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Garden Catalogs: A Tall Order

© Barbara M. Martin

Dear reader, please note: Thank you for visiting my Cottage Garden topic and reading my columns, published here from February 1997 through spring 2003! I regret I am no longer actively editing or contributing to this suite101.com topic as of mid-2003. Happy Gardening! This Cottage Garden column was written by Barbara M. Martin and is Copyrighted by Barbara M. Martin. It may not be altered or copied or published elsewhere in whole or in part without specific permission from the author.

In the new year, gardeners everywhere will begin looking ahead. This going forward often includes a penchant for seed starting. We feed this craving by buying seeds with every intention of planting them come better weather or at the least, longer days.

Such optimistic conviction is characteristic of the gardener. We know that the coming gardening year will be better than the last, that the garden will thrive and exceed all expectations. We know that every new variety will be just the thing we have been looking and hoping for, we are adamant in our determination to plant only the more-better-longer-bigger-louder-blooming-higher-producing-and utmost satisfying of plants.

This annual seeding ritual is encouraged, no forced upon us, by the arrival of the seed catalogs. Through the catalogs our desires are reinforced, our fiery dreams are fanned and we are powerless to resist.

Catalogs are designed to entice. Some are glossy and beautiful, oozing with photography worthy of the best of the garden-themed calendars of either wall or pocket format. Other catalogs are deceptive in their sheer ugliness, the visual equivalent of dishwater, a mere listing in black and white on poor quality paper thinner than onion skin; sometimes the newsprint smears or the printing runs crooked. Presentation may be important, but there is psychology at work here, too, to prey upon our weakness and build upon our strength.

Some catalogs claim to charge fair prices. Some catalogs clearly tout their best prices, "99 cent special!" while others require decoding of an intricate pricing scheme annotated in fine print by alphanumerics and the occasional asterisk. Some select catalogs offer special groupings at special prices, either a carefully selected combination of plants or a "cheaper by the dozen" sort of deal. These always sound so great, even if you only have room for two or at most three.

This spatial seduction is so simple, at least in my mind. Chip away at a little strip of lawn here, move the patio there, take out the kids' swimming pool, reinforce the roof, string up lights all over the basement and really, that dining room/closet/den/billiard room/garage/you name it is crying out for a few seed trays -- if there's a will, there's always a way to make room for just a little more gardening. Just begin with a tentative step, first the baby step then later the leap, just begin with one toe getting wet with oh, say one of the little cold frame jobbies from the catalog, then worry about the rest later. It's so easy to get started! But please, don't let me encourage you.

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