Text and photo ©Nancy J. Ondra
It’s a little tough to not be envious of those of you in living in mild climates right now. Here in southeastern Pennsylvania – and particularly in the little frost pocket I call home – the last month has brought a succession of rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow events in varying amounts, with little respite between them. To whoever of you who keep ending up here by searching the phrase “winter stinks”: well, I can only sympathize.
Thank goodness for the abundance of seed and plant catalogs that have been arriving over the same period. For the last two weeks, especially, I’ve been feasting on this glorious eye candy, circling and highlighting all manner of irresistible offerings, and occasionally consulting Google for additional information and photos on the plants I’m thinking of trying. And it was through that that I was reminded of yet another wonderful resource for plant geeks: The New Ornamentals Society.
The massive database of the NOS is a plant nerd’s paradise: 2.5 gigabytes of cultivar listings and thousands of photos for countless genera of woody plants, perennials, annuals, and indoor plants, all professionally reviewed and regularly updated and available either online or through dowloadable PDF files. It’s like having constant access to the best plant catalogs you can imagine!
To get a feel for the database yourself, visit the New Plant Page, through which you can get free access to the online and PDF listings for genera starting with the letters A and B (Abelia through Buxus). Even that small sampling is pretty overwhelming, so I suggest dipping into a few of your favorite genera to start with. You may think you know about all the cultivars out there, but chances are, you’ll find listings for at least a few offerings you’ve never heard of, along with descriptive info, literature references, and even sources for some (though sadly not for all).
You can find loads more information about the society and its goals at the NOS Society Info Page. To get access to the entire database, the current yearly individual membership fee is $45, available through the NOS E-bay Store. Another resource worth checking out is Larry Hatch’s blog, Raretrees: it isn’t updated often, but even the older posts are worth a read, because there are lots of great leads to other references, articles, plant descriptions, and nurseries. One link I found especially amusing was the Creative Cultivar Name Thesaurus for plant breeders and nurserypeople trying to find the perfect name for their newest introduction. With the increasing popularity of orange flowers, I just know that some breeder’s going to jump at the name ‘Pyromaniac’ for their next creation!
That appears to be a dangerous website for the plant geek. One quick look around might lead you to hours of plant gawking! I can see where that would be useful, especially for someone in the landscaping/nursery fields.
You’re too right, Dave: It’s easy to lose many hours there. But, it’s educational, too, so you don’t have to feel *too* guilty about that.
-Nan
That icy picture says it all Nan. The weather men say it is to be the coldest time here next week. We will have our winter woolies out for sure.
There are signs of spring though. We went into Rural King for bird seed yesterday and they had their huge rack full of seeds on display. There is hope…
When we went to our local Agway for feed last week, Mom felt sorry for the staff having to put away their extensive displays of Christmas stuff. But I was thinking how lucky they were, because they’d get to put up the seed displays next!
-Nan
I’ve visited the NOS site and wished it was free. (I’m such a cheapskate.) On the other hand, if it were free, I probably would have a filthy house and nothing to wear, as I’d be wandering around on the databases all day. Instead, I think I’ll go out and shovel the driveway now.
I too wish the access were free, but considering the amount of work that’s gone into creating and maintaining it, it’s understandable why it’s not. I figure it’s about equivalent to the subscription for a really good gardening magazine (and about half the price of one of the best)!
-Nan
That’s a beautiful photo, Nan. We’ve had an icy wind here today keeping the temps down, but after snow flurries this morning, we’ve had sunshine making the snow sparkle all day. Lovely..especially looking from inside the warm house.
I just spent some time looking at that website, and you’re right….one could wile away the hours there, dreaming about what to plant.
The catalogs are arriving here too, but I’m busy reading your book! :)
I hope you’re still warm and cozy, Kerri. This is perfect weather for enjoying some virtual gardening!
-Nan
Hi Nan, you are always so full of good ideas for us, thanks! The seed and plant catalogs jam our mailbox every day. Some are recycled without being looked over, but most get at least a quick glance and some are savored slowly, like Chiltern’s that arrived today. I need to spend less time on the computer, not more, though your garden geek’s heaven sounds very tempting!
Frances
Aaah, the Chiltern catalog. That’s the only one I haven’t opened yet. I’m saving it for a reward for getting some writing work done. Enjoy yours!
-Nan
Looks like some great resources. Can’t wait to check them out!
Welcome, Alan, and thanks for your comment. I hope you have fun poking around on the New Plants Page.
-Nan
Interesting, Nan. If the Garden Writers Association was smart and interested in giving members a little value for our dues, they’d partner with this NOS and give us a reduced fee as members. I’m trying to decide whether to join NOS or GWA, and the former just might carry the day.
I think I’d better not comment on that issue, Jodi. But I know where my money is going.
-Nan
Hi Nancy,
Beautiful photos. There’s something about a colorful flower or pod encased in ice that reminds me of jewels.
Keep warm. I hear it’s going to get pretty bad up there in the next few days.
Robin Wedewer
National Gardening Examiner
Examiner.com
Thanks, Robin. I’d meant to add a caption for that photo: it’s Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii ‘Kordes’ [Amethyst].
-Nan
Re NOS: ohmygod!! What an amazing Website. Given that the temperature today in Connecticut is hovering around 10 degrees at the moment (up from a depressing low of minus 4 earlier — I spent the whole of last night lying awake fretting over the anticipated survival rates of some of my more borderline botanical children!!) and I missed a much anticipated lecture on South African plants in Manhattan yesterday morning as the result of paniced NYC/Westchester County drivers who apparently don’t know how to deal with a dusting of snow, I needed to see green today!
How nice of you to pass it along so that now I have one more place to spend my hard earned wages.
You made my day, Nancy. It’s always heart-warming to enable another plant geek to part with their money, especially to support such a resource as this.
-Nan
Well, if nothing else it is pleasant for this plant addict to be able to make the day of another addicted soul. Unlike certain other more noxious addictions, this particular obsession does not make me feel the need to seek recovery. I only wish there weren’t so many temptations continually making me disgard all my best “resolutions” to spend less on plants/spend less time reading about and researching plants/spend less time fantasizing about gardens to come, etc., etc., etc. It all becomes just too distracting (though heaven knows, looking at the grey landscape, I feel the need for distraction or a good stiff shot of obsessing right at this moment. Maybe I’ll go check out the arisaemas at Asiatica . . .)
Stay warm!!
Obsession isn’t all bad, is it? Enjoy it while you can, anyway. At this time of year, when we don’t have to worry about watering or bugs or having a million other things to do outdoors, anything seems possible.
-Nan
Thanks for the heads-up! To be honest, I don’t much envy other climates even at this time, as long as I can get away now and then, but a huge database of plants sounds like so much fun!
To be honest, Elizabeth, I usually don’t envy them either. I tend to think that my little corner of PA is pretty near perfect – most of the time.
-Nan