http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/

From the BBC, this gardening website shares a plethora of tips and information with gardeners. Site visitors can search for advice on a wide variety of topics, and consult a number of straightforward guides that address soil improvement, planting, propagation, pruning, houseplants, watering, and more. The site also offers profiles for popular plants, and a searchable database with information about thousands of other plants. Parents and teachers will appreciate the site's educational gardening activities developed collaboratively with the Royal Horticultural Society for children between four and seven years of age. Site visitors can participate in the Gardening Message Board and sign up for the free BBC Gardening email newsletter as well. The site is full of great photos, and even offers visitors a downloadable virtual gardening exercise for experimenting with different planting and color schemes. [NL]

http://www.meningitis.org/

Based in the United Kingdom, the Meningitis Research Foundation is a charity organization focused on the prevention and treatment of meningitis (and associated infections) through research and public education. The Foundation website describes common symptoms (with photographs); and contains a variety of specific information about meningitis and septicaemia. For health professionals, the site offers "guidance notes and protocols to promote best practice in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with meningitis and septicaemia." The website's Research section contains separate Public Information and Scientific Information sections as well as separate Scientific and Layperson's Archive sections with reports from funded projects. The Foundation website provides audio and written information about meningitis and speticaemia in 18 languages. [NL]

http://www.noah-health.org/en/bjm/arthritis/index.html

From New York Online Access to Health (NOAH), this website offers links to numerous Internet resources for Arthritis and Rheumatoid Disorders. Care and Treatment resource categories include Diet; Medications; Total Hip Replacement; and Alternative Therapies-to name a few. Websites relating to diagnosis and symptoms, as well as specific concerns like arthritis in children, and rheumatoid diseases and pregnancy are available as well. In addition, the site links to websites for a wide range of Rheumatoid Disorders such as Avascular Necrosis, Gout, Osteoarthritis, Vasculitis, and more. Site visitors can also link to Internet resources for other health issues on the NOAH website including Heart Disease, Infections, Cancer, Asthma, and Dental Care. [NL]

http://www.ser.org

The Society for Ecological Restoration International (SER) is comprised of approximately 2,300 members working "to promote ecological restoration as a means of sustaining diversity of life on Earth and reestablishing an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture." The SER website links to information about membership; the upcoming 2005 Conference in Zaragoza, Spain; and Reading Resources including Journals, Guidelines for Developing and Managing Ecological Restoration Projects, and the SER Primer on Ecological Restoration. SER also hosts opportunity boards with listings for Professional Employment, Volunteer Opportunities; and Student/Intern Positions; an online marketplace with listings for vendors involved in ecological restoration; and the Plant Conservation Alliance's Directory of Restoration Expertise. The SER site posts boards for educational opportunities as well, including listings for University Programs, Continuing Education, Online Courses, and Children's Programs. [NL]

http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/

Hosted by the National Library of Medicine, Haz-Map was created by Dr. Jay A. Brown as "an occupational toxicology database designed to link jobs to hazardous job tasks which are linked to occupational diseases and their symptoms." Haz-Map users can browse or perform text searches by Hazardous Agents (e.g. Solvents, Mineral Dusts, Pesticides); Occupational Diseases (e.g. Chronic Poison, Interstitial Lung Disease, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis); or High Risk Jobs (e.g. Food Processing, Printing, Metalworking & Plasticworking). Searches can also be made under the following additional categories: Symptoms, Industries, Non-Occupational Activities, Job Tasks, and Processes. The Haz-Map site includes a Glossary; and a References page with links to online books, databases, and websites. [NL]

http://www.orchidlady.com/

This attractive orchid website was created by long-time orchid grower and admirer Linda Fortner (aka the Orchid Lady). The site features the Illustrated Orchid Encyclopedia which contains information for approximately 400 genera including Genus Author; Date of Naming; Native Origin and Habitat; and Subfamily, Tribe, Subtribe, and Alliance. The website also contains a number of helpful information sections such as Growing Orchids in Your Home, Orchid Hybrids, Orchid Common & Latin Names, A Guide to Orchid Anatomy, and How to Re-Pot Orchids. In addition, the site features a photo gallery with beautiful images; and background information about orchids including a basic description, short history, and a taxonomic family tree. [NL]

http://www.iaath.com/

The International Alliance for Animal Therapy and Healing (IAATH) "is committed to the continuing development of education, communication, support, and opportunities for all those interested in animal health care." The IAATH website contains information about a number of animal treatments and therapies such as Acupressure, Animal Communication, Homeopathy, and Massage Therapy-to name a few. IAATH also provides a Practitioner Directory with search fields for Name, Location, and Modality. In addition, the site includes information regarding membership, related links, and a selection of recommended resources. Case Studies will be added to the site in the near future. [NL]

http://www.nanps.org/index.shtml

The North American Native Plant Society (NANPS) is dedicated "to the study, conservation, cultivation and restoration of native plants." The NANPS website lists plant sources by region, and invites native plant growers to submit a listing for no charge. The site provides information about upcoming events across Canada and the United States; scholarship opportunities; related associations by region; publications; membership; and more. NANPS also maintains a message board, and offers information about a number of native plants including Walking Fern, Bottlebrush Buckeye, Musclewood, Lilies, and Smaller Fringed Gentian. NANPS runs a Seed Exchange for members as well. [NL]