A Fairweather friend

As the winter winds howl, I keep warm thinking about my garden.

One of my favorite places to browse for unusual plants is the $5 catalog published by Fairweather Gardens, an extraordinary destination in Greenwich.

You'll find such rare delights as carnivorous plants, trees from around the globe and grasses too lovely to mow, a selection that springs from the green thumbs and glorious imaginations of owners Bob Hoffman and Bob Popham.

This beauty is likely a hybrid of the Anise Hyssop but is known as Black Adder and grows 2-3 feet high and wide. Its smoky blue-violet blooms will bring joy to your garden, summer into fall. A gallon plant costs $11.95. To learn more, visit www.fairweathergardens.com