Okay, enough moping about the weather. Yes, it's now 3:00 pm and the thermometer is stuck at -6F, but at least the wind has died down, so the windchill is up to -28F. In any case, I'm snuggled at home where the furnace is working like a charm.
Besides, look what I'm doing today - going through seed catalogs! Here's my stack. I've received a total of 26 catalogs. Of those, I've whittled down the vegetable catalogs down to eight that I'll actually look through: Pinetree Garden Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange, Fedco Seeds, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Seeds of Change, John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds and Territorial Seed Company. I may also have to go to Tomato Bob's website to see what they have. I ordered - and received - a print catalog from them in 2007, but nothing this year.
I've also save four flower catalogs: White Flower Farm, Bluestone Perennials, Select Seeds and Prairie Moon Nursery. White Flower Farm and Bluestone are plants only. Select Seeds and Prairie Moon have seeds and plants. I've never ordered flowers from a catalog, but I have big plans for this year, so I may do it. The only one of these catalogs that I requested was Prairie Moon Nursery, a Winona, Minnesota company that specializes in native plants.
So, off to spend the next few hours perusing catalogs before braving the cold to walk the dog!
I ordered from Bluestone for the first time last year, and was pleased. The plants were small but healthy, and settled into the garden really well. Of course, now they are buried under yards of snow, but I hope that will actually insulate if it doesn't crush them!
Posted by: Ali | February 10, 2008 at 05:40 PM
The Seeds of Change packets of seeds have come in at the Hampden Co-op. Big display. They're now in these bright yellow packets. Now that I don't have cats and don't have any foster dogs, I'm wondering if I should try to start some seeds this year. Or is already too late? I forget. Maybe I'll just break down and buy plants at Home Depot again!
Posted by: ari_1965 | February 11, 2008 at 09:41 AM
Hi Tracy,
Here's another link to a native plants/seed catalog:
http://www.prairiemeadowsnativeseed.com
I think I was looking for rough blazing star seeds information when I found them last year (they're located in Lonsdale).
Would you mind posting links to these catalogs? (The Seed Saver's Exchange is down in my neck of the woods, I think). I'm especially interested in trying some of the heirloom tomatoes this year. Thanks
Posted by: RuthieJ | February 12, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Ali: That's good news about Bluestone. I think I'll end up trying them for some groundcovers.
Ari: If you're in the Twin Cities, it's definitely not too late to start seeds. You wouldn't be starting tomatoes until about March 15-April 1, so you have lots of time.
Ruth: Thanks for the link. I'll also be checking out Prairie Restorations and Outback Nursery for things, too. Also, I've gone back and put links on all the companies. Enjoy!
Posted by: Tracy | February 13, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Your catalog list is pretty much like mine, except I didn't get a Seeds of Change and I don't know if I have Scheeper's or not. I'm telling myself I don't need to order much this year, but I'll find a way to spend lots of money I'm sure!
Posted by: Deb | February 14, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Your catalog stack is way bigger than mine! I would get into even more trouble if I had more catalogs, I fear, so I'm not too jealous of you. (Okay, maybe just a bit!)
I, too, have had good luck with Bluestone. Small plants, but they seem to settle in faster and catch up with their nursery-grown counterparts within a season or so.
Posted by: Kim | February 24, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Hello, I'm looking for Garden Bloggers who would like to do a link exchange with my 'GardensAndGazebos.com' web site. Specifically I would like to publish an article by you, and link it back to your site, (more effective than a straight link), in exchange for a link back to our site.
Please let me know if you would be interested.
Sincere Regards,
Monique
Posted by: Monique Stern | February 28, 2008 at 07:12 PM
Hello, I'm looking for Garden Bloggers who would like to do a link exchange with my 'GardensAndGazebos.com' web site. Specifically I would like to publish an article by you, and link it back to your site, (more effective than a straight link), in exchange for a link back to our site.
Please let me know if you would be interested.
Sincere Regards,
Monique
Posted by: Monique Stern | February 28, 2008 at 07:13 PM