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For the gardening enthusiast, mail-order seeds can be a great money saving investment, as well as a terrific way to experiment with new and rare plant species without breaking the bank. There are literally hundreds of online and catalog sources at your disposal, from flowers to vegetables, trees and prairie grasses, and everything in between. If you can grow it, there's a seed catalog for it.

The very best advice anyone can give is to plan ahead for what you want to grow, and make a list. Pouring over seed catalogs can make you feel like a kid at Christmas; and those tiny seeds grow into large plants that need a lot of space, light, water and nutrients! For the amateur gardener, it's best to make a plan and stick to it.

Keeping in mind whether you'll be starting your seeds indoors before the growing season starts, or sowing them directly in the soil, you'll need to plan on when you'll make your order. For northern gardeners with shorter growing seasons, seeds started in March under a grow light will need to be ordered sometime in late February. Once you know what you want to order and when you need to order it, let the fun begin!

For vegetables, one of my favorite sources has been Johnny's seeds. (www.johnnyseeds.com) This company grows and tests all their products and gives reviews of each variety, and gives excellent customer service. They cater to both the home gardener and commercial grower, selling both bulk and individual sized packages of seeds. They have a huge selection with some heirloom varieties and organically grown, as well.

A company I have been exploring recently, based out of Decorah, Iowa, specializes in all heirloom variety flowers and vegetables. The Seed Savers Exchange (http://www.seedsavers.org/) strives to keep these heirlooms thriving in gardens throughout the country. I have tried many of them myself, mostly tomatoes, and I am impressed with the quality and hardiness of the plants that have grown from their seeds. A curiosity from their gardensthe Sensitive Plantis sure to delight and amaze anyone who comes across it. You'll have to see this for yourself; I don't want to spoil the fun!

Prairie Moon Nursery (http://www.prairiemoon.com/) specializes in native prairie grasses and forbs to the Midwest. They also have trees, vines, shrubs, ferns, and cacti. A benefit of using native grasses and plants is that you don't have to water as often (some don't require any care other than weeding) and they are generally not bothered by pests or disease. Order either online, or request a catalog.

For organic seeds, try Seeds of Change (http://www.prairiemoon.com/). Fruits and vegetables, trees, flowers and seed collections such as children's gardens are highlights of this producer.

These are just a select few of the myriad of suppliers. For a more comprehensive listing, go to Cyndi's List (http://www.gardenlist.com/). Gardeners from Alaska to Australia and everywhere in between can find something here that will suit their fancy. Once you've found a company from which you'd like to order, check to see if they're on the list at Dave's Garden's Garden Watchdog (http://davesgarden.com/produc ts/gwd/). Reviews are posted from consumers based on quality of product and customer service; so you can order with peace of mind.

Learn more about this author, B.G. Rich.
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