THE COASTAL GARDENER:For something completely different

Acquiring interesting, unusual and hard-to-find plants through the mail is a way to add more interest to a garden as well as a way to feed a curious gardener’s obsession.

After a quick check of my records, I found that during the past 10 years I acquired exactly 640 varieties of plants through the mail from 41 separate sources.

Initially, buying live plants through the mail may appear risky, tedious or unnecessary. But avid gardeners may eventually want more than what they can find locally. Exploring neighborhood nurseries for new treasures soon gives way to longer trips into Los Angeles or San Diego. Eventually, even the specialist purveyors within a day’s drive are still not enough, and the need to find something new, something never grown before, something exotic, something no one else has is too great. When this happens, it’s time to turn your attention to mail order. Like Charlie inside the chocolate factory, a whole new world of possibilities exists, if we just know where to look.

We live in a gardening paradise — really. If you haven’t yet discovered the tens of thousands of “other” plants that you can grow in your own Orange County backyard then mail order awaits you.

A few things to consider before taking the plunge. First, plants obtained through the mail will be small, usually the equivalent of a 3- or 4-inch pot. Don’t be discouraged; they will grow just fine. Larger plants simply don’t travel well, and the costs of shipping would be prohibitive.

Secondly, the plants might look a little less “perfect” than you’re accustomed to. Unlike rooting through the peaches at the grocery store, you won’t be able to pick out the most perfect one; the supplier will make that choice for you.

Third, and most important, remember that these suppliers offer many plants that are not well suited to our Mediterranean, California climate. Do a little homework before ordering.

January is the perfect month to place your first plant order; most of the companies that ship through the mail have just completed their 2007 offerings, and plants ordered now will arrive just in time for spring. Even if you don’t order a thing, you’ll be wiser and more enthusiastic about your garden simply by reading what these companies have to offer.

Here are a few of my favorite mail-order suppliers. I’ve used them all. If you want even more or are looking for a particular specialty, then e-mail me. I may have a suggestion.

The big three mail-order suppliers for me are Plant Delights (www.plantdelights.com), Logee’s (www.logees.com) and Yucca Do Nursery (www.yuccado.com).

Plant Delights is the leader in offering a wide selection of new and interesting plants to gardeners across the country. The owner, Tony Avent, is a plant genius. Logee’s selections are a bit less obscure and focused on tropical plants, while Yucca Do’s selection is especially useful since it is tailored to plants suited to the southern and western U.S.

If you want to be more conservative with your first mail-order venture or if you fall easily for glossy, professional photographs, then try Wayside Gardens (www.waysidegardens.com) or Whiteflower Farms (www.whiteflowerfarm.com). Both offer great websites and printed catalogs that will have you reaching for your MasterCard in no time.

For the totally addicted plant enthusiast, Asiatica Nursery (www.asiaticanursery.com), Rare Exotics (www.rareexotics.com) and Glasshouse Works (www.glasshouseworks.com) might be to your liking. Warning: These three, especially Barry Yinger’s Asiatica and Guy Wrinkle’s Rare Exotics offer some of the newest and most obscure plants. The prices will scare a beginner.

If, like me, you have a fascination for plants arising from bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes, then an order with Telos Rare Bulbs (www.telosrarebulbs.com), Cape Seed and Bulb (www.capeseedandbulb.com), Simply Indigenous Nursery (www.simplyindigenous.co.za) or Bulb’Argence (www.bulbargence.com) would be appropriate. Telos, owned by my friend Diana Chapman, is focused on native West Coast bulbs and those from similar climate areas. Cape Seed and Simply Indigenous are South African companies, while Bulb’Argence ships from France. All focus their attention on Mediterranean climate selections.

Finally, for those who still aren’t quite sure about unwrapping plants from a box, there are some excellent mail-order seed suppliers. For the best selection of gourmet tomatoes try TomatoFest (www.tomatofest.com), Marianna’s Seed (www.mariseeds.com) or Rachel’s Tomato Seeds (www.rachelssupply.com). A huge selection of hard-to-find vegetables and flowers are offered by Seed Saver’s Exchange (www.seedsavers.org), Thompson and Morgan (www.thompson-morgan. com), Johnny’s Selected Seed (www.johnnyseeds.com), or from Derry Watkins (www.specialplants.net). If you’re obsessed with plants, plant guru Ginny Hunt’s offerings will surely satisfy (www.seedhunt.com).

Like Alice peering into the rabbit hole, mail-order plant suppliers can open your garden to the vast world of plants that you otherwise may never know about. Tired of the ordinary? Maybe it’s time to try something completely different.

ASK RON

The cold weather the past few days has damaged several of my plants. What should I do?

CHRISTINE

Costa Mesa

As you unfortunately found out, this was one of the coldest periods of the past couple of years. As tempting as I know it is, do not cut your damaged plants back. The damaged leaves and stems should stay in place until you see some signs of new growth, perhaps not until spring. When new growth begins, trim the dead stems to just above where the new growth is emerging.

your toughest gardening questions, and the expert nursery staff at Roger’s Gardens will come up with an answer. Please include your name, phone number and city, and limit queries to 30 words or fewer. E-mail stumpthegardener @rogersgardens.com, or send to Plant Talk at Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar, CA 92625.