It is 7 degrees in Boston this morning. It was 3 degrees yesterday morning. That's why when the Burpee catalog shows up this time of year, it's a treat. I sat down with it last evening at the kitchen island, thumbed through the pages of flowers and plants and silly accessories few real gardeners often use (my favorite stuff, by the way), and completed an order for $157.80. It is about 120 days until May, I can't afford to go to Miami, but for an hour or two I was on a more or less free trip to Memorial Day in New England. Thank you, Burpee. But…

Can anyone tell me why Burpee's website doesn't offer any interactive, online community of gardening activists hosted by Burpee seed and plant experts? Wouldn't that seem like a no-brainer?

On page 112 of my Burpee catalog they offer 13 pumpkin choices. Since I have a terminal case of decision deficit syndrome, this page stopped me for about a half hour while I tried to figure out if my five year old, her name is Her Majesty, would enjoy the Big Max or Lumina variety over Baby Boo or Rouge Vif d'Etamps, which Burpee describes as "A big, beautiful French heirloom from the 1880's. Like 'Cinderella's carrige,' it is heavily ribbed and bright red…a classic for soups."

I would like to have talked with others in this region — I'm in 'Hardiness Zone 6' I think according to the Burpmeister — about their experience, if any, with these seeds. I'm also ordering some stuff for building raised beds, but I want to know if the corner and anchor stakes from Burpee make the lumber wobble proof. In fairness, Burpee offers a customer service phone number. But you know what? I want to talk to people like me who have no vested interest in whether or not I buy something. Seems to me if Burpee offered an online community where like minded people could talk about their shared experiences trying to grow ageratum, for example (p. 22 in the catalog) more of us might spend more money and more of what we spend on this hobby would be spent with Burpee.

Last night, I was sure about my order and planned to mail it in today. This morning… um, I'm not so sure. I should save the money, buy my seeds at the grocery store perhaps, and rig up some raised beds from left over lumber by the shed out back.

[Photo Credit and Source]

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