Why mail order annuals? When asked during Garden Walk about interesting plants I own that came via this route, people usually respond with shock.
Though I have yet to attempt seeds (and don’t plan to), I am always open to searching online for plants not readily available nearby.
“Having my late winter security blanket”: While there will be plenty of nursery and garden center offerings in May when I set up the container array, my preorder from my local botanical gardens benefit sale provides me with peace of mind that the container array will look just how I imagined.
There can be both rewarding and discouraging aspects to this strategy.
My bad news:
No matter how many sweet pea seedings I order, they simply won’t do any good – so it is necessary for me to simply stop purchasing sweet peaseedings altogether.
Some heirloom cottage garden flowers appear much better on paper than in reality. I imagine pictures show only the tops of about 100 of them in tight cluster, while in reality these weedy blooms need constant deadheading and deadheading (looking at you Didiscus caeruleus (blue lace flower) and Orlaya ‘White Lace.) Calling all meadow growers!
Be wary of colors such as Creme Brulee. Keep the focus on dessert. Light brown phlox just isn’t attractive.
But here’s the good news:
I can have cosmos without using seeds – something which never worked well in my overcrowded beds. Additionally, I can have all sorts of heliotrope instead of just those sold in nurseries or tall nicotiana varieties available only at nurseries – truly creating my own “zinnia wonderland”.
Petunias with scent remain popular mail order choices, while I can set local trends. Strobilanthes (Persian Shield) was virtually nonexistent when I first ordered it 22 years ago for Garden Walk; yet after its debut it quickly became available all across town; maybe local vendors got tired of hearing people ask for it?
On a frigid February afternoon, it’s immensely satisfying to browse my email confirmations which contain images depicting what my container garden will resemble come June.
Winter fantasies help make up for what can often be a less-than-stellar summer reality.
