An Iowa Garden

Alright, after requests from many readers (well, actually I think it's just Kathy, but she's been nagging me about it for a while), here are my favorite mailorder nurseries... keep in mind that my main interest is shade-tolerant plants. This list just a year ago would have had twelve names, but Roslyn Nursery closed, I just now found out that Collector's Nursery in Washington is temporarily closing, then downsizing, and Heronswood... well, you know what happened to it.

1. Arrowhead Alpines-- Bob and Brigitta in Michigan put out a catalogue that's all small-print; no pictures, no hardiness listings, no dumb questions answered, but a plantaholic's paradise.

2. Asiatica Nursery--kind of small plants, kind of high prices, but temperate Asiatic plants you'll have a hard time finding anywhere else; awesome asarum (ginger) selection.

3. Naylor Creek-- very nice hosta selection, and probably the largest selection of epimediums anywhere in the country.

4. Plant Delights-- fun to read, great pictures, and some very odd plants.

5. Seneca Hills Perennials-- a newcomer to my list this last year; if you want cyclamens that take right off in your garden, this is the place.

6. RareFind Nursery-- also a newcomer; great selection of rhododendrons, nice folks.

7. Song Sparrow Nursery-- I guess this is the old Klehm's; I like them because their shrubs and trees are packed the best of any nursery I've ever ordered from; Japanese maples look like they've been in the box for ten minutes, when you unpack them.

8. Beaver Creek Greenhouses-- amazingly low prices (like $5-$6) for things like primroses, and a wealth of other interesting perennials.

9. Evermay Nursery-- a small outfit in Maine, much like Beaver Creek; their list makes me wish I lived in a cool-summer climate.

9A. Lazy S'S Farm Nursery-- I just had to add this company, as they have a really interesting selection of plants at reasonable prices, and are always adding something new.