The story begins in 1938, when Richard Holmes started his dream of having a nursery by borrowing £30 and purchasing a small, second-hand glass house.

From this humble beginning, Mr.

Holmes's grandchildren and great grandchildren are living and working his dream - Holmes of Natland garden centre and nursery.

When Daryl Hardy surveyed the business last year, he looked at growth options and saw the future was on the internet.

To get the green light for success, he had a web site designed that is in full bloom and promises to keep growing - www.holmesofnatland.co.uk.

This new chapter in Holmes's history focuses on taking the success story and telling it world wide.

Embracing all the options, the firm began with a web site that would entice, entertain and educate clients.

Full of pictures of the garden centre, plants and flowers and (soon) live web camera views in the greenhouses, the site is inspiring and intriguing.

A busy bee icon guide is there to help you through the tour of the site, which includes sections on florists, exploring the nursery, design and landscape.

It also features Bouquets Direct - the nursery's flower shop - which will soon have an e-commerce site of its own.

Speaking of new turf, Holmes of Natland is now advertising its web site at Preston North End Football Club's Deepdale ground - which will be seen on SKY tv.

thisissite of the week: While we're on gardening, why not check out the Kirkby Stephen Garden Trail 2001 site on CommuniGate (www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk - click on CommuniGate).

A great photo gives you a sneak preview of the kind of gardens you can visit in the area during August.

The walk, complete with a detailed map, offers everything from an over the hedge peak to a walk-about and talk to the gardener type tour.

Plants and refreshments are even on sale at some locations!