THE COASTAL GARDENER
01.19.07
For something
completely different
By Ron Vanderhoff
Acquiring
interesting, unusual and hard-to-find plants through the mail is
a way to add more interest to a garden as well as a way to feed
a curious gardener's obsession.
After a quick check of my records, I found that during the past
10 years I acquired exactly 640 varieties of plants through the
mail from 41 separate sources.
Initially, buying live plants through the mail may appear risky,
tedious or unnecessary. But avid gardeners may eventually want
more than what they can find locally. Exploring neighborhood
nurseries for new treasures soon gives way to longer trips into
Los Angeles or San Diego. Eventually, even the specialist
purveyors within a day's drive are still not enough, and the
need to find something new, something never grown before,
something exotic, something no one else has is too great. When
this happens, it's time to turn your attention to mail order.
Like Charlie inside the chocolate factory, a whole new world of
possibilities exists, if we just know where to look.
We live in a gardening paradise — really. If you haven't yet
discovered the tens of thousands of "other" plants that you can
grow in your own Orange County backyard then mail order awaits
you.
A few things to consider before taking the plunge. First, plants
obtained through the mail will be small, usually the equivalent
of a 3- or 4-inch pot. Don't be discouraged; they will grow just
fine. Larger plants simply don't travel well, and the costs of
shipping would be prohibitive.
Secondly, the plants might look a little less "perfect" than
you're accustomed to. Unlike rooting through the peaches at the
grocery store, you won't be able to pick out the most perfect
one; the supplier will make that choice for you.
Third, and most important, remember that these suppliers offer
many plants that are not well suited to our Mediterranean,
California climate. Do a little homework before ordering.
January is the perfect month to place your first plant order;
most of the companies that ship through the mail have just
completed their 2007 offerings, and plants ordered now will
arrive just in time for spring. Even if you don't order a thing,
you'll be wiser and more enthusiastic about your garden simply
by reading what these companies have to offer.
Here are a few of my favorite mail-order suppliers. I've used
them all. If you want even more or are looking for a particular
specialty, then e-mail me. I may have a suggestion.
The big three mail-order suppliers for me are Plant Delights (www.plantdelights.com),
Logee's (www.logees.com)
and Yucca Do Nursery (www.yuccado.com).
Plant Delights is the leader in offering a wide selection of new
and interesting plants to gardeners across the country. The
owner, Tony Avent, is a plant genius. Logee's selections are a
bit less obscure and focused on tropical plants, while Yucca
Do's selection is especially useful since it is tailored to
plants suited to the southern and western U.S.
If you want to be more conservative with your first mail-order
venture or if you fall easily for glossy, professional
photographs, then try Wayside Gardens (www.waysidegardens.com)
or Whiteflower Farms (www.whiteflowerfarm.com).
Both offer great websites and printed catalogs that will have
you reaching for your MasterCard in no time.
For the totally addicted plant enthusiast, Asiatica Nursery (www.asiaticanursery.com),
Rare Exotics (www.rareexotics.com)
and Glasshouse Works (www.glasshouseworks.com)
might be to your liking. Warning: These three, especially Barry
Yinger's Asiatica and Guy Wrinkle's Rare Exotics offer some of
the newest and most obscure plants. The prices will scare a
beginner.
If, like me, you have a fascination for plants arising from
bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes, then an order with Telos Rare
Bulbs (www.telosrarebulbs.com),
Cape Seed and Bulb (www.capeseedandbulb.com),
Simply Indigenous Nursery (www.simplyindigenous.co.za)
or Bulb'Argence (www.bulbargence.com)
would be appropriate. Telos, owned by my friend Diana Chapman,
is focused on native West Coast bulbs and those from similar
climate areas. Cape Seed and Simply Indigenous are South African
companies, while Bulb'Argence ships from France. All focus their
attention on Mediterranean climate selections.
Finally, for those who still aren't quite sure about unwrapping
plants from a box, there are some excellent mail-order seed
suppliers. For the best selection of gourmet tomatoes try
TomatoFest (www.tomatofest.com),
Marianna's Seed (www.mariseeds.com)
or Rachel's Tomato Seeds (www.rachelssupply.com).
A huge selection of hard-to-find vegetables and flowers are
offered by Seed Saver's Exchange (www.seedsavers.org),
Thompson and Morgan (www.thompson-morgan.
com),
Johnny's Selected Seed (www.johnnyseeds.com),
or from Derry Watkins (www.specialplants.net).
If you're obsessed with plants, plant guru Ginny Hunt's
offerings will surely satisfy (www.seedhunt.com).
Like Alice peering into the rabbit hole, mail-order plant
suppliers can open your garden to the vast world of plants that
you otherwise may never know about. Tired of the ordinary? Maybe
it's time to try something completely different.
ASK RON
The cold weather the past few days has damaged several of my
plants. What should I do?
CHRISTINE
Costa Mesa
As you unfortunately found out, this was one of the coldest
periods of the past couple of years. As tempting as I know it
is, do not cut your damaged plants back. The damaged leaves and
stems should stay in place until you see some signs of new
growth, perhaps not until spring. When new growth begins, trim
the dead stems to just above where the new growth is emerging.
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