Gardeners love January, as the weather's perfect. Perfect for curling up in an overstuffed chair, notebook and pencil in hand, a pile of shiny new plant catalogs stacked nearby.

January's traditionally the month when nurseries and seed companies send out their colorful catalogs full of new plants and blooming flowers, veggies both tiny and huge, trees and shrubs, herbs and grasses.

So it's no surprise that the Mailorder Gardening Association, the world's largest nonprofit association of companies selling garden products directly to consumers, has declared this month National Mailorder Gardening Month.

For gardeners who see their green thumbs shriveling, turning brown for lack of dirt time, a mailbox full of garden catalogs is like Christmas all over again.

To help you get the most from the new catalogs and gardening websites, here are some tips from the association:

-- Use the catalogs as planning tools for your spring garden. Flip through them, check out the new plants and products. Will they grow in the Mid-Columbia? Is the product something you need, that will help your grow prize-winning blooms and veggies?

-- Get a handful of mini sticky notes in a rainbow of colors. Use them to mark the plants, seeds, preplanned gardens, tools and garden accessories you're interested in. Use a different color for each category so you can efficiently locate the tools, the seeds, etc.

-- Go back through the catalogs and review everything you've flagged with a sticky note. Make a list of all of the must-haves and don't forget to note which catalog or catalogs offer it.

-- Place your orders early. The most popular seeds, plants and new products often sell out quickly. Don't worry about shipping. Seeds will usually be sent out early in the season to give you the option of starting them indoors. Plants will be shipped when it's safe to plant them outdoors based on our hardiness zone.

According to Sunset's Western Garden Book, the Mid-Columbia falls into Zones 2 and 3 -- with a growing season from May through September and winter lows generally ranging from 13 to 24 degrees.

As you place your orders, keep a list of order date and any shipping information or order numbers.

-- Put the catalogs together in one place and toss out last year's stack. Then, if you have a question you'll be able to easily find the company's contact information.

-- While you're waiting for your orders to arrive, visit the MGA Web site, www.mailordergardening.com. There you'll find a list of mail-order gardening catalogs and websites, a glossary of gardening terms and smart shopper tips. While there, check out the list of companies offering free, electronic newsletters. There's almost 30 on the list so you're sure to find one, or more, with tips, innovative ideas and advice on everything from garden design to drip irrigation.

Another good website for the armchair gardener is the National Gardening Association: www.garden.org/home.

* Loretto J. Hulse: 582-1513; lhulse@tricityherald.com