Through winter, many gardeners created plant lists for this season.

Now, more catalogs filled with enticing new growing things have arrived. While our spring days are still unsettled, it’s time to shop for the garden. For gardeners tempted by pictures on seed packets: is there time to start seeds indoors? By now, greenhouses and garden centers are bulging with nice little seedlings to grow on in one’s own flower or vegetable plot.

Better yet, some of those packs are already full of bright flowers. Customers should decide on packs not yet in bloom or those already flowering. They should also make sure the plants are well-labeled.

I look for greenhouse benches with both not-yet-colorful boxes and those in flower. Then, seeing the promise of the blossoming plants, I choose a pack not ready to bloom.

Annuals like some salvias, petunias or long-flowering marigolds are useful as they supply color all season. One can plant a whole bed of pansies or (full-sun) portulaca. Why not add a perennial or two – a colorful yarrow, say, or a stand of phlox? Shopping in garden centers is full of adventure and the chance to see newly-introduced plants. At this time of year, scanning some of the numberless catalogs is fun, too. For this kind of shopping, read as much of the text as possible to learn what choices are suitable for one’s property, light conditions and for our part of the world.

Further options to add to the spring shopping adventure: now, farmers’ markets are opening in many communities. Often, these offer packs and pots of bedding plants, herbs and vegetables. They would be right to our climate. Often, the vendors are full of special knowledge of their wares, and one can pick up valuable tips for growing the plants.

All manner of organizations have annual plant sales, selling plants grown by members. Sometimes, one finds plants not listed in catalogs or from other commercial companies. One year, I found Korean chrysanthemums, which bloom at the same time as October’s Montauk daisies. An area member had a pink specimen and so, pink was the only color available. (Grown from seed, others have different hues.)

I’ve dealt with summer flowers and vegetables. Shopping for shrubs, vines and trees is a whole different project.

Good hunting!