New Flowers for Spring

Begonias bulbs can be started indoors now and set out after danger of frost. You’ll enjoy their beautiful flowers this summer. Plant lawns now from seed. Reseed established lawns to fill in bare patches.

Azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias provide lots of beautiful flowers for the shady spring garden. Choose them now. Fertilize established roses now and begin spraying them for insect and disease problems. Neem oil is a very effective, less toxic spray that works against both insects and diseases. Enjoy the bright yellow colors of goldfinches outside your window by putting up thistle feeders for them.

What’s New?

Spring is finally here and we’re all looking for something new and unusual to brighten up the yard. Daisies are always fun and offer their bright flower faces up to the sun.

• ‘Margarita Bronze Bicolor’ Osteospermum: This bronze African Daisy has long, ridged, daisy-like petals of a rosy-bronze with a halo of pastel yellow surrounding the dark eye. It is striking and perfect for flower arrangements.
• ‘Margarita Pink Flare’: Its sister plant has rich, pink flowers with a white center that “flares” out from the dark blue eye. Growing 12-15 inches high, they look nice planted with white alyssum.
• Sunsatia® Nemesias ‘Raspberry’: A rich, warm color related to snapdragons, growing in part sun with abundant raspberry-pink flowers all spring. Grows 12-18 inches tall, suitable for flower beds or combination pots.
• Sunbather® Gazanias ‘Sunset’: Offers amber-orange double flowers that stay open day and night. Grows 18 inches tall and wide, thriving in full, hot sun.
• Supertunia® ‘Pretty Much Picasso’®: Unique flowers are rose pink edged in lime green with a dark purple eye. Vigorous plants grow 8 inches tall and 12 inches wide, great for combination pots. Pair with Lysimachia (yellow-green leaves) and white alyssum.
• ‘Double Cascade Blue’ Petunia: Dark purple-blue double flowers cover large, vigorous plants. Mix with double ‘White Sonata’ or single pinks for a showy combination.
• Dazzler™ Impatiens: New varieties include ‘Lilac Splash’ (deep lavender-pink with a red eye) and ‘Blue Pearl’ (light magenta with a purple eye). Both produce 1.5-inch blooms over rich green foliage all summer, ideal for shady beds and pots.
• ‘Freesong’ Snapdragons: Grow up to 18 inches high, well-branched, and excellent as cut flowers. Available in cherry, crimson, pink, scarlet, white, yellow, and orange.

Spring is here and it’s time to get planting!