I’m on a bit of a gardening kick lately—if you read my recent Victory Garden Post, you’ll know what I mean! Today, I thought I’d share some delightful vintage flower catalog covers I discovered from the 1920s-1950s. They’re perfect for sparking inspiration for your spring and summer garden plans. The illustrations, colors, and of course, the flowers are absolutely fantastic—anything but boring. Let’s take a look!

All covers are from ‘Archive.org‘ and if you click the highlighted links, you can see the FULL catalogs. Please note that many of these catalogs also feature vegetables you could of purchased and grown.

Vintage Gardening Catalog-1950s vintage catalog from 1952 from Spring Hill Nurseries featuring illustration of flowers you can grow.

Vintage Flower Catalog Covers (1920s–1950s)

Raise your hand if you are a fan of GLADIOLI’s? If that is you then this 1926 magazine is for you and its filled with everything you need to know about every variety of Gladioli.

1920s vintage flower magazine from 1926 featuring an illustration of Gladioli's in front of a Tudor style house the background.

BULBS 1929. Fantastic Art Deco illustration of the Tulip on this catalog cover (and typography) from ‘Hosea Waterer, Seedman and Blub Importer’.

1920s vintage flower catalog for Bulbs in 1929 featuring an Art Deco Illustration of a Tulip and typography.

Hardy Plants for New England Gardens, 1937 / Gray & Cole.

Kellogg’s Garden Beauty Book, Spring 1939.

Well isn’t this the most romantic gardening book you have ever seen? If this “harlequin romance” like cover does not catch your attention in a sea of catalogs, I don’t know what will!

Here is another from Kellogg’s featuring Miss Joan Payne, the 1940s Blossom Queen (how fun!).

Kellogg’s Garden Beauty Book, Spring 1941.

Okay one more from R.M. Kellogg Company (I just love these covers) but this time, I spy the SAME flower garden but with different ladies and different years (1943 & 1946). Someone was getting sloppy and did not think we would notice.

1940s vintage Garden Catalog from 1946 featuring a 1940s woman with a 1940s hairstyle posing in front of a white picket fence with a flower garden in front.

Geraniums : Spring and Summer 1951 / Wilson Bros.

This is my favorite catalog of all the ones I featured today. I just love the charming illustration of women tending to their geraniums in the garden—it’s so sweet and nostalgic. Even the Mid-Century house in the background adds to the appeal. Such fun gardening fashion inspiration!

1950s vintage gardening catalog from spring summer 1951 for how to grow Geraniums featuring an illustration of two women in 1950s workwear including fun 1950s hat and a hairscarf.

Geo. J. Ball Plants and Bulbs 1953-1954 catalog featuring a woman arranging Easter Lilies on the cover.

1950s vintage flower catalog for bulbs and plants from Geo. J. Ball Inc 1953-1954 featuring an image of a woman with lilies on the cover

Spring 1955 Germain Seed and Plant Company catalog cover featuring a floral arrangement of the Queen Elizabeth Rose, as well as her image.

ABOUT: Rosa ‘Queen Elizabeth’ is a pink Grandiflora rose cultivar, bred by rose grower, Dr. Walter Lammerts in the United States in 1954. ‘Queen Elizabeth’ was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II when she ascended the British throne in 1952. The stock parents of ‘Queen Elizabeth’ are the hybrid tea, Rosa ‘Charlotte Armstrong’ and the floribunda, ‘Floradora’ (Source).

1950s flower catalog featuring on the cover a floral arrangement of the 'Queen Elizabeth Rose', along with her picture in the bottom (the 2nd).

“America’s Newest Rose. 1955 All American Winner in Regal Splendor-The Queen Elizabeth Rose”.

1959-Spring Hill Nurseries Spring Catalog (Tipp City, Ohio).

I love a good Clematis. My mother grows them and they always look so nice in her backyard garden.

1950s vintage catalog from 1959 from Spring Hill Nurseries featuring illustration of flowers for your garden and a Mid Century House garden with roses

Plant fans! What is your favourite flower or plant? Do you have a green thumb or no thumbs (hehehe)? Share any thoughts on this topic in the comments section below.

Further Reading: Vintage Advertising 1920s-1960s (archived) & Vintage Magazine & Catalog Posts (archived).

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz (actual image of me below HA!)

“Gardening for Happiness”

1940s vintage magazine cover from Better Homes & Gardens in June 1940 featuring a woman standing in her garden reading a magazine about how to garden in overalls and 1940s hairstyle.

Spring has officially sprung, and that means one thing—Spring Cleaning! In my home, it’s an absolute must when the seasons change. There’s just something about welcoming spring with a fresh start, especially when I can finally see clearly out of my giant patio windows.

Back in the mid-century, spring cleaning wasn’t just a chore—it was a ritual! Magazines, newspapers, and even television were brimming with advertisements showcasing the latest products to help homemakers achieve that sparkling clean look (and scent!). From cheerful housewives wielding feather dusters to the promise of “miracle” cleaning solutions, vintage ads captured the spirit of the season beautifully.

