Horticulture

I recently received a two-years-for-the-price-of-one offer in the mail for this magazine. The first issue was a pleasant surprise. It's not as avant-garde as Garden Design (which I also enjoy), but it was certainly "meatier" than a lot of other gardening magazines; I'm looking forward to the next issue.

I like the photos in this magazine, the regional articles, the how to articles, the reviews of tools etc. The one plant, 5 ways articles have given me alot of interesting ideas for plant combos. I dont really like slick magazines with little information. This magazine has enough information for me.

I signed up for a subscription to Horticulture on the internet for $14.97. I then received an invoice for $4.98 in the mail. When I called customer service, they said the subscription that I signed up for was $19.95. I explained that it said $14.97, and that is what I paid by credit card - why would I make a partial payment? I told them to cancel the whole order, and then they said they would honor the $14.97 price. This whole transaction seemed very fishy. I hope it was just an honest mistake.

I subscribe to this magazine and I love it. The photography alone is worth the price. I get so many ideas for everything from unusual bulbs to design ideas. Articles are well-written and informative. My one true wish is that the magazine were a bit thicker. There is so much more that could be offered.

I don't know whether I prefer 'Horticulture' or 'Fine Gardening'. My solution was to subscribe to both, and I thoroughly enjoy each issue.

A few years ago, I responded to a postcard offering a free sample issue - if I didn't want to subscribe, the instructions were to write "cancel" on the bill and owe nothing. I looked at the sample issue and decided I didn't care for it. (Personal preference - the articles just weren't that useful to me, but others might find them interesting). The reason I rate them as neutral is that it took much more than "write cancel on the bill" to get them to stop sending the magazine. I started by writing "Please cancel. I tried the sample issue and prefer not to subscribe" on the first bill. They continued sending bills and I continued sending them back with handwritten notes/ explanations. After a few months of this, I finally got them to stop by writing them a formal letter explaining the situation. To their credit, they did then stop sending both the magazine and the bills.

I have subscribed for many years. If there is an article I am especially interested in I stick a small PostIt on upper edge to make easier to find. i do like their Q & A feature. Also their Field Notes for different gardening areas. Very good and interesting articles.

My best friend gets this magazine, and every time I visit, I read several back issues. It has become a magazine that may get a subscription from me as the articles are detailed and useful.