Ready to trade in that thirsty boring lawn for a wildflower meadow? Do a bit of research first with British gardener Christopher Lloyd's new book called Meadows (Timber Press, $29.95). Lloyd dispels the myth of a maintenance-free meadow without dampening the reader's enthusiasm for creating a flowery, drought-tolerant lawn alternative. Additional wildflower information is available online:

• an article on what is considered a native plant and why it matters;
• a how-to article from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center;
• pointers for buying native plants in Washington.