I find that what you state above is true for me in regards to most of the American magazines. I do, however, occasionally shell out the $7-8 for an issue of a good British gardening magazine.

It's so refreshing to read those UK mags and find articles from people who: 1) are passionate about a plant or garden idea (even if it's one that does nothing for me); 2) are frank about some things taking work or not being perfect 100% of the time (I'm sick of things being sugar-coated and glossy); and 3) are actually willing to be photographed with dirty hands and sometimes even faces!

(Really, when was the last time you saw somone actively gardening in an American magazine? Not just sipping lemonade on their Pottery-Barn-esque new patio, clipping a handful of cut flowers, or posed as if they were kneeling in the garden working even though you can clearly see that their makeup is perfect and there's not a speck of dirt on their clothes?)

I have subscribed to Organic Gardening for decades, and always enjoy the point of view. It has had its ups and downs through the various changes of editors, but I find it worthwhile. I pick up Fine Gardening and Horticulture in the library whenever I get a chance, and love them both. I just received a subscription to FG, and really like the plant profiles, gardening tips, etc., and of course the gorgeous pictures.

I've had the same experience with magazines of all subjects. The only one which still thrills me is National Geographic.

I like Horticulture and am thinking of giving Fine Gardening a try. Other than that, no.

I like getting Fine Gardening and Horticulture - there's usually something that inspires me in each issue of each of these.

Garden Design seems to be staffed by "magazine people" instead of garden design or plant people. The folks at Organic Gardening SCREAM TOO MUCH for my taste. Garden Gate sends out sample issues occasionally; there isn't anything worth reading in them, IMO - they tout "no ads" but the result is no content. Although I really liked Gardens Illustrated, which is English, there was a bit too much "style" as opposed to "design" in that one, so I let it lapse.

Both Hort and FG have the info I'm interested in: new plants, events, personalities in the horticultural world, design ideas. It's also a good way to get familiar with garden writers, I buy lots of books but prefer to choose books by authors I've already read in the magazines - so I know a little more about what I'm paying for.

I enjoy reading about quirky gardeners and seeing photos of beautiful gardens, but really dislike articles about gardeners who are notable only because of being famous or wealthy, or gardens that are shown because they're ostentatious or are owned by famous or wealthy non-gardeners.

That said, nothing beats getting a great gardening magazine in the mail - except maybe getting a box full of plants.

There's a Northeast regional magazine called "People, Places & Plants." I subscribed to them for a while, and only stopped for financial reasons (too many wants, too few budget categories, and not enough $ to stretch). I really enjoyed their features about people, both home gardeners and garden professionals, and they have a nice ongoing feature about traveling to gardens all over the East Coast (not just New England). They focused on plants that were likely to be hardy in my climate (something I did NOT get from any national magazine). They advocate organic gardening, but are not nearly as strident about it as I found OG to be.

(I used to subscribe to OG, too, but it reached a point where I wasn't learning as much as I wanted to, and hearing more and more political/ecologic ranting than I wanted. Information is great, but I lost interest in the way it was delivered. I'm not sure how they are now - it's been about 5-6 years since I took their publication.)

Laurel

Fine Gardening is the only one I read.

I used to subscribe to Horticulture as well, but dropped it about 5 years ago because it started to feel as if it was the same magazine every month, just a different cover photo.

I subscribe to both Horticulture and FG and find both very useful, informative, often have info about new plants (especially FG in that regard). I think that both honestly have made me a better gardener and I have learned from reading them. We are anxious to try putting a slinky on a bird feeder pole as suggested in one recent issue of FG, as an "inexpensive, virtually foolproof and easy squirrel guard". Makes sense to me!

Both these magazines also make for enjoyable reading/entertainment during these all too long winter months too.

BTW, on the more general topic of publications, I read a rave book review in a recent issue of Horticulture on the new AHS Encylopedia of Perennials, just published. I decided after reading the review to buy the book from Amazon. Though I have tons of experience working with perennials and probably would never have bought or looked at that book otherwise, it is a real winner! A tome of information on many plants I know well and others not at all, with great pictures and planting ideas. I found a lot that I plan to copy at the new place. Check out this book!

