Nursery Catalogs : a feast for the gardeners' eyes and the soul!

This time of the year, a gardener’s fancy turns to the nursery catalogs that are beginning to fill up our virtual and snail mailboxes. Ever hopeful, the gardener is able to view and purchase new and wondrous plants through these catalogs. The Sterling Morton Library holds an extensive collection of current nursery catalogs. Resources such as Plant Information Online and Cornucopia II help navigate this current collection.

In addition to a robust collection of current catalogs, we also have a collection of historic nursery catalogs. Ever wonder what catalogs homeowners and gardeners were studying in 1896? Rich with illustrations, unusual plant names (a pumpkin named King of the Mammoths or an onion called Prizetaker) and early horticultural information, these early catalogs present a historic snapshot of the gardening world. Visit the Sterling Morton Library and prowl through this treasure trove of botanical and horticultural resources!

The Sterling Morton Library is located in the Administration and Research Building of The Morton Arboretum, southwest of the Visitor Center. Library patron parking is available in the parking lot adjacent to the Research and Administration Building.

The Sterling Morton Library is open:
Tuesday through Friday from 9 -5
Saturday from 10-4