Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Where does it all begin? With all due respect to poultry, it seems to me that there is a better metaphor that can be applied to that age-old question. Let me plant the seed of an idea in your fertile imagination and see what germinates. Hopefully, what will take root will be an understanding that due to the circular nature of life, finding the beginning point usually depends on where you decide to look. I am going to step out on a limb here with a suggestion that will, with luck, bear fruit. Everything begins with the seed: the seed of a thought, the seed of a possibility, or the seed of a plant.

When considering the garden at this time of the year, it would seem that we would have to be content with the idea of the flowers, fruits, and vegetables to come many months from now. Why settle for the seed of an idea when one can have the seed itself? If one can ignore the smug smiles of satisfaction found on the faces of those who are fortunate enough (and in their own minds, smart enough) to have a greenhouse or cold frame, then immense gratitude is realized by pouring over the hundreds of seed and plant catalogs that fill our mailboxes to bursting. Most of the catalogs, often unsolicited, are sent by businesses offering the latest introductions or most recently developed hybrids, as well as the familiar favorites. However, if you truly crave the unusual, the overlooked, the undiscovered, then you need to know about Telos Rare Bulbs, Rocky Mountain Rare Plants, Wrightman Alpines, Alplains, and Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery.

These nurseries are only a few of the many that advertise in the quarterly bulletin of the North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS). This organization “for gardening enthusiasts interested in alpine, saxatile, and low-growing perennials” is found on-line at www.nargs.org.

“It encourages the study and cultivation of wildflowers that grow well among rocks, whether such plants originate above tree line or at lower elevations. Through its publications, meetings, and garden visits, NARGS provides extensive opportunities for both beginners and experts to expand their knowledge of plant cultivation and propagation, and of construction, maintenance, and design of special gardens. Woodland gardens, bog gardens, raised beds, planted walls, container gardens, and alpine berms are all addressed.”

The annual membership of $30.00 entitles members to four issues of the Rock Garden Quarterly, an opportunity to participate in the seed exchange, chapter meetings, a mail order book service and lending library, and a slide and video lending library. Study weekends and annual conferences, each including many field trips, are held in various parts of the country and are attended by national and internationally renowned plant people. In my opinion, it is one of the best plant groups around. Then again, I lust for the seeds.

The member-only annual seed exchange costs $12.50 for 25 packets of seed (35 packets if you donate seed of 5 genera) chosen from a list of over 4500 species, varieties, and cultivars. This year there were 70 types of ornamental onions, 62 species of columbine, 27 peony, and 37 poppies from which to choose. There are bellflowers, cactus, Indian paintbrush, sage, penstemons, primroses, veronicas, and violets, to name a few. The most difficult part is often narrowing one’s choices down to only 25 selections.

Every spring for the past few years I have found myself crouching over pots and flats sown with seeds gathered from gardens, or from the wild by plant enthusiasts like myself. The excitement I feel while searching for the first signs of green leaves lasts for many weeks. Every year it begins the same, with a seed.

The North Columbia Monthly provides news, views, humor and a calendar of events for an area that stretches from Nelson in British Columbia south to Spokane in Washington State and covers all points in between. A free (and free-thinking, progressive) magazine, The Monthly is available at several hundred spots throughout the region and now is also available on-line at www.ncmonthly.com. Published once a month since 1994, The Monthly is an independent magazine that often challenges contemporary wisdom by encouraging critical thinking about issues and attitudes in the region and beyond.

Featuring our one-of-a-kind "What's Happening" department, The Monthly provides the region's only all-inclusive, free listing of community events and is the first place many people check to find out about area arts, crafts, music, fairs, services and events of all kinds. Our open listing policy for the "What's Happening" department promotes diversity, cultural interaction, and the exchange of ideas and free expression. Also featured in the magazine are people, food, health, humor, and feature articles that keep readers coming back for more each month.

We can be reached by mail at The North Columbia Monthly, PO Box 541, Colville, WA 99114; by phone or fax at 509-684-3109; by email at editor@ncmonthly.com; and on the Web at www.ncmonthly.com.

©2008. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the contents or use in whole or part without written permission from the publishers is strictly prohibited. Views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishers.

Contact Us:
editor@ncmonthly.com

Bargains for Booklovers!
You set the price.
New books
1,000s of titles
Clearance prices
No reasonable offer refused