Thanksgiving Eve Seed Catalog Daydreams: Practicing Restraint in a Season of Possibility
While my twenty-something self might’ve been out late tonight—maybe grabbing a drink, maybe pretending I wasn’t exhausted—my thirty-something farm-mom self is living a very different holiday tradition. It’s Thanksgiving Eve, the kids are settled, the house is quiet, and I’m cozied up on the couch with a cup of tea… and a stack of seed catalogs.
If you know, you know: these catalogs are dangerous.
The photos are gorgeous. The descriptions are seductive. And suddenly you’re convinced you need ten different varieties of tomatoes or zinnias — because what could possibly go wrong? Surely “just one more” sunflower variety won’t hurt either. Right?
But here’s the honest truth I’ve had to learn (and re-learn… every year):
Seed catalogs are full of possibilities, but your garden is not an infinite blank slate. Neither is your time, your budget, or your sanity.
Why Practicing Restraint Matters
Most seed packets—flowers or veggies—come with 20 to 50 seeds per variety. And unless you’re:
- a flower farmer
- starting a genuine cut-flower patch
- feeding a family from your backyard
- or planning succession plantings with intention
…you probably don’t need that many seeds.
It took me a long time to accept that wanting everything isn’t the same as needing everything. And honestly? My most successful seasons have come when I narrowed my choices and leaned into plants I truly love growing.
You Don’t Have to Buy It All (Even If You Want To)
There’s something almost nostalgic and grounding about flipping through seed catalogs, especially this time of year. They’re little promise books—full of potential, color, growth, and next summer’s dreams.
But temptation is real.
And restraint is a skill.
Here’s what I do now:
1. Use catalogs for inspiration, not impulse shopping.
I keep a notebook beside me and jot down what catches my eye without immediately buying it. Most things don’t make it past that stage—and that’s okay.
2. Remember: 25 seeds goes way further than you think.
Unless you’re growing in rows or planning bouquets for sale, a few plants of each variety will absolutely carry you.
3. Swap before you shop.
Facebook groups have been a goldmine for seed swaps, especially for try-before-you-commit varieties. It’s a great way to experiment without drowning in packets.
4. Vision board it.
This has been my favorite way to channel the excitement without overspending.
I clip, screenshot, save, and mood-board the varieties that spark something in me. It turns a cold winter night into a little creative ritual—and keeps me from buying plants I have zero business growing.
Let the Dreams Bloom Without Taking Over
Seed catalogs are meant to stir hope. They remind us that even when the world slows down, the next season is waiting—with new colors, varieties, and little pockets of joy.
So tonight, in this quiet moment, I’m letting myself dream… just with a bit more intention.
Because a garden grows best when you plant what you truly want—not everything that caught your eye at 9:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve.
And if you do end up ordering ten kinds of tomatoes or zinnias?
Hey, you won’t hear any judgment from me.