Want a 20 second distraction from 2020? Here are some mesmerizing pictures from 1800s seed catalogs
Just 'cause
Smithsonian Libraries CC
Paying attention to current events — especially this week, month, and year — is a nonnegotiable civic duty. But that doesn't mean the election and pandemic warrant your undivided attention. Doomscrolling is bad for mental health, WIRED reported.
Everyone needs a break. So let's take a break together, with mesmerizing snapshots of seed catalogs from the 1800s. These illustrations come by way of Smithsonian Libraries.
![king next to corn, seed catalog image](https://images.takeshape.io/fd194db7-7b25-4b5a-8cc7-da7f31fab475/dev/3954abf3-3cc4-4e09-beeb-1864cbe51d54/corn.jpg)
Minnesota King Corn / Smithsonian CC
NORTHRUP, BRASLAN & GOODWIN CO. 1892. NORTHERN GROWN TESTED SEEDS (PAGES 1-46 MISSING), MINNEAPOLIS MN.
![seed catalog image of flowers](https://images.takeshape.io/fd194db7-7b25-4b5a-8cc7-da7f31fab475/dev/8be47aa6-d964-4ed5-8c9c-bb0d016d372e/1896-catalogofflowers.jpg)
![seed catalog image with flowers](https://images.takeshape.io/fd194db7-7b25-4b5a-8cc7-da7f31fab475/dev/3889b7a3-d95f-40ba-ad76-57b3dcf4ae25/chianti.jpg)
Lilies in a chianti bottle. W. Atlee Burpee & Co. 1895.
Smithsonian CC
Why not?
![tomato advertisement](https://images.takeshape.io/fd194db7-7b25-4b5a-8cc7-da7f31fab475/dev/28925666-5b1c-41ef-95fe-f00335ba32db/SIL-SIL08-17221-a-000002.jpg)
The $1600 Tomato from Maule's seed catalogue for 1887
Smithsonian Libraries CC
Legend has it, the tomato is still for sale today...
![tulips](https://images.takeshape.io/fd194db7-7b25-4b5a-8cc7-da7f31fab475/dev/a3c91042-5373-47cb-a32e-7e422ab405fc/tulips.jpg)
Tulips from Bulbs, plants, seeds, for autumn planting, 1892
Smithsonian Libraries CC
![seed catalog image](https://images.takeshape.io/fd194db7-7b25-4b5a-8cc7-da7f31fab475/dev/0c70bdbf-0d2b-4e43-9b03-96e7f714d951/vegs.jpg)
Sweet peas, watermelon, and a variety of vegetables of Illustrated catalogue of everything for flower and vegetable garden, 1896
Smithsonian Libraries CC
![women lounging](https://images.takeshape.io/fd194db7-7b25-4b5a-8cc7-da7f31fab475/dev/471a8216-b1a0-466e-bacb-9279f841baeb/SIL-SIL08-0028-2-000001.jpg)
Women and Verbena from Miss C.H. Lippincott flower seeds, 1899
Smithsonian Libraries CC
![dahlia flowers](https://images.takeshape.io/fd194db7-7b25-4b5a-8cc7-da7f31fab475/dev/4b19015a-dab9-4d29-8449-ea6c68fdcbde/dahlias.jpg)
Dahlias from Maule's seed catalogue, 1896
Smithsonian Libraries CC
![seed catalog image of flowers](https://images.takeshape.io/fd194db7-7b25-4b5a-8cc7-da7f31fab475/dev/0e830be5-a175-47af-afb2-0d277fe9e72f/sweetpeas.jpg)
Sweet peas from Cole's garden annual, 1893
Smithsonian Libraries CC
Plot twist: dog
![cartoon dog](https://images.takeshape.io/fd194db7-7b25-4b5a-8cc7-da7f31fab475/dev/3e296aac-7883-46db-9cf5-3d1c8c044ca4/1895%20dog.jpg)
"A noble representative of a noble breed,—Fordhoook eclipse." W. Atlee Burpee Company. 1895. BURPEE'S MANUAL OF THOROUGHBRED LIVE STOCK & FANCY POULTRY
Smithsonian Libraries
Last but not least, a special one from the 1900s:
![](https://images.takeshape.io/fd194db7-7b25-4b5a-8cc7-da7f31fab475/dev/ceb140a4-e445-4d3a-9d71-8f96aceaf7e9/SIL-SIL08-0014-1-000001.jpg)
Farmer and his tomatoes from Garden & farm manual, 1906
Smithsonian Libraries CC