TIME TO THINK ABOUT SPRING!
And That Means Seed Catalogues

Beth Lopez — As she presents her final “Pots & Plants” column, We at The West End Journal ARE grateful to Beth for two years of insightful and informative articles, and wish her all the best for the future.

by Beth Lopez
(click on images to enlarge)

I remember the joy of childhood when the Eaton’s “wish book” would arrive. Hours of joy were spent going through the catalogue, dreaming of the possibilities. There is no more Eaton’s catalogue, but I still get a chance to dream and wish.

In the fall, I receive at least three catalogues. I spend hours going through them, reading and learning. Catalogues are a source of inspiration and lots of very good information.

I will go through a catalogue first just enjoying the pictures, letting myself be drawn to something that intrigues me. That’s what had me order patchouli when I came upon it.

Then I go through again, reading and checking. My second reading of the catalogue will narrow down my lists to things that I can successfully grow in my garden.

The country is divided into zones based on average temperatures and growing season. It’s easy to google a map of the growing zones. Vancouver is in Zone 8 which makes it warmer, with a longer growing season than even southern Ontario. I look at the recommended zone for any plant I’m interested in. If it says “hardy to zone 8”, I know my plants should survive our weather.

Next, I think of the space I plant. Part of it is in full sun for most of the daylight hours, part is in partial shade. I check out what requirements various plants have for sun or shade and note which would work in my space.

I think of my ability to deal with diseases and pests and I check which plants are resistant or hardy, and what plants work well planted together to protect each other.

Now, I can decide which of the plants I liked will be successful here and make a list of names and cultivars. Then I make a physical plan, which plants will go where. I have to decide how many plants I need for that space. Once I have my list for next year’s garden, I am not confined to buying through the catalogue. I have many options for where and when to get those seeds or plants, ordering on line, finding them in the neighbourhood, or at gardening centers throughout the Lower Mainland.

The catalogues I get every year come from companies where I have shopped. Two of them are in Ontario.

Richters is in Ontario and sells herbs and vegetables. They sell seeds as well as live plants. I have ordered live plants from Richters several times. They arrive at the time of year when they should be planted, even though I have ordered them months before. The packaging is incredible and the plants are strong and healthy and thrive once they are planted out. They also have beautiful herbs of all kinds, as seeds and as live plants. They were the source of my patchouli, sweet grass, Mexican oregano, and epazote which I could find no where else.

I cook a lot of Mexican food and fresh Mexican oregano and epazote is not something you find at Kin’s. I don’t grow cilantro though, I’m of the group that tastes soap and metal.

Patchouli is a beautiful herb known for its wonderful smell, although when dried it loses much of its perfume. Sweet grass, on the other hand can be harvested twice a year, like hay, and dried. So far I’ve braided it, coiled it and woven it into small baskets. This year, I am going to try weaving it with cotton on a loom.

The other Ontario company is Breck’s Bulbs, where you can buy all kinds of, of course, bulbs. Several years ago I fell in love with a flower which I learned grew from a bulb, the beautiful allium. I had never really grown bulbs before so I’m learning more each year. Breck’s has sent me beautiful alliums, including the Schubertii which look like fireworks. I’ve added daffodils, hyacinth and iris for early spring.

Then I discovered dahlias and fell in love. Dahlias are not really bulbs; they’re rhizomes, which Breck’s also carries.

The West Coast Seed catalogue is a treasure trove. Their seed packets are found just about anywhere seeds are sold in BC, but the catalogue is there to give you all the information on the various cultivars of their flowers, herbs and vegetables. Once you choose the ones right for you, you can order them or trek down to Home Hardware to check out their display.

These are the catalogues that I have used, but a google search will find you others that you might want to order too. Most companies will be happy to mail you a catalogue for free if you ask. Of course, the information and pictures will also be available on their websites, but there is something to be said for sitting with a good cup of coffee, catalogues spread out before you and a notebook to keep track of your finds.

Whichever way you prefer, spend some time and enjoy a chance to dream about the season ahead.

**This new acquisition will be taking my attention this summer.**

This is my last column for The West End Journal. I am getting to the point that I need to back out of some responsibilities to concentrate on the tasks I am still able to do. I thank editor Kevin McKeown for taking me on, a retired French teacher with a strong interest in gardening. I had no idea I would be able to pull it off, creating a column a month, and after almost two years, I am quite proud of what I produced. I met many wonderful people, I gained some self confidence and I had fun. Thank you Kevin for letting me write about a subject I love and thank you West Enders for reading.