Buy Plants when It’s Snowing!

If you love to get your hands dirty in the garden, winter can be a costly time of year. That’s because you can continue to shop for new garden plants even when a blanket of snow is covering your gardens.

I have discovered that buying plants online is very satisfying. First, you have unlimited online resources to choose from because most garden nurseries have a website. You can also visit the online plant auctions like the Lily Auction and the Hosta Library Auction. Whether it is a garden nursery or a specialty farm growing a particular type of plant, like hosta or daylilies, the variety of plants online is limitless.

Hosta Lakeside Love Affair (online purchase-New Hampshire Hosta)

It is easy to compare plants online. One of my favorite pastimes in winter is to research and compare “must have” plants. Collecting online photos of your favorite plants and placing them in a file to compare and contrast varieties helps me choose the best plants for my garden. I also compare multiple images of the same variety online to be sure the picture is truly representative of the plant.

Daylily Lock Ness Monster (online purchase-Partridge Hill Gardens)

Purchasing plants online saves time. Instead of driving from one garden center to another, I can simply search, buy and have the plants delivered when it is best for me to plant. In the spring, it feels a little like Christmas each time a package arrives at my front door.

Russian Comfrey (online purchase-Variegated Foliage Nursery)

You may have noticed that I did not suggest that purchasing plants online saves money. Online plant shopping is a little like being a kid in a candy shop. There are so many choices. If you love unique plants and are always searching for the new and unusual, you may have a tendency to buy more or buy more frequently.

Daylily Night Beacon (online purchase-Hallson Gardens)

Don’t hesitate to buy plants online. I have been buying plants online for more than six years and have been very pleased by the quality of the plants received and how quickly they acclimate to my garden. The next time you need a garden fix in winter, shop for your favorite “must have” plant online.