I also regularly attend the Horticulture magazine symposia in nearby Troy MI, and they vary from pretty good to outstanding, and are a great way to spend a winter weekend day.

I just ordered my first issue of Fine Gardening, and based on the opinions here, it doesn't sound like I made a bad choice. What I would REALLY be interested in though is a publication that is more specific to my region. Gardening here is especially challenging between the high altitude, extreme cold and heat, dry winters (and summers) with occasional significant snow events. I have a subscription to BH & G, which is a joke, hardly any gardening articles at all, and rarely anything that will actually grow here. Sunset magazine is geared toward the west, but gardening is only a small portion of their magazine as well.

Is there any publication out there that is truly a western gardening magazine?

This is interesting and maybe I'm in the minority here. The mag I received and didn't find that interesting was Horticulture. Maybe I just like lots and lots of detailed info about plants. I don't want to see tons of big pictures or articles about other gardens. Contrary to what the general wisdom of thought is, I don't get ideas for my own garden from these. I have enough of those to last me a lifetime.

Kevin

I get Fine Gardening, etc. from the library. Tried Gardens Illustrated but found that it didn't have many photos of .... gardens illustrated. Now only subscribe to BBC Gardeners World (even though it just started having pages devoted to horrible little garden CRAFTS,) The English Garden, and the newsletter The Garden Letter (Bonnie Blodgett's.) I'm not really looking for ideas, just porn.

highalttransplant, Horticulture has a section called "regional extras" for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic; they are adding new regions and will (eventually) have specific content for your area. I like that part of the magazine, although it isn't the main attraction for me.

David..could you perhaps tell us more about the new book, maybe in a new thread?

I ask because I'm interested in how it differs from the AHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, from the same publisher. The publisher, Dorling Kindersly, is known for 'parts works' publishing, that is repackaging the same material in different configurations and under the names of different editors.

I may have to make a run to the local B&N to check out this new book. I hope it's new stuff.

Crocosmia, the BBC Gardeners World magazine is the one I was talking about! I just wasn't at home at the time so couldn't check the title before I posted.

I was interested to read the positive reviews of Fine Gardening... I had a subscription to it in '06 and opted not to renew. It was the magazine that I had in mind when I mentioned the picture of serving drinks on the patio instead of talking gardening.

I think I've been gardening too long. I've bought loads of FG magazines, Horticulture too. This past year I can't seem to find Horticulture, but haven't really missed it. The price of a single magazine is so high compared to what I actually get out of them. I do pass on those I get to others.

I was given an A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants a couple of years ago, edited in Canada by Brickell, Cole and Zuk. It is fine...but heavy to lift and work with. I think I tended to use this type of book more when I was newer to gardening. Then I used the two volume Phillips and Rix books on Perennials.
My main interest has been clematis for the past two decades, and even the newer (2001) Toomey & Leeds Clematis Encyclopedia seems outdated to me now. These days I don't research plants as much, or if I do, I ask a friend or use Google.

Donn, I had to laugh about National Geographic. That is one magazine that I look at differently since the 60s. I was in an African location, at a rest house, when a NG photographer was swinging through the area. All his shots were withing 2 minutes of the rest house. I'm sure that is not true at all of many of their articles, but it was one of those experiences that taught me to open my eyes.

That IS interesting, Kevin, that it was Horticulture that you thought lacking. I have a much happier memory of Horticulture from some years back, when I felt they always had some usable content.

But, as I mentioned earlier, a few years ago I let my subscription lapse because Horticulture just didn't seem to be offering anything new. I see that a lot with "women's magazines" as well -- Redbook, et al. It's a different photo on the front each month but the same stuff inside.

I know that Horticulture has always recycled content from earlier issues, but it became obvious and tedious. And this time of year, I really miss the old magazine. I love garden porn in these months before I can get out into the yard and dig!

