Perusing the 2019 Plant Catalogs: Brent and Becky’s
Now is the time of year for mooning over garden catalogs, dreaming of glorious blooms as the garden lies in frozen slumber. Fortunately, there are lots of catalogs to moon over. I have a stack by my side of the bed about 18 inches high, when they’re not scattered all over the floor. I should really keep them in some kind of file folder.
Brent and Becky’s is a family-run grower of bulbs and bulb-like plants in Virginia. They have a pretty good reputation – in fact, I heard of them first in glowing terms from one of the instructors at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
In January they send out their summer-flowering bulb catalogs, which makes for some very pleasant browsing. A lot of their summer catalog consists of tropicals, which generally don’t excite me.
However, I do like to grow Caladiums in containers in the shady back garden. This catalog has 2 pages full of Caladium varieties – 5 bulbs for $14. Considering how expensive Caladiums are at garden centers, this is an enticing prospect.
So now I’m fantasizing about starting Caladium bulbs indoors. I’ve heard conflicting things about whether they need bottom heat. The varieties I like best are ‘Candidum Senior’ and ‘Celebration’.
The other part of this catalog that had me drooling was the section on Lilies. They have a VERY NICE selection – 55 varieties by my count: Orientals, Asiatics, Longiflorum, Species, and enough crosses of the preceding to suggest the family tree of a venerable dynasty.
Of course, I have no place to put more Lilies, but even so I am sorely tempted by the Oriental-Trumpet hybrid ‘Orania’ and the Species L. regale: “graceful, large, fragrant white trumpets blushed purple” on stems up to 6 feet tall. Maybe I could put them in the overgrown herb garden, among the Fennel plants (Foeniculum vulgare)?
Anyhow, there’s lots more in the Brent and Becky’s catalog, it’s definitely worth a look. Or just check out their website at brentandbeckysbulbs.com.
More catalogs to come.
It’s a sign that spring isn’t far off when the catalogues start arriving. Just pulled out my own copy of Brent and Becky’s catalog to find your favorites. There are a lot of temptations in those pages.
There certainly are!
That’s odd my comment disappeared. Just wanted to give you the thumbs up for L. Regale. Best perfume, lasts for years and is so beautiful.
Good to hear the endorsement.
Great winter reading and drooling.
I think so.
Lots of temptations to ease you through the cold of winter.
Yes, I can never get enough catalogs.
I’m interested in your starting caladiums from bulbs, as I tried it once with no success. They would make a nice addition to the hosta bed, although I might want to keep them in pots for that.
I use them only in containers. Did you use bottom heat when you started from bulbs?
Ooh, I love Brent & Becky’s! I’ve got some Alocacia, Agapanthus, and Crocosmia (and I think a Lily or two) in my shopping cart as I type this!
I’ve had great luck with bulbs from them and always think their prices are fair.
I don’t do catalogs anymore but I remember them well.
I never heard of them but will check them out.
Caladiums are awesome! I’ve had some success overwintering the bulbs in dry soil in the sunroom. Last year they didn’t come back, so I think I need to get some new ones. They’re great in pots, aren’t they? Enjoy the dreaming and the shopping!
Although I understand border restrictions on bulbs and plant material, I nonetheless get sad that we can’t order any as our selection is often not as varied as that in the states.
I’m a big fan of both Caladiums and Lilies. And yes – $14 for 5 is a very tempting proposition. I had told myself to be good this year, and not buy anything until I no longer have any homeless nursery pots adorning my yard, but I just might have to check out their irresistible catalog. So much for successfully averting my eyes. huh?
My catalog just arrived today. I’m ready to shop!
Yay!
Oh….my kind of reading, and drooling! xxx
Sadly, you can’t order from American catalogs, but I’m sure you have plenty in the UK.
Always love to add a new flower each year!!
Or 2 or 3!
I love Brent & Beckys and have been ordering from them since the late 1970s. I have not received their new catalog yet… hmmm….. perhaps in tomorrow’s mail? Their bulbs are always top-notch. They are my go-to for everything except lilies (B&D Lilies is my fave catalog for that.)
I like their catalog and order from them occasionally but my favorite for bulbs is still John Scheeper’s.