I am a homeowner who wants to purchase (AutoDesk) Autosketch 8.0
software to help me landscape my yard and gardens. It looks great but,
as far as I can find out, the company doesn't offer any library of
shapes of plants and trees. Is there a source for me to download these
shapes into AutoSketch?  Is this software able to import these shapes
from sources other than CAD programs? I can't afford the expensive
add-ins that some CAD programs offer.

The landscaping support for Autosketch 8.0 is extremely limited.
Autosketch is intended more as a lightweight CAD platform than a
platform for specialized design such as landscape design.

For the specific purpose of helping you with landscaping your yard and
gardens, I suggest you try Broderbund's 3D Home Landscape Designer
Deluxe 5, found at:

http://www.broderbund.com/Product.asp?OID=4150589&SC=0190592043

or, Broderbund's 3D Home Design Suite Professional 5, found at:

http://www.broderbund.com/Product.asp?OID=4150590

Both of these packages are designed for the homeowner, meaning that
they are easy to use, and priced right. For example, Broderbund is
selling the 3D Home Landscape Designer Deluxe 5 software for US$19.99,
while 3D Home Design Suite Pro 5 is US$89.99. The landscaping support
in both packages includes a rich library of shapes and plant types.
What's more, your design can be rendered into a 3-dimensional view for
you to see on the screen, before you've even planted one real plant in
the ground. All in all, better value for your money.

Please let me know if there is any clarification you would like to
this Answer; otherwise, I hope your garden design goes well!

Regards,

aht-ga

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Clarification of Answer by aht-ga on 14 Aug 2003 10:18 PDT

To add some clarification to my answer, AutoSketch can import shapes
from other programs, as long as the other programs can export line
vector graphics as DXF files. However, as you mentioned in your
question, the cost of purchasing a library of such symbols is
prohibitively high for home use. That is why I am recommending that
you look at the Broderbund packages instead.

Hope this helps!

aht-ga

Very clear, concise and helpful.