A hot bowl of chili is a great way to warm the body after spending time outdoors on a cold, winter day. A sure way to warm the spirits of gardeners on these gray, wintery days is to leaf through a stack of newly arrived garden catalogs. Wind chills, weather advisories, and aching backs are quickly forgotten (as least for a few minutes) as gardeners glance through the brightly colored catalogs and make plans for next spring and summer.

Perennials have become increasingly popular in the last 10 to 15 years. Gardeners can purchase perennials at local garden centers and mail-order nurseries. For your convenience, the mailing addresses and web sites of several mail-order companies that specialize in perennials is provided. (A similar list of seed catalogs can be found in the December 12, 1999 Horticulture and Home Pest News.) Plants Delights Nursery 9241 Sauls Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 Unusual perennials Catalog: 10 stamps or 1 box of chocolates Roots and Rhizomes P. O. Box A Randolph, Wisconsin 53956 Perennials Catalog: Free Savory's Gardens 5300 Whiting Avenue Edina, Minnesota 55439 Hostas Catalog: $3.00 Shady Oaks Nursery P. O. Box 708 Waseca, Minnesota 56093 Perennials Catalog: Free Song Sparrow Perennial Farm 13101 East Rye Road Avalon, Wisconsin 53505 Perennials Catalog: Free Wayside Gardens 1 Garden Lane Hodges, South Carolina 29695 Woody plants, roses, and perennials Catalog: Free White Flower Farm P. O. Box 50 Litchfield, Connecticut 06759 Perennials Catalog: Free Ambergate Gardens 8730 County Road 43 Chaska, Minnesota 55318 Perennials Catalog: $2.00 Bluestone Perennials 7211 Middle Ridge Road Madison, Ohio 44057 Perennials Catalog: Free Busse Gardens 17160 - 245th Avenue Big Lake, Minnesota 55309 Perennials Catalog: $3.00 Carroll Gardens 444 East Main Street Westminster, Maryland 21157 Woody plants, roses, perennials Catalog: $3.00 Forestfarm 990 Tetherow Road Williams, Oregon 97544 Woody plants and perennials Catalog: $5.00 Gilbert H. Wild Son P. O. Box 338 Sarcoxie, Missouri 64862 Peonies, daylilies, hostas, and irises Catalog: $3.00 Greer Gardens 1280 Goodpasture Island Road Eugene, Oregon 97401 Woody plants and perennials Catalog: $3.00

No endorsement of companies or their products is intended in this listing, nor is criticism implied of similar companies or their products that are not shown.

This article originally appeared in the January 12, 2001 issue, p. 4.