Take Our Advice: A Handbook for Gardening in Northern Virginia;

What's different about Northern Virginia? What are your neighbors' secrets to a flourishing garden? In this second edition, over 90 gardeners and naturalists teach us how to create an aesthetic habitat that works for wildlife as well as for ourselves. Topics include: Basic gardening topics -favorite tools, mistakes to avoid, water features, saving money, gardening with children, dealing with deer and other critters, container gardening, growing from seeds, life in the soil, mulch, woodland walks, ferns, trees, groundcovers, ornamental grass, houseplants, bonsai, reliable plants, and more. Edible gardening - fruits and vegetables, tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, beekeeping. Fitting into our ecosystem - native plants, removing invasive aliens, organic gardening, rain gardens. Information about local resources - garden centers, public gardens, volunteer opportunities, plant sales and shows, garden clubs and societies. A very extensive index will tell you at a glance whether a plant is native, invasive, or deer-resistant.