The great thing about gardens is that no two are alike; they are as individual as the gardeners that tend them. Well, unless it is one of those fraidy-cat front-yards playing it safe with a formula of green grass, one tree and three foundations shrubs. But then maybe I shouldn't say that, those people might be busy finding the cure for cancer or feeding orphans, and not have the time for something frivolous like flowers.
For the rest of us Proven Winners is in the process of introducing new plants for 2010. They are especially excited about these two:
"Snow Princess" looks like alyssum, but unlike it, This souped-up specimen blooms vigorously throughout the season standing up to summer heat. It forms fragrant mounds of white frothy blooms that work well in hanging baskets, window boxes and all kinds of containers. In addition I'm glad to tell you it attracts butterflies.
"Pretty Much Picasso" is described as violet with lime green edging, although in person I felt it leaned more toward deep pink. You decide. It has a trailing growth habit. Once established it is both heat and drought tolerant and just like an oven, it is self-cleaning. Plant this novel number at the front of borders and containers so as not to lose the green accent. Butterflies and hummingbirds will love it too.
Granted, the Proven Winners Outdoor Living Extravaganza was quite different from the Wild Ones Native Plant Conference last week, but both were fun and informative in their own ways. Of course the PW people were in heavy marketing mode, but hey, plant breeders have to eat too.
Like a horticultural version of the Oprah show, we listened to experts tell us how to "garden our best garden" in between giveaways that had the female-dominated audience squealing with delight. I came home with lots of info, helpful and otherwise, a swag-bag of goodies and three free outdoor plants I have to keep alive in the house for two months.
After my native plant push of last week, you might say, what, how can you promote these flowers that have been monkeyed with and manipulated to bloom to be-jesus all season long without setting seed? Well, many people wouldn't bother to plant anything, if it wasn't easy and guaranteed to grow with minimal effort. And some garden is better than nothing at all.
When you consider it, these plants are "green" in another way. Strong, healthy, dependable, fabulous-looking flowers won't tempt weekend yard-warriors to over-water, over-fertilize and spray when heaven-help-us, a bug happens to land on a leaf for a moment. After some success, getting out in the garden might lead to bigger and better things; any time we can grow a gardener, it is a win-win.
