While Americans are as eager as ever to beautify their homes and yards with attractive landscaping, more and more gardeners are looking to the practical aspects of gardening--raising plants for food and choosing easy-care ornamental plants that are friendly to the environment. For some gardeners, raising their own food is a lifestyle choice. With doctors and the government urging consumption of fruits and vegetables to combat obesity and lower the risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, some people see the backyard garden as a short route to healthier eating. An added advantage is that homegrown food is of superior quality. Fruits and vegetables that ripen on the vine taste better than those that are artificially ripened and spend weeks in shipment before they reach the table. While commercially grown produce is often contaminated with unknown amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, gardeners can guarantee the safety of what they grow themselves. Gardeners today are eager to work with nature instead of trying to master it. As they pursue their hobby, they seek practices and products that leave a minimal imprint upon the environment. Eco-friendly gardeners are especially interested in: (1) Less lawn; (2) Native plants; (3) Water conservation; (4) Chemical-free gardening; and (5) Attracting wildlife.