One winter evening recently, I planned a magnificent zinnia garden. Studying a seed catalogue, I thought about how easy and rewarding zinnias are. Hmmmm… I believe I’ll try this dwarf variety, Persian Carpet, “the pointed petals tipped or bordered with a contrasting shade.” That sounds great. And I’ve got to have the old standbys, the Cut and Come Again varieties. They bloom all summer and look wonderful in bouquets. Now what else should I add to the arrangement? Whirligig and my old favorites, the big blossoms of Benarys. Nothing looks better than big bright arrangements of zinnias with different colors, sizes and textures.
Photo by Bob Pool | Shutterstock
Relaxing in my armchair, I pictured myself planting the seeds. I watched them come up. In no time at all, they were blooming, and I was cutting armloads of flowers. I gave bouquets to my friends. They were astonished. I was delighted. This was gardening at its best.
Next morning, I looked at the order blank I had filled out the night before. It listed seven varieties of zinnias, probably 500 seeds in all. In the clear light of day, I reminded myself that I no longer have my gardener: this year I’m reducing the size of my garden, not expanding it.
Photo by Mary Walton Upchurch
Photo by Mary Walton Upchurch
With a sigh of mixed relief and regret, I crossed out all seven zinnia entries on the order blank. What a glorious armchair garden it had been! No weeds, no bugs, no sweat—no zinnias, either. Yet the pleasure of dreaming about it on a cold winter’s night was sufficient. For this year at least, I have grown my zinnia garden.
People laugh when they tell me they are armchair gardeners. Some like to read about it, but they never do anything. I’ve decided that armchair gardening is an important part of gardening, especially when reading, studying, and daydreaming are balanced with undertaking real plans and real projects for the garden.
Photo by Mary Walton Upchurch
We garden in hope—hope that one day our gardens will match our dreams. And for our dreams to be successful, they must be fueled by information and ideas from other people and other gardens, as well as by the knowledge and joy gained from our own experience in the garden.
It’s fun and refreshing to indulge in grand plans that exist for only an hour or two. But when we are seized with the impulse to undertake a poorly thought-out project, let’s not get carried away by fantasy. Remember the importance of planning a garden first. Loading up flowers at the nursery is not the first step; it should be the last.
When you actually get ready to do something in the garden, first translate dreams into practical plans. Then take your planting plans with you to the nursery. If you follow your plan, you’ll enjoy working on a project this spring, confident that your work and expense now are building your dream for the future.
A SAMPLER OF GARDENING CATALOGS
As in other areas of life, what is gardening without a little temptation? Here are the gardening catalogs that tempt me—sometimes into realms of fantasy.
Burpee
Seeds/Plants/Supplies
Their mouth-watering selection of zinnias make it easy to build gardens-in-the-air. A comprehensive selection of garden plants, Burpee’s motto used to be Burpee Seeds Grow. That sums up their fine reputation.
Oakes Daylilies
Temptation, thy name is the Oakes Daylilies catalog: huge blooms, double blooms, spider-type blooms, daylilies with ruffled edges, diamond-dusted petals. I have ordered from this catalogue for so many years that now in my garden I have not room for one more daylily. But as long I am fantasy gardening by the fire– why don’t I imagine have a big new sunny bed just right for daylilies.
Logee’s
Fruiting, Rare and Tropical Plants
Their lavish tropical blossoms of begonias, ginger lilies, hibiscus, angel’s trumpet, Easter cactus make me wish I had a greenhouse to fill with these fascinating offerings. Dreaming beside the fire, why don’t I pretend that for one evening I do have a greenhouse and then I can shop to my heart’s content.
John Scheepers
Beauty from Bulbs
Fifty years ago, an accomplished gardener recommended this catalogue to me, and I have been ordering from it and recommending it to friends and clients ever since. Do not order bulbs from a general gardening catalogue—go straight to this source for superior quality. With daffodils and tulips from Scheepers, my gardening dreams have come true.
Prairie Moon Nursery
Native Seeds & Plants for Gardening and Restoration
This nursery catalogue champions the environmental approach of planting with native plants to support the ecosystem. The catalogue features photographs and information to show you how to do it.
By Mary Walton Upchurch
Garden writer Mary Walton Upchurch grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, and earned a degree in landscape architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. For more than 30 years, she practiced in Montgomery as an award-winning landscape architect and wrote garden articles for a local publication. Now retired, she lives in western North Carolina where she built a home and garden on top of a mountain with panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Follow her on Instagram at @marywaltonupchurch.