Let’s take a nostalgic look at some delightful spring cleaning finds from the past!

1950s / 1960s vintage advertisement for a spring cleaning offer for cleaning your clothes at home.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Vintage Cleaning Product Ads from the 1940s & 1950s

“I save enough on cleaning bills to buy this new spring hat”. 1947 advertisement for ‘A-Penn Home Dry Cleaner’. Cleans upholstery, draperies, slip covers and more!

1940s vintage advertisement from 1947 for vintage cleaning products for the home called 'A-Penn Home Dry Cleaner'. Cleans upholstery, draperies, slip covers and more! The illustration features a woman showing off her new 1940s Spring Hat.

Source: Pinterest

1951 advertisement for O-CEDAR sponge mop that “keeps hands dry”.

1950s Vintage advertisement: 1951 O-CEDAR Sponge Mop Floor Cleaning ad featuring a 1950s housewife and her husband.

Source: Etsy-KristensVintagePaper

Jubilee Kitchen Cleaner Commercial from the 1950’s (Video Link)

1947 Spic and Span advertisement featuring a BIG CASH CONTEST! “Win $100 a month every month of your life!” (works out to around $1400 a month today).

1940s vintage advertisement-1947 Spic and Span Ad featuring an illustration of a Happy Couple and Big Cash Contest.

Source: Etsy-DustyDiggerLise

1959 vintage advertisement for Rinso Scouring Pads. This ad introduces housewives to “Scotch Brite” for it appears the first time (see the text below).

1950s vintage advertisement-1959 vintage advertisement for Rinso Scouring Pads featuring an illustration of a 1950s Housewife. Fun vintage Spring cleaning ad.

1959 vintage advertisement talking about Scotch-Brite pads for cleaning.

Source: Etsy-DustyDiggerLise

1950’s Mr Clean tv ad featuring a giant Saint Bernard and the messes he makes.

“Mucks up your clothes? Mr Clean can get rid of it! Mucks up your fridge? Mr Clean can get rid of it.. “Why it can even clean the Saint Bernard itself!” (video source).

1958 Simoniz Floor Wax advertisement. “New Simoniz Floor Wax-childproof because there’s vinyl in it!”.

Love the image of the kids playing with bubbles, too cute!

Further Reading: Vintage Flooring Advertising 1930s-1960s

1950s vintage advertising: 1958 Simoniz Floor Wax Ad featuring a photo of kids playing with bubbles with a cat. Fun vintage cleaning product advertisement.

Source: Etsy-RetroReveries

Johnsons Floor Wax commercial 1955 (video link).

Spring time is a great time to wash your clothes and then if you have the space, let them dry on the line outside. Ahhh that fresh smell is the best! First though, you must start with Tide Detergent (1950s vintage ad).

1950s Vintage Advertisement for Tide Detergent featuring an illustration of a 1950s Housewife.

Source: Archive.org

Spring cleaning even means the bathroom. 1960s advertisement for ‘Vanish’, “it cleans toilet bowls”.

1960s vintage advertisement for Vanish toilet bowl cleaner featuring an illustration of a 1960s housewife in a 1960s dress cleaning the toilet bowl. Vintage cleaning product ad.

Source: Pinterest

1950s vintage advertisement for PERMA-BROOM. “4,000,000 women switch to Perma-broom”.

1950s vintage advertisement for PERMA-BROOM featuring an illustration of 1950s Housewives holding brooms for their household cleaning needs.

Source: eBay

1956 LYSOL Disinfectant Cleaner advertisement featuring a funny illustration of a father and son trying to clean the dog while the mom looks on. “Let Lysol do the dirty work”.

1950s vintage advertisement: 1956 LYSOL Disinfectant Cleaner Household Cleaning featuring an illustration of a family cleaning the dog in the bathroom.

Source: Etsy-KristensVintagePaper

1947 advertisement for Vigene Cleaner that cleans your pots, pans, sinks, baths and more!

1940s Vintage Advertisement from 1947 for Vigene Cleaner that cleans your pots, pans, sinks, baths and more! 1940s vintage Spring Cleaning / Household products.

Source: Alamy.com

“All round the house FLASH cuts spring cleaning time in half”. 1960s UK Flash cleaning product featuring illustrations of all the things in your home it cleans.

1960s Vintage Advertising: "All round the house FLASH cuts spring cleaning time in half". 1960s UK Flash cleaning product featuring illustrations of all the things in your home it cleans.

Source: Alamy.com

Ajax spring clean products 1964 TV commercial.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed this nostalgic collection of vintage household cleaning product advertisements. Have you ever used any of these products, or do you still have some in your home? Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear your memories!

Further Reading: Vintage Spring Archived Blog Posts & Vintage Advertisements 1920s-1960s Archived blog posts

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Category: Vintage Advertising

Vintage Flower Catalog Covers (1920s–1950s): A Visual Journey

Vintage Flower Catalog Covers (1920s–1950s)

Sparkling Nostalgia: Vintage Cleaning Product Ads from the 1940s – 1960s

Vintage Cleaning Product Ads from the 1940s & 1950s