Well, the old year is behind us, and 1999 is ahead. Even if the weather is disgusting, we can be comforted by the growing piles of new seed and plant catalogs clogging our mailboxes. Here are a few that may be of interest.
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| The azure Meconopsis betonicifolia graces the cover of the colorful Seeds of Distinction catalog. | |
Plant Delights Nursery Inc., 9241 Sauls Road, Raleigh, NC 27603. Any catalog that comes with a cartoon on the cover gets my attention. But to be honest, Plant Delights gets my attention any time it arrives. This one comes with a disclaimer: "The Horticulture General has determined that opening this catalog may cause mental instability resulting in sleepless nights, workless days, TVless weekends, moneyless bank accounts and grassless gardens. Do not open this catalog unless you passed your last psychiatric exam."
Don't be fooled by the irreverent tone. This catalog offers some magnificent stuff. From absolutely stunning new hostas to more odd plants, like a very nice collection of Arisaemas (commonly known as Jack-in-the-Pulpits) and some exciting Sarracenias (pitcher plants). The only reason I point this out is that I already sent in my order. This catalog specializes in ornamentals only. Some are quite pricey, but they're also unique.
To get a copy of the catalog, send either 10 stamps (interpret it any way you want)or a box of chocolates (this is the truth) to the address above. They'll also take requests via phone at 919-772-4794.
Heronswood Nursery Ltd., 7530 N.E. 288th St., Kingston, WA 98346-9052. I love this catalog although I have ordered from it only sporadically. A friend who is a well-respected gardener has not been happy recently with its plants. But the catalog alone is worth the $5 price. Nursery owner Dan Hinkley has assembled an amazing collection of plant material from his world travels. The beautiful, thick catalog is well-written with mouth-watering plant descriptions alongside cultural requirements and zones. Hinkley even regales readers with tales of his travels. Though there is not one photograph or illustration in this book, this catalog, along with Plant Delights, stays on my bedside table all year. Even if you never order a plant from Heronswood, this catalog is sure to provide hours of reading pleasure. To obtain one, call 360-297-4172. (For a two-year subscription, the price is $8; for the 1999 edition alone, $5.)
Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery, 2825 Cummings Road, Medford, OR 97501. Telephone: 541-772-6846. This is another of my favorite catalogs, though to be quite honest, the quality of the merchandise I've received this past year has been stingy. The plants aren't cheap, either. Still, I use the catalog as a handy reference for rock garden material. If you aren't interested in Alpine plants, the catalog does carry a nice selection of perennials and small shrubs. It costs $3.
Select Seeds: Antique Flowers, 180 Stickney Hill Road, Union CT 06076-4617. This is the 11th year for this small, colorful catalog. Clearly, Select Seeds specializes in seed from heirloom plants. They have old favorites like four o'clocks, a large selection of sweet peas and morning glories and all kinds of other plants you'll remember from your Grandma's garden. The catalog also offers a variety of books. To get a free copy, call 860-684-9310.
White Flower Farm, Box 50, Litchfield, CT 06759-0050. This is a beautiful catalog that I look forward to seeing the three times it is published yearly. Though the plants are rather pricey, there is lots of information with each description, which makes this one useful for cultural information. In past years, the company has become less persnickety about plant replacements and refunds. White Flower specializes in ornamental plants, not veggies. To obtain a free catalog, call 800-503-9624.
The Ethnobotanical Catalog of Seeds and Seeds of Distinction are two more off-beat catalogs that may interest area gardeners. The densely written Ethnobotanical Catalog offers seeds from all kinds of wild plants, like Dolichos and Oreocereus. Don't know what these plants are? Neither did I before I got this catalog. There are also seeds for more mundane varieties like poppies and zinnias. Specialty vegetables also are offered along with a unique selection of books with titles like "The Amazonian Ethnobotanical Dictionary" and "Handbook of Edible Weeds." If you read some of this, you can't help but learn something. To get a copy, write J.L. Hudson Seedsman, Star Route 2, Box 337, LaHonda, CA, 94020. The catalog costs $1.
Seeds of Distinction, on the other hand, is as colorful a catalog as the Ethnobotanical one is gray. Pictured on the cover is a Meconopsis betonicifolia, an azure-blue beauty that is sure to catch your attention. This company, whose address is Box 86, Station A, Toronto, ON, Canada, is another that only deals in seeds for ornamentals. They also don't specify zones, so you need to do a little homework here or at least be aware of what you are growing. This catalog is geared toward a more experienced gardener. To get a copy of this little gem, call 416-255-3060.
The Great Plant Co., Box 1041, New Hartford, CT 06057. This is a brand-new offering. It's a small catalog, compiled by Steve Frowine, formerly of White Flower Farm, with the help of his new partner, Peter Overing. The goal of new company is to offer plants on the cutting edge. They want to be the first on the market with the newest and the best. To that end, they've assembled an interesting collection of tender perennials, tropicals, garden orchids; specialty daylilies, lilacs, hardy perennials and specialty seed. Since the plants are available in limited quantities, many may appear only once in the catalog. The entire list presented in the inaugural issue numbers only 80 plants. This is definitely a catalog for avid gardeners looking for that special specimen. For a free copy of the small color catalog, call 800-441-9788.
Vegetables lovers, we haven't forgotten you.
Seeds of Change, Box 15700, Santa Fe, NM 87506-5700. While this beautifully illustrated catalog doesn't leave out ornamentals completely, the emphasis is clearly on edible plants. Seeds of Change produces certified organic seeds and is devoted to the preservation of biodiversity and the use of sustainable organic practices. The catalog is stunning and the seed selection is quite interesting, without being completely weird. This catalog offers a nice selection of gourmet greens, beans and tomatoes along with all the ordinaries. This one is certainly worth a look. For a free catalog, call 888-762-7333.
Shepherd's Garden Seeds, 30 Irene St., Torrington, CT 06790-6658. This catalog doesn't ignore ornamentals, but the main thrust is berries, veggies and herbs. It has wonderful selections of beans, lettuces and salad greens and all the other things Western Pennsylvania gardeners like to grow. They also give plenty of information on plant culture and as an added bonus, have included an interesting selection of recipes. For a free catalog, call 860-482-3638.
Johnny's Select Seeds, 1 Foss Hill Road, RR 1, Box 2580, Albion, ME 04910-9731. I find Johnny's to be oddly quirky, but I still like them. Again, all the staple vegetable garden plants are available here, along with very complete information on how to start seeds and successfully grow seedlings. For a free catalog, call 207-437-4301.
Liberty Seed Co., Box 806, New Philadelphia, OH 44663-0806, is another primarily veggie-seed outfit with some ornamentals thrown in. This business is almost local, in neighboring Ohio. In past years, I was able to locate a very specific petunia seed I needed through them. Give these guys a try. For a free catalog, call 330-364-1611.
And while I won't describe them because almost everybody gets a copy, there is nothing wrong with ordering seeds from the old standby companies. But why anybody would want to grow the red corn on the cover of Burpee's new catalog is beyond me. Burpee Seeds and Plants offer a free catalog by calling 800-888-1447. And there's Park Seed Flowers and Vegetables. For a free catalog, call 800-845-3369.