Deeje, I'm with you re: it's that time of the year for "garden porn"... winter is when I pay Borders back for all of that time I spend just drinking tea and leafing through books the rest of the year!

I'm not surprised that people are bored with Horticulture (the magazine of couse!). I've been a subscriber for many years and almost gave up on it recently. It seems like they wanted to go in a "new direction" and fill it with all the foo-foo that would increase circulation (while at the same time reducing the magazine from monthly publication to who knows when you'll get it). The design was revamped, the contributors changed and all these silly 'ten best' lists and 'at a glance' sections started showing up. I want a topic I can sink my teeth into, not fluff like "buying the cutest imported garden boots" or "15 ways to lower yard maintenance so you don't have to spend a whole crummy weekend out in the garden" articles.
hmmmm, maybe I need to re-think why I still get this magazine......
Oh and I really hate it when they have something like an article on lilies and all the photos that accompany it are these airbrushed closeups of a couple lily stems the photographer picked up at the florist. I want real photos!

FG seemed like a good magazine but I thinked I balked at paying the full subscription price. Maybe I should look at it again.
Right now I also get the American Gardener from the AHS. It's a decent magazine, at least I can get something with a little more substance in some of the articles.

I'm lucky that I can swing by the library and check out Horitculture and Fine Gardening. FG is pretty good. Horticulture though has so few pages of content that I would never pay the price for it. There's just not much there.
Once you've been gardening for quite a while it does all become repetitious. As far as new intros, I find that catalogs are better for keeping me up to date with them, and then our friend the internet is the best way to research the new intros I'm interested in. JMHO.

Birds and Blooms.

Yes! Birds and Blooms--I forgot to mention that one.

And for those needing the boost in the winter--just keep them on a shelf and pull them off from years past--I seldom remember them and they seem new again.

Our local library only has Organic Gardening. My favorite is Fine Gardening. I like Horticulture too but I agree that it used to be better.

My least favorites (I only read them if someone gives me one) are Garden Design and others that are all about crafts like Crocosmia said, and decorating. A friend gave me a bunch of an English garden magazine..maybe The English Garden (or Gardener). I liked it OK but wouldn't pay $80 for a 6-issue subscription.

I like in-depth articles about specific plants or plant families, or specific types of gardens..rock, woodland,etc.

I used to subscribe to Horticulture, but dropped it because it became light on substance. Now I just subscribe to
Fine Gardening and the AHS publication. I'm thinking about subscribing to Chicagoland Gardening, which I read at the library. I used to love a newsletter called "The Weedpatch Gazette." It was all substance, no photos. The editor got tired of running it, and nothing has filled the void. On the website, she states that she is willing to revive it if anyone is willing to run it. Hated Garden Design: it made me feel inferior.

I love my garden mags. Pure fantasy and escapism, but that's what I'm looking for. My favorites are
The Garden - by the Royal Horticultural Society (UK) - the most informative in terms of advice for experienced gardeners, and good info on design, and lots of great photos of course

The English Garden - gorgeous photos! Been called garden porn, and that's true.

Garden Design - used to like it, but now all their articles and photos are of California or Southern gardens. They've turned into an expanded Sunset magazine garden section. Seem too concerned with being hip and trendy, and show plenty of impractical garden ideas. (like glass sculptures with lots of nooks and crannies which in real life would quickly be covered in moss and algae.)

Every year I drop one subscription and try something new, I think Fine Gardening is next to try, I've picked up a few mags and liked them.

I also lean towards Fine Gardening and Horticulture. I can usually find an article/ picture in every issue which inspires me. When I travel I tend to pick up foreign issues to read or just look at on the plane( if in a languae I don't read) and have discovered a great French Publication that way. I subscribed to it, "100 idees de jardins " http://www.viapresse.com/via/190/abonnement-magazine-100-idees-jardin.htmlfor several years until it also seemed repetitious. I think the answer is to stick with your favorite few and pick up the odd magazine now and then for a bit of variety.

