• A Guidebook to Oklahoma Landscaping by Tom Clote
  Ref. 712.09766/C646g
• Urban Landscaping for Oklahoma Wildlife by Kathy Draper
  639.92/D765u
• Putting Down Roots: landscape guidelines for the selection, care and maintenance of trees in central Oklahoma. Published by The City of Oklahoma City 635.909766/P9935p
• Landscaping for Wildlife: a guide to southern Great Plains by 
  Jeremy D. Garrett 639.920978/G2395l

D. General References, e.g. Guides, Encyclopedia, or Dictionaries

• Encyclopedia of Gardening 635.03/AM512al
• The Pruner’s Bible 631.542/B8118p
• Westcott’s Plant Disease Handbook Ref. 632.3/W524w6
• Water Garden Encyclopedia 635.9674/SW9783w
• An Encyclopedia of Shade Perennials 635.932/SCH3488e
• Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers 635.903/EN5636e
• Encyclopedia of Garden Plants 635.903/T2478t
• The Complete Encyclopedia of Garden Flowers 635.903/C7375c
• Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening 635/P7771
• The Encyclopedia of Planting Combinations 635.9/L867e

E. Magazines or Newspapers

• Oklahoma Gardener
• Birds and Blooms
• Organic Gardening
• Better Homes and Gardens
• Fine Gardening
• Garden Design
• The Library System has a subscription to the EbscoHost database that you may use either from home or in the library to search for magazine articles related to gardening. Try using the different subject headings as search terms.

• You Bet Your Garden with Mike McGrath- Mike offers organic advice on caring for plants, pests, weeds, disease and much more.

• OSU Extension Service- OSU offers a 250,000 page online resource guide with practical science-based information pertaining to agricultural issues, a calendar of local events, extension offices by county and more.

• National Arbor Society- provides a tree guide, tree identification, a tree forum, a calendar of national events, membership opportunities, kids activities and more.

• Oklahoma Gardening- provides quality education and how-to information on all aspects of horticulture, a calendar, helpful links and is sponsored by the OSU extension.

• Oklahoma Gardening Forum- an on-line discussion board for those in Oklahoma who wish to discuss various aspects of gardening. Plus a FAQ to read previously asked questions and answers.

• Oklahoma Food Cooperative-  a grassroots network uniting Oklahoma folks interested in sustainably produced, locally grown food.

• Perennials in the Landscape 635.932/P4373p/VIDEO/DISC

• Martha’s Spring Gardening 635.9/M377m/VIDEO/DISC

• Landscaping 712.6/L2636i/VIDEO/DISC

• Jerry Baker’s Gardening Wisdom 635/J566j/VIDEO/RECORDING

• Wild about Wildflowers 635.9676/W6681w/VIDEO/RECORDING