Website review: monrovia.com

If you are like me, you have an appetite for good sources of information on plants. What is their hardiness rating? What new varieties are available for purchase? Hey, what does it look like!? These and many more questions come to mind. One of the better Internet sites I've found to answer these questions and more is monrovia.com.

Monrovia is a wholesale container nursery that was started in 1926, by Harry Rosedale. The first nursery was located in California, although, now they have nurseries as far east as Georgia. I can remember back in my early nursery days in the late 70's that Monrovia was synonymous with quality and innovation, and they still are today.

So, on to the site! The web site is divided into four sections, Inspiration, Design, Learn and Community.

The Inspiration section has interesting features that include a "style quiz" that helps to give you a sense of what type of garden you'd really enjoy as your personal outdoor environment.

In the Design section of the website, you'll find tips on landscape design and a helpful "how-to video". The "how-to video" was well done and relevant to the season of the year.

Learn is broken down into six categories: soil story, plant catalog, new plants, gardening basics, zones and resources. Lots of good info here, particularly the resources area where you'll find a bunch of interesting links, but the main reason for visiting monrovia.com is the plant catalog and new plants portion of the Learn section of the website. Monrovia's catalog is vast and detailed. If you have a particular plant in mind that you want to get information on, you can simply access that info from the search engine at the top left of the home page, but it you are searching for advice on what might work in a specific situation, then use the searches in the plant catalog and new plant section of Learn. There are lots of ways to narrow your search using those two engines, but I'll warn you in advance not to put too many criteria in place when performing the search or you'll get zero matches. Once you find a plant, you are rewarded with fine photographs of the plant, plus info on light needs, mature size, etc.



PHOTO: Just one of hundreds of photos you'll find at monrovia.com. This one is Viburnum Opulus 'Aureum'

Community gives you an opportunity to develop a personal profile and participate in online forums, read blogs, and subscribe to a newsletter.

In conclusion, monrovia.com is a fun site with a lot of interesting and helpful places to visit in the site. It's plant search engine is a good way for you to get suggestions on what to plant in a specific spot in your yard and if you have a specific plant in mind, you can get some good info on that plant and perhaps find some closely related new varieties, as well. Rob's 5 star rating guide for monrovia.com: ****1/2 (4.5 stars)