FG is the only one left on my subscription list, and that
largely due to their excellent index, pronunciation guide
and on-line back-up. . .

Jackie, YOU have touched on something that I find really
stimulating - catalogs.....many years ago, they were pretty
lame compilations of seed and/or plant lists, frequently
with drawings instead of photos. With so much competition
today, glossy catalogs have really come into their own; I often wonder if White Flower Farm started this whole trend, for at one time their catalogues were not only a joy to look at, but also to read (much less so today) and loaded with interesting garden information. Then, there's the late, lamented Heronswood catalogues, which were such classics that I think a lot us of hoarded them; and we still have Tony Avent's gorgeous (and delightfully off-the-wall) catalogue from Plant Delight's. Over the past few years, I've taken to ordering (it's so easy online) a few new catalogs each year, just to get me through the winter, and have often discovered wonderful new sources as a bonus.
Try the David Austin Roses catalog (stunning) or even pay for the always valuable one from Fairweather Gardens. . .

Carl

I'm a total garden magazine junkie! Purely for the love to look at pictures of gardens. I love color and seeing different color combinations, whether it be flowers, fabric, or whatever . I think there's always a tip here and there that I find useful. Plus I'm in a stage of where I'm still creating new gardens in my yard so I like to get ideas from the magazines. Right now I subscribe to Fine Gardening and Garden Gate (I got a subscription as a gift last year. It's more for a novice but I like it anyway.). I also tend to pick up magazines off the rack in the grocery store (very bad habit). I use to subscribe to other garden magazines plus cooking magazines. I've cut out the cooking magazines so I justify the once in a while grocery store garden magazine pickups. It is expensive so I try to make sure what I pickup is something that really interests me.

I have just stuck to FG. This is my favorite for years.
I still go back into issues from 10 years ago to get info.
Even though there is much to much advertisement there is still formative information for any level gardener. I also get FG Container Gardening mags. My children always purchace the 3 year subscrption for my Birthday when its up. This way they get me just what I want.

I used to. Like a lot of people on here, I feel that the British gardening magazines are the best; but also do not wish to shell out loads of money for 6-8 magazines per year. The rest of the publications seem to be repetitive and focus on crafts and silly quirks with loads of ads and little substance. I miss the old ones, which used to feature a plant family or particular flower and its culture each month. Times change, I guess.

I love magazines!! But as for gardening, I subscribe to Horticulture and Fine Gardening. I was thinking of resubscribing to Country Garden but haven't yet. I also pick up a lot of the BHG special interest garden publications at the grocery store - the nice thing being I can look them over first to see if there is anything of interest.

Otherwise, I don't think much of Garden Design (too modern or something weird). Garden Gate and Birds and Blooms seem like fluff to me.

This time of year it is especially nice, though, to have my FG and Hort. delivered in the mail. When it is zero degrees out - it is nice to dream about spring planting.

I used to get several magazines but now that I have been gardening awhile I don't subscribe to but one--Garden Gate. There are so many sites on the internet now I can go to for information and pictures. I did like Fine Gardening and might think about getting it again; good info as well as photos.

My daughter gets me Birds and Blooms each year for Christmas.

I love the birds as well as the blooms!!

I guess I'm not a fan of B&B either, but then again I really don't like magazines filled with pictures. I want text and lots of it. One of my favorite pastimes is reading through my American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia A-Z of Garden Plants - something like 15,000 plants listed.

Kevin

I tend to pick them up at the book store if I find they look interesting. I do find I am often picking up Fine Gardening(it would probably be cheaper to get a subscription!). My pet peave with most of the magazines (including the largest Canadian magazine Canadian Gardening is they are filled either with stuff not really about gardening or they have pages dedicated to "selling" tools and stuff.

Sharon

I used to take several and grew tired of all the ads and let them all expire.

Recently I bought a subscription to Fine Gardening from our neighbor boy for his school. I have received two so far and absolutely love it! I have read them so much and researched the nurseries and plants online until they are dog-eared.

It is a bit pricey, but the best one I have seen.