Here's a perfect example of what I'm talking about with the catalogs. I'm looking at a catalog that lists Arisaema (Jack-in-the-Pulpit). They offer six species (types)and list zones 5-9 in the general description, but they don't tell you which ones are which. Of the six Jacks offered, FOUR do not grow in our Zone 5-6 here in Rochester. Some of these plants are $25 each, so it would be a very expensive mistake to plant them and expect them to winter over.
STEP TWO in the winter-blahs-recovery-program-for-plant-freaks is to admit that you have an addiction to plants, tear out the pages of the catalog with the plants pictured that you want, and put them in a file marked "wish list", and write me a note about them, and why you must have them. I'll talk you through it.
My next posting will be about the Coneflower (Echinacea) craze. Anybody out there got some experiences with the new Coneflowers, let me know. Do your orange Coneflowers come back orange??

This is the time of year when a lot of gardeners feel as though they should be joining a "twelve step program" and (with all due respect to people with real addictions) it feels serious to us. Because of the nature of my business, I'm always looking at gardens and pictures of gardens, with the one exception of December when I'm decorating my customer's homes in and out for the holidays, so I have a bit of relief from the winter blahs.
My thoughts are that maybe instead of teaching classes, I could be blogging, and perhaps there are some gardeners out there who would be interested who can't come to classes and such, but would like to learn some good garden stuff. It's a great way to distract us from the Feb. blahs, and we start the Spring armed with knowledge.
STEP ONE- Before it's too late, I'd like to warn you about plant catalogs. I have not found one that ships a really viable plant. Years ago White Flower Farm was the best perennial source in the country, but they have caved to the pressures of the market, are no longer producing much themselves. Also, the pictures are usually doctored or, as they say now, photo shopped. If you live in the Northeast, I can tell you if a plant will grow here and when it flowers, and what the real color is. If I don't know the plant, it's probably not a perennial.
My plan is to publish a list of sources for perennials with their current offerings, and I will give recommendations for where to shop for the best quality and price.
What is your dream plant for 2010? What catalogs are luring you with their seductive pictures and claims?