My Latest Favorite Catalog

Baker Creek claims to be the world’s largest seed catalog: 500 pages. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Baker Creek claims to be the world’s largest seed catalog: 500 pages. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

My Latest Favorite Catalog

I can’t believe this sat in my magazine basket for so long without my spending time wandering through the lovely pages. I remember when it came in, I quickly leafed through it and said to myself, well the pictures are larger than I remember.

Actually this Whole Seed Catalog 2021 from Baker Seed out of Mansfield, Missouri has added more interesting information and tidbits about their seeds including some history, a few recipes and these truly delicious photos.

I started perusing the catalog looking for a picture of Trifolium incarnatum, which is crimson clover, to show previous beekeeping students who were given seeds at earlier beginning beekeeping classes.

Red crimson clover is an excellent soil conditioner and bee food source. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Red crimson clover is an excellent soil conditioner and bee food source. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

After finding what I needed, I got side tracked by the other lovely photos. From beautiful staple vegetables to unusual varieties, I got caught up in the page descriptions.

Cucumbers and pickles, who isn’t ready for a taste of summer? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Cucumbers and pickles, who isn’t ready for a taste of summer? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Half way through this page that included several hyssop varieties, a bee favorite, I decided it was perhaps best for my pocketbook that I had not discovered this catalog in the middle of winter.

As it is, I have a rule that I can only bring one pack of seeds home per home and garden center visit. It’s amazing now how many things need fixing around the house.

Hyssop is an excellent source of bee food. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Hyssop is an excellent source of bee food. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

I may need to try one of those this year.

Not only did Baker Creek have unusual varieties but some even included interesting essays. I mean who doesn’t want to know what kind of pumpkin Cinderella ended up with for her coach?

This is the background to Cinderella’s pumpkin. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

This is the background to Cinderella’s pumpkin. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

In addition to the marvelous photos, there are recipes sprinkled throughout so if you want to try an unusual variety you have something you can do with it once you grow it.

Gardening catalogs fall in the same category as recipe books for me. I may not grow, or make, some but I sure do enjoy reading about them!

One other reason to order this catalog; it’s an excellent free reference source. Now excuse me, I need to finish the article on Cinderella’s pumpkins.

Charlotte