ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 1, 1996 TAG: 9602010008
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Hoein' and Growin'
SOURCE: SUSAN MCCREA
January brings snow, cold winds - and garden catalogs. Gardeners and nongardeners alike sink under the avalanche of mail from seed and plant vendors each winter.
In past years, a request for one or two catalogs would mean an exponential jump in catalogs received, because most companies sell their mailing lists. This year, most gardeners have noticed a decline in their mailing lists, probably because of higher costs of bulk mailing and price increases in both ink and paper in the past few years. Many sellers have either pared their mailing lists to target proven buyers or are charging for formerly free catalogs. With so many tempting catalogs available at $3 to $4 a pop, it doesn't take long before the gardner's budget gets eaten away before any seeds are even ordered.
One way to spend your dollars wisely is to order from companies in Virginia or surrounding states. This helps to guarantee receiving seeds and plants suited for our region. Not all seeds or plants are meant for a life in the New River Valley; most gardeners have sad stories about disappointing performances from plants ordered from pretty pictures in a garden catalog.
The New River Valley is situated in Zones 6b-7a of the USDA hardiness zone map. These zones are based on average winter temperatures. As we all have experienced, cold temperatures can determine the life or premature death of a favorite plant, so keep our hardiness zone in mind when ordering by mail.
Some of the larger seed companies can be a little vague about hardiness zones, which can translate into a marginal plant not being able to make it through one of our winters. Some plants need a longer or shorter growing season than is available here, and catalogs don't always make that clear. Although buying new plants sight unseen can be fun, it can also result in a frustrating and unproductive gardening season.
There is a wide variety of nurseries and growers in or near Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland, and most sell their products through catalogs. There are two good reference books containing geographical listings for nurseries: ``Gardening By Mail,'' by Barbara J. Barton (Houghton Mifflin Co., 1994), and ``The Herb Companion Wishbook and Resource Guide,'' by Bobbie A. McRae (Interweave Press, 1992). These are indispensable to would-be plant buyers. In addition, two regional gardening magazines are being sold in NRV bookstores and retail nurseries. The ``Virginia Gardening Guide'' and ``Carolina Gardener'' publish listings and advertisements of nearby companies.
A catalog to satisfy any gardener's taste can be requested from one of these reference sources. Bulb lovers can write to Jacques Amand, Bulb Specialists, P.O. Box 59001, Potomac, Md. 20859, (800) 452-5415; or The Daffodil Mart, Route 3, Box 794, Gloucester, Va. 23061, (804) 693-6339. Some of the unique bulbs providing early spring color in the Virginia Tech Hort Garden came from the Daffodil Mart.
Edible Landscaping, P.O. Box 77, Afton, Va. 22920, (804) 361-9134, specializes in fruit- and nut-producing plants such as figs, berries, hardy kiwis and citrus trees. The Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants sells seeds and plants from heirloom flowers and vegetables grown at Monticello. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Monticello, P.O. Box 316, Charlottesville, Va. 22920. Another source for antique and open-pollinated varieties of seeds is Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, P.O. Box 158, North Garden, Va. 22959, (804) 973-4703.
Last summer, the owners of Springdale Water Gardens and VPI horticulture students installed a rock-walled water garden at the Hort Garden on Washington Street in Blacksburg. Admirers can write Springdale Water Gardens, P.O. Box 546, Greenville, Va. 24440-0546, (800) 420-5459 for a catalog. Another well-known water garden company with an extensive line of plants and equipment is Lilypons Water Gardens, 6800 Lilypons Road, Buckeystown, Md. 21717-0010, (800) 999-5459.
Andre Viette Farm and Nursery is a name familiar to gardeners all over the United States. Conveniently for us, they are in nearby Fishersville. Although they specialize in daylilies, irises and hostas, a broad range of perennials can be ordered from them. Write Andre Viette, Route 1, P.O. Box 16, Fishersville, Va. 22939, or call (540) 943-2315.
One of my favorite nurseries, Holbrook Farm and Nursery, went out of business last year, but the White Flower Farm picked up their mailing list and now produces a special catalog for Southern gardeners. Write White Flower Farm, Route 63, Litchfield, Conn. 06759-0050, or call (203) 496-9600.
North Carolina has many fine nurseries, including herb growers Rasland Farm, N.C. 82 at U.S. 13, Godwin, N.C. 28344-9712, (919) 567-2705, and Sandy Mush Herb Nursery, Route 2, Surrett Cove Road, Leicester, N.C. 28748, (704) 683-2014. Both grow and sell an extensive assortment of herb plants and herbal-related products.
This is only the tip of the catalog iceberg. Before you get started with catalog ordering, here are a few hints:
Since catalog prices change from year to year, it would be advisable to call these nurseries first to get correct cost information. Remember that catalogs are expensive to print and distribute and the consumer usually pays with higher plant prices. Help keep everyone's cost down by sharing catalogs with your gardening friends. Some companies offer discounts with a larger order, which is another reason to get plant lovers together on these cold and snowy winter nights.
LENGTH: Medium: 94 linesby CNB