Here is my latest article on catalogs Happy Yardening, Nancy
When my friend Darby called the other day to ask what was exciting in my life, I told her fifty shades of green-it's plant catalog season and they are rolling in. Here's a list of some of my faves. All of these catalogs are available online so you may peruse their inventories before ordering hard copies or simply shop on the Internet. High Country Gardens (800) 925-9387, www.highcountrygardens.com. Catalog free. If drought tolerant plants are high on your list this is the place to shop. Active breeding programs produces lots of exclusives and the catalogs also contain great growing information. This is where you learn to grow perennials. It's a must read for me. Song Sparrow Nursery (800) 553-3715, www.songsparrow.com. Catalog free. Designer herbaceous and tree peonies, hardy magnolias and fancy day lilies fill the pages. Lots of exclusives and new introductions. Also a good selection of woodies and perennials. Located in Wisconsin, it's a great source for cold hardy plants. Shop for web-only offers and specials on-line. White Flower Farm (800) 503-9624, www.whiteflowerfarm.com. Catalog free. The full color catalog is a visual feast for flower lovers. Fabulous source for container combos using annuals and perennials. Munchkin Nursery and Gardens (812) 633-4858 www.munchkinnursery.com. Catalog on-line only. A treasure trove for those looking for woodland and rare and unusual shade perennials. Forestfarm: (541) 846-7269, www.forestfarm.com. Catalog free. One of largest plant selections in the country, the black and white catalog is 500 pages. However, shipping from this 30 year-old Oregon nursery can be pricey. Plant Delights Nursery (919) 772-4794; www.plantdelights.com. Catalog, 10 stamps or a box of chocolates. This catalog is a hortiholics dream come true, a must for any plant collector. For the rest of us, it's a fun and enlightening read. But beware, it's catching. Annie's Annuals and Perennials (888) 266-4370; www.anniesannuals.com. Catalog free. Located in California, most of the plants will be grown as annuals in Michigan, Shipping may exceed price of plants, but buy more and save more. If you are a plant fashionista, this stunning collection that will have you drooling. Arrowhead Alpines (517) 223-3581; www.arrowhead-alpines.com. On-line only catalog. World-renowned mail order and retail plant nursery features one of Michigan's largest selection of perennials, woodland wildflowers, unusual ferns, dwarf conifers and trees and shrubs. A destination for the 2012 Conifer Society symposium held in Michigan last year. For more sources and information on garden mail order catalogs and shopping on-line, visit the Direct Garden Association website at www.directgardeningassociation.com. Nancy Szerlag is a master gardener and Metro Detroit freelance writer. Her column appears Fridays in Homestyle. To ask her a question go to Yardener.com and click on Ask Nancy. You can also read her previous columns at detroitnewscom/homestyle.
