It's something we in the industry both like and hate at the same time: gardening catalogs pouring forth through the mail and millions of people anxiously waiting the arrival of the next pile.

The reason for this like-hate relationship is that these catalogs "introduce" plants that are so new they aren't readily available. Special arrangements were made in advance to allow a slow, controlled release the first year at a high price and profit to the originating grower. Many times, the plants aren't hardy in this zone, or can't readily be found since it's a new introduction and will take a couple of years to reach mass marketing. The color doesn't match the picture (the photographs in the catalog are re-touched) or the flower only comes in one color because hybridization is still ongoing and it will be years until enough varieties are available.

So enjoy the pretty pictures, dream a good, dreamy-garden setting, but be prepared to special-order new introductions and pay a hefty price from these catalogs for the privilege of having them first on your block.

Routinely, we get hold of plants that are "firsts" for the area and introduce them and are then copied by those other so-called Garden Centers & Nurseries. Before you order expensive plants from pretty catalogs, call us about availability; you might save a fortune.