Winter ritual of reading seed catalogs under way

It is that time of year again when gardening catalogs begin to arrive in our mailbox. While many people think that January is a boring time for gardeners, we know best. January, in fact, is one of the most exciting and dynamic times to be a gardener.

The arrival of seed catalogs is certainly enough to whet our appetites for the coming season. Depending upon the catalogs you choose and receive, you can cover all of the bases of summer gardening. Annuals, perennials, bulbs and, of course, vegetable seeds are all well represented in the seed catalogs of many fine companies.

Shop directly from these catalogs, or use them as a guide to your seed shopping and plant shopping excursions this year. Make note of plants and seeds that are must-haves and begin to seek them out when garden centers open.

Many garden centers in our area are already stocking up on seeds and seed-starting supplies to fill the hot demand. It is best to shop early when selecting seeds before the selection is picked over. Seed shoppers know to get there soon and pick out their favorites before they are gone.

One of the most popular seed catalogs is the Baker Rare Seed catalog. Not only do they offer a tremendous variety of heirloom and classic vegetable and garden seeds, along with annuals, perennials and more, the physical catalog itself is a work of art. You will spend hours exploring the pages of this tantalizing catalog. Visit their website to order your free catalog.

Another of my favorite seed catalogs is the Botanical Interests catalog — another catalog that is simply a work of art, featuring breathtaking paintings and, of course, a wide variety of hard-to-find and heirloom annuals, perennials, edible plants and more.

If you are seeking bulbs, whether for fall or summer, Brent and Becky’s Bulbs is an excellent source of incredible varieties of lilies, gladiolas, tulips, daffodils, allium and more. Sign up to get their seasonal catalogs and enjoy exploring the pages for hard to find bulbs you won’t find anywhere else.

Some companies provide excellent online catalog and shopping resources. Seed Savers Exchange is an excellent source of heirloom and rare vegetables, garden plants, herbs, annuals and more. Browse their catalog regularly for their amazing selection.

Companies such as Oh My Peonies and Solaris Farms, as well as Pinewood Gardens, provide excellent online catalogs for locally sourced plant selections. The plants available at these growers are especially suited for gardens here in Wisconsin, as they are all grown locally, with virtually no winter protection and proven hardiness in our climate. Visit the websites of each to explore their catalogs.

There are many other excellent seed and plant catalogs available to gardeners. Visit the websites of each company and sign up to receive a hard copy of their catalog. Once you are on their mailing list, you will continue to receive a selection of their catalogs throughout the year.

Rob Zimmer is a nature and garden author, public speaker and radio show host on WHBY. Readers can find him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RobZimmerOutdoors.