The only thing that sustains a gardener in the deep winter is the flight of seed and plant catalogs that float through the mail slot, riotous with colors, and rich with promises of a lush, full, tasty, prolific spring and summer.
I love these catalogs. I mark their corners, pore over them, and dream of reproducing their landscapes in my backyard.
But I've almost never ordered from them.
I always think, isn't it better to get your plants locally? Not just the environmental impact of transporting plants over long distances--which might be reason enough--but for the reason that plants that start close to home are more likely to thrive in your home. Not to mention the pleasure of wheeling a full cart around the garden center, picking out the best specimens to take home and get into your little piece of Earth.
My mom has told me story after story of things she's ordered from catalogs that have gone bust in her garden. And yet I'm always drawn in--this year, especially by these luscious Vanilla-Strawberry Hydrangeas that my friend Lisa pointed out to me in the Jung catalog. I can just see a vase-full of these on my kitchen table....
So I put the question to you--have you had luck with plants you've ordered from catalogs--especially companies that are located outside your living/growing region? If so, which ones (companies and plants)?
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