What are your favorite gardening catalogs?

I only have a couple of catalogs so far...clearly I need more! Which ones do you recommend?

Thanks!

I only get 2 now and I had to ask for Parks, lol. Jungs is the other. They stop sending them if you never order anything.
There is a great store locally with the largest Burpee seed display I've ever seen all at 40% off. My limited needs are covered there.
Andy P

Companies I order from and catalogs I enjoy lookin thru may be totally different
For instance, I order from Bluestone Perennials and also enjoy their catalog but White Flower Farm has a nice catalog but wouldn't order from them at all

If you're looking for mail order company recommendations....did this thread awhile ago

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/958717/

Fairweather Gardens, Rarefind Nusery, Mischel's Greenhouse (annuals), Brent & Becky. Other faves are only online.

I want to know which ones you look to help you plan your garden. The ones filled with eye candy :)

The recommended mail order company thread is great, very helpful.

I second Victor's vote for Mischel's Greenhouses, then would add Dutch Gardens, Faraway Flowers (lilies - our own Mainiac/Ramona), Swan Island (dahlias), B & D Lilies. White Flower Farms is good for ideas but pricey and shipping is very high.

Wow, the "Colorblends" publication on the Faraway Flowers website is AMAZING!

One that wasn't mentioned is Arrowhead Alpines,perhaps the most complete and the owner is brilliant and accessible.Unfortunately he has colon cancer but keeps fighting on.I would love to spend a week at his place and work for free to sponge up some knowledge.

GK does arrowhead have a catalog?

Yes,very extensive and informative but Bob said he is running late with his Chemo etc but will be along shortly

have you purchased from them in the past? plants or trees/conifers?

Oh Bill, do you ever need the Arrowhead catalogue! Plan on about a week to read it.

are there pictures?

received rarefinds catalog yesterday - too many circles in it already

Rosy, Klehm's catalog has some lovely photos in it. I love to look through all the plant catalogs I receive, just to cheeer me up!

Got a postcard from Bob at Arrowhead yesterday and he said his catalog will be quite late but he is offering on lines sales .He is available to talk by phone at 517-2233581 well worth the call as a more interesting and informative man cannot be found.There is almost nothing he can't supply.He is struggling with colon cancer and chemo therapy and would appreciate our support.Last year I spoke with him often and what an education,he sent me MANY plants and ALL were good investments.Like me he prefers phone calls to email.

Pinetree Garden or J.L.Hudson for inexpensive seeds.
Bluestone for young perennial plants.
Johnny's Seeds for veggies (and occasionally Baker Creek, esp. for squash or gourds).
Sand Hill for heirloom tomato and veggie seeds (and occasionally Totally Tomatoes) and
maybe next year, Gleckler.
Brent and Becky's Bulbs for (what else?) bulbs.
ForestFarm for Perennials and Shrubs. (and online: BigDipper and LazyS).
RosyDawn (online) for Coleus.
Parks or Thompson&Morgan for annual and perennial seeds.
Musser Forests or Miller Nurseries for shrubs and trees.

and despite what Sarahskeeper said, I've not ordered from the following guys for some time (or never have ordered) but they keep sending catalogs. (Mailing list cloning?):
Scheepers, VermontBeanSeed, Gardener'sSupply,Bourgondien, SelectSeeds, Burpees, WhiteFlowerFarm, SeedsOfChange, HPS, CooksGarden, Jung, Harris, and some others I've already thrown away! The hinge on my mailbox is getting worn out.

I actually like get the gardening catalogs, just to get ideas....I hate the other catalogs I get, rarely order from any except Bean's & Appleseeds.....

I think there are too many I like to list...
I love looking thru catalogs.
The requirements for me for good eye candy, though, are....
Good pictures, good description including zone, mature height and width and shade/sun requirements
Ideally would be 2 pics, one closeup and one of whole plant, but that is very rare

Just received Rarefind's catalog....so happy they now have a pic for every plant

I need the photos.....hard to visualize!

Ya me too!

Yes, catalogs without pics are useless.

My idea of eye candy is the Victoria's Secret catalog.

Yes, Victorias Secret without pictures is 0,but Arrowhead with the descriptions and histories can't be beat.Fair weather has a beautiful catalog but short supply.

fw does not have enough pic's - rarefind included pics of everything and cut down on the discriptions - i found the discriptions ok

FW has more pics online.

Arrowhead has almost no pictures, but enticing and comical descriptions. I really like the catalogue. I don't find it useless at all. I kind of like to dream of what the plant might be. And the irises I have purchased there have fit the description. If the catalogue had pictures, it would be the largest catalogue in the world.

Be careful to check the Garden Watchdog. Some of the companies listed above do not have good ratings, and for good reasons. Although some of them, like Parks, might be good for seeds, but not plants, for ex. But it's always good to check GW. You won't find Victorias Secret on there, though.

Robindog, is it Klehm's Song Sparrow?

yes

Yes.....thanks, Bill :)

your welcome - i just happened to see the question and thought.................:)

I like them ALL :) to look at anyways, I only order from a few. One note to keep in mind is one catalogue will say the plant is hardy to z5, another will say z6, I then go to SEVERAL others to compare. I'm doing that now with Japanese Maples....think thats why I don't buy them often. :(

You're right, Pixie.....I've bought a rose that said zone 5, only to find it in a catalog that says zone 6.....I did that with Easy Does It last summer....I have little hope of it surviving this winter!

Celeste you should look at Davidsans closer, he focuses on zone 5 maples and gives the hardiness a rating and if it needs special care or is super hardy he will mention it in the discription.

i do not get too hung up on the jm zones or sizes as they are all over the place - i just will call him if i have a question or diana if i get them from her.

I would just mulch heavy, Celeste. And make sure they are planted with good drainage. I make a raised mound if it's not on a slope.

Oh man I received the Klehms Song Sparrow catalog that IS some SERIOUS eye candy!!!!! I was drooling

It is wonderful, Jen....I usually pass it on to my son to get it out of the house!

It sure is interesting to compare prices from different catalog companies. The very same items (flower variety and size of packet) from Johnny's Select Seeds are almost HALF the price of what they charge from Burpee's!

received fairweathers yesterday - looks of good info on vibs

Still waiting for mine!

Got mine yesterday too. Will now probably add to my order.