garden software?

Maybe this has been discussed, but I couldn't find anything. Can anybody recommend a gardening or landscaping program for the computer? I want to design flowerbeds and see how they will look when they grow. The boxes on the programs look really great at the store, but do they really work? I would love to be able to scan a picture of my house and try different plants around it. Thanks.

I use Garden Composer. It is not too expensive ($50) and contains data on thousands of plants. Getting used to it is tricky and how 'realistic' your garden will look depends on whether your house is of standard format or very individual, ditto for paths, sheds, etc.
It does have a 30-day money back guarantee, so you can't really go wrong.
Here is the link...

http://www.gardencomposer.com/

PS, on my version there is a tedious security feature that you need to have the CD in the drive to open the program.

I have the 3D Complete LandDesigner and it's easy to use. I don't know how much it cost, though, as it was a gift from a friend.

Thanks!

I've never had good luck with the purchased software - I own two programs (an old Sierra landscape program, and the second one I've never completely installed because it was such a resource hog.) I haven't found them to be that easy to use (maybe my mind just doesn't mesh with CAD-type systems), or to provide a realistic view once you've selected and placed the plants where you want them. (I'm sure they're getting better, though - consider how far some of the simulation video games have come.)

So my one piece of advice would be to make sure to peruse the system requirements before buying.

I've purchased a total of 3 programs and never was happy with any of them either because they were difficult to use (and I consider myself pretty computer-saavy), were slow running because they used up so much memory, or were cheesy stabs at landscaping software. Here are the 3 I've tried.....

The Ultimate Home
Garden Composer 2004
Burpee 3D Garden Designer

Prolly one of the best landscaping software is called Bryce.
you need to be extremly computer savy and artistic to use it.
i have been tinkering with it for a few years now and havent
even scratched the surface.
Also need a computer with tons of memory and fast speed.

nother

one more,

here is a link at just what can be done with bryce.
http://hjem.get2net.dk/skygirl/html/outdoor.html

I should add a note to my comments. When I said the program was easy to use, I really wasn't using it to design a landscape based on my current situation. I actually used it to build my dream garden. I guess it might have been a different story if I were trying to use it to create something I were actually going to make some use of. I was just playing with it and creating a lovely little world of my own. Not sure if that helps or not, but thought I ought to make that statement.

Thanks for the comments, I'm still looking.
Sparky, those screen shots are wonderful! Looks complicated though.