Most attractive seed catalog?

Yesterday my Seeds of Change catalog arrived. The photos and content are breathtaking, imo, making me want to order from them but I will probably hold back and maybe only get one or two things from them as I have concerns about the seeds being more adapted to the western climate. Or is that all in my imagination? Seems like most of their growers are from the pacific northwest. Anyway, what other companies are contenders for most attractive catalog?

I don't yet have an opinion about the "most attractive" catalogue this year but... I do agree with the locale that the seeds/plants come from. I also think seeds from a similar environment will perform better. I have searched actively for herbs and perennials and the closest growers (with any catalogue or online selection) that I have found is in Missouri! Why are there no southern growers?

Seeds of Change catalogue is definitely well photographed, but I have not had the best germination success with their seeds. I purchased their seed packets at a local store, so it could be that they were not handled properly in the local store. I was of the impression that their seeds were grown in both Pacific Northwest or New Mexico.

I did see a southeastern grower's online catalogue once. I'll try to find the link in favourites listing, since at the moment I can't remember the name.

R.H. Shumway's have beautiful seed catalog. No photographs....it's all done with illustrations. Has a very old-timey feel to it.

www.rhshumway.com

I got a Shumways last year and loved it. Even DH commented on it. Never ordered but it was beautiful!

I just ordered both cataloges.

My favorite seed cataloges are Prarie Moon Nursery and J.L. Hudson.
Prairie Moon has nice photos, but it is more practical than beautiful. They are a Minnesota company and have Minnesota Natives.

J. L. Hudson, Doesn't have photos or drawings. A straight working catalog. They do have good prices and an amazing variety.

Both have much information.

http://www.prairiemoon.com/ 100% on Garden Watchdog (I would give them a 100% as well)

http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/ 95% (I have had nothing but good luck with them.)

Good information, Cooks Garden catalog has some nice illustrations, look like color woodcuts.

What has happened to Burpee? When I started gardening (back in the '70s), that was my company. Then several years ago I guess they got sold or something, because everything changed. Their catalog became a slick publication with beautiful photographs - BUT their selections have dimished drastically - very few seed alternatives or choices - heavy emphasis on plants. And worst of all - very little useful information. I was looking at the tomato seeds in their new catalog (still sent to me although I don't order from them anymore) and realized they no longer even list pertinent disease resistance information (such as VFF, VF, etc.). It looks like a catalog planned by a designer instead of a gardner. Needless to say, they have not been a seed source from me for about 7 years now - too bad - it used to be a great company.

Ditto on Burpee and the catalogue isn't even a good plant reference. I got on their emailing list and am blitzed weekly with promotions. They have really changed...

I've heard that Bluestone, Wayside, & Park Seed have some awesome seed catalogs. Here's the links for their sites:

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com
http://www.waysidegardens.com
http://www.parkseed.com

I like to get my seeds from the racks in my favorite garden centers. I feel certain that they aren't going to let me buy something for my zone that would only grow in NE US. I will buy a few things that I know I can grow from seed that is not recommended for my zone. I have successfully grown artichokes but they are biennial and I would really like to get some 1 yr. old plants.

Ann

In 1991 Burpee merged with Ball Horticulture company. Then, in 1995 it was sold to the Seminis Inc. (http://www.seminis.com/). Monsanto bought Seminis last January.

I only know this because I won' t buy seed from Monstanto. I dislike their ethics.

I'm with you on the Monsanto boycott, heavenlybubbles.
Heirloom veggies and fruits have been shown to have a higher nutritional content than those hybridized for increased quantity over taste and quality , so there is an added bonus with these.

Heavenlybubbles, just to clarify some information for you. Burpee is not a part of Seminis or Monsanto. It is a privately held company.

Okay, somebody come up with proof one way or the other. That's what I HATE about big business! They buy up little ones and you'd never know. Burpee isn't even consistent about listing zones. I like them a LOT less than I used to.

Do y'all have any idea how vast Kraft is? I try to avoid them -- but they own Nabisco! NO OREOS!?!?!?!?!

Hopefully one of these recipes will give you sustenance during your boycott. Plus, you have the option to substitute with healthier ingredients.

http://www.recipelink.com/cookbooks/2005/0881505811_2.html
http://kai.vortex.net.nz/2006/homemade-oreo-cookies/
http://recipestoday.com/recipes/desserts/oreos.htm

ill way... in select seed is a great seed catalog and bluestone is spectacular,

Did any of you compare prices in those catalogs? I spent a week looking at at least ten catalogs, comparing prices on the seeds and shipping and looking to see if the companies had the seeds I really wanted. I had a hard time because some companies don't give the size of the pack. I frequently found the same varieties.
I bought from Burpee for years but no more, the seed prices were the highest of all the catalogs, shipping is fair but I would have to pay tax living in Pa.
Last year I ordered from Pinetree and I want to check inot other companies so I ended up ordering veggy seeds from Vermont seed.
Like some of you I favored the simpler catalogs like John Scheepers. I really like the Sunny border catalog for perennials as they have alot listed. My favorite to buy from is Bluestone for plants.
I am curious about all these $25 coupons. Is it a win/win?
Aline

i don't know if it's the most attractive, but the funniest, most entertaining has got to be Plant Delights. it's pretty too.

I ordered all my seeds the last couple of weeks from: www.reneesgardens.com, www.dianesseeds.com,
www.thompsonmorgan.com, www.johnnysselectseeds.com, www.parkseed.com,. My favorites for plants are Bluestone, Park, and local growers. I wish I could buy from Ball Seed as I did when I worked in greenhouses. Burpees hardly offers the same plants, example, 'Liberty' snaps......Excitement now for me is watching some of these companies start to offer cultivars ONLY the professional growers used to grow to the trade only. ( I can't forget Logees for tropicals, but their prices have quadrupled in the last 10 or 12 years....can't and won't do that.)
I prefer to order online as we usually don't have much winter (we do right now!!!brrrr) to cozy up and enjoy studying the catalogs. Be the way, so much for winter gardening in zone 9 for me. I just lost 500 snapdragons in the garden today from the frost cloth beating them down....the upside is that I will just cut them back one more time for bloom in two months.

This message was edited Jan 15, 2007 8:58 PM

Maybe I am in the minority, but I am of the opinion that certain things like sweet corn, melons, and watermelons are more tasty to me in the modern varieties than in some of the old timer varieties.

As far as nutritive value goes I do believe that the lastest field corn varieties are bred to give higher yields and are not as nutritive dense as older corns. They are being raised by an artificial method of pumping up yields. Still, in the home garden, we do not have to go for yield only. we can load the soil up with fertility and micro nutrients.