WHAT'S HOT? June 20, 2008
Well - Texas is hot for one thing. So is the topic of sustainability. TNLA Green magazine ran a series on sustainable landscaping this spring. You can read the series here.
Overview of Sustainable Landscaping
Grass Roots Sustainability Practices - what's actually being done
A Picture of Sustainability - real home landscapes

Question of the week: What is more important in developing a sustainable landscape, design or plant material selection? Scroll down to the Key Sustainability Factors Forum and let us know what you think.


LET'S TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING
What's happening with standards like LEED?
Where can I go to get information?
What products are available to use in a sustainable landscape?
Where can I learn about organic products?
What are we going to do about plastic?

ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY CONFLAB
This site, established by the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, is here to bring together everyone who is interested in the issue of sustainable landscaping. As a member, you can read what others are saying about sustainability, follow links to other resources, create your own page on the site, find out about or publish events, take part in or start a discussion forum, set up a conversation group, post photos, post video, and most importantly, invite other people to take part in the conversation - all by just clicking on the headings at the top of this page. You can also manage how you participate in the Conflab, you pick what you want and don't get a bunch of unwanted email chatter.

Just click on Join Us in the green box to sign up.

PROJECT 1 - DESIGN A SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE
Click on View All on the photos section below, pick a photo of a standard (or in one case not so standard) suburban home, and give it a sustainable landscape. Then post your concept on our Conflab and start a discussion.

Here are some other useful sites. Please send us your favorites to add to the list.

Texas Nursery and Landscape Assn. (business to business) - www.tnlaonline.org
Texas Nursery and Landscape Assn. (consumer info) - www.LandscapeTexas.org
Best Management Practices for Water Conservation - http://urbanlandscapeguide.tamu.edu/
EarthKind™ gardening -http://plantanswers.tamu.edu/earthkind/ekgarden.html
Sustainable Sites Initiative www.sustainablesites.org
GreenScapes www.epa.gov/greenscapes/

BLOGS
Texas Nursery and Landscape Association blog - http://www.tnlaviewpoint.blogspot.com/
Clean water best practices for gardeners - http://www.yardwise.org/
Ellison Chair in International Floriculture blog - http://ellisonchair.blogspot.com/