Garden Catalogs
for your Garden
|
|
Garden Catalogs for your Garden
|
|
|
So now you want to order plants........getting what you want |
|
|
Catalogs: Which ones I think are the bestSymbol Key:  I love the catalog- good service, plants, delivery, accurate information beautiful pictures of plants
 excellent plant materialWhy use catalogs?I think garden catalogs are indispensible, unless you have acquaintance with an ultra-Master gardener who will teach you AND help you locate the plants. Some catalogs are useful as references, all are now necessary for obtaining less common plant materials. Ten years ago this wasn't so; the garden centers and nurseries once carried a vast supply of interesting plants and seeds -all hand-picked for your own climate conditions, but for reasons beyond the scope of this little article, the best hope for buying reseda odorata, or any other plant lesser known, will be through a catalogCatalogs come in three main divisions: highly reputable and expensive stock illustrated in glossy full color beauty, less well known yet reputable in inexpensive lists, and colorful less reputable purveyors. For obvious (I hope) reasons, I will only list the catalogs I have had good dealings with; but here is a hint ...if the colorful pics don't match up with the prices (the too-good-to-be-true syndrome) take a close look at the sizes that will be provided. If the pieces of information don't match, you are taking a chance; fine if it works out, and you were warned if it doesn't. Check out the annual plant list page for individual variety choices before you order. back to top Understanding the JargonA riddle for you, when is blue not blue? That's right, whenever the garden writers decide that a blue rose is wanted... and the same can go for the color red in peonies, so take the color descriptions with a grain of salt. Depending on your source, read the description as you would a personal ad (aw, you've read a few from curiousity,haven't you?); fast grower,vigorous are the modifiers? We may be facing one of those highway robbers of the garden with running roots and greedy appetites. Just beware before you place it in your richest borderIf you are looking for bulbs, look for the word "top-size" and it doesn't hurt to familiarize yourself with the cm. that is represented. Small sizes in bulbs are rarely a good buy, but in trees or perennials it can be an economical way to purchase IF you will give them the care such plants need. (Shelter,frequent and careful water, prepared soil) . although I usually buy from a local nursery, I have regularly ordered roses from Wayside's Rose Catalog. It is my favorite source; do research the hardiness of the rose varieties or, if you are in Zone 5 and colder, look for the roses which are the rated for the coldest climates. Look for #1 stock, #1 1/2 is smaller and not as strong. Roses are sometimes sold by gallon size. back to top The Best Catalogs
Here are some more worthwhile catalogs: • Dutch Gardens. U.S. Reservation Center, 144 Intervale Road, Burlington, Vt., 05401, dutchgardens.com. • Harris Seeds. 355 Paul Road, P.O. Box 24966, Rochester, N.Y. 14624-0966, harrisseeds.com • Jackson and Perkins. 1 Rose Lane, Medford, Ore., 97501, jacksonandperkins.com. Quicktips
back to top
A descriptive list of flower choices.|MORE on Garden color back to top |
Martha Stewarts's List of Favorite Catalogs |
 | 
|
|
Please Bookmark This Page |
