Heucheras (commonly called Coral Bells) are all-American. Literally. Different species hail from the islands off the California coast to the highest mountains in the Rockies to the Gulf of Mexico. With this diverse range of habitat, these plants are able to find a niche in everyone's garden. Breeders in America and Europe have taken a well-aimed swipe of a paintbrush between these species, and have assembled a plethora of plants with amazing flower and foliage forms that didn’t exist a scant ten years ago. Not only are these plants aesthetically pleasing, but they have become stronger, fuller, and more disease resistant. With few pests, great adaptability to containers and a seemingly unending number of forms, Heuchera should be in everyone's garden!
For decades, zinnias have been the flowering annual of choice for spreading glorious colors throughout the garden as well as for cutting to bring indoors. But it wasn't always so. When the Spanish first saw zinnia species in Mexico, they thought the flower was so unattractive they named it mal de ojos, or "sickness of the eye!" Years of breeding have brought striking new colors, shapes, sizes, and growing habits to the humble zinnia. No present day gardener would ever describe this versatile bloomer as anything less than eye catching.
Marigolds, native to the New World and sacred flower of the Aztecs, journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean twice to travel 3,000 miles north of their center of origin. This lengthy serpentine journey is a testimony to the rugged durability of marigolds.
Their names are sometimes unfamiliar and their tastes exotic. Leafy greens are popular everywhere from gourmet restaurants, farmers' markets and supermarket produce sections to backyard gardens.
The eggplant has been celebrated as an aphrodisiac and feared as the cause of insanity. Today it is appreciated for both its inspiring beauty and delightful flavor.
Cabbage and kale are among the hardiest and most nutritious vegetables a home gardener can grow with ease. Both are handsome in the garden, with colors ranging from pale green through dark battleship blue, to deep reddish purple.
Celosias are one of the most eye-catching annuals to grow in the garden.
According to Webster's Dictionary, melons are "the large round fruit of various plants of the gourd family, with sweet pulpy flesh and many seeds (honeydew, cantaloupe, muskmelon)."
For centuries, Dianthus has been one of the most sought after plants for the garden.
Young snap beans to eat fresh from the garden. Colorful green, purple and yellow beans. Bush beans that grow on compact stems and pole beans that clamber up tepees and trellises.
Clear flower colors and glossy green leaves make Vinca indispensable for season-long interest in the garden and in containers. Add practically no maintenance to these drought tolerant plants and you have a winning combination.
Can you imagine a garden without basil? Impossible!
Sweet Corn is an indisputable native of the Americas and has been consumed for 7,000 years.
The National Garden Bureau celebrates the Asian culture and the contributions to North American gardens and ethnic cuisine.
Should we call them geraniums or pelargoniums? By any name, they are definitely as sweet.
Whether edging a flower bed, covering a bare area like a ground cover, spilling out of a container or trailing from a hanging basket--petunias help keep the gardening season at its most colorful from late spring to fall.
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Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Garden
Tips for Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Garden
Every year in June, there is one week designated as National Pollinator Week. In an effort to perpetuate such a great cause, National Garden Bureau offers some specific tips on how to plan a pollinator-friendly garden.
Pollinators can include bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, bats and beetles. Since the first three are the most popular pollinators when it comes to gardening, we will focus on flowers and plants for those three.
The non-profit group, Pollinator Partnership, has a very informative, easy-to-use tool on their website that allows you to enter your zip code to generate an area-specific planting guide that will help you create a pollinator-friendly garden.
In addition to simply creating a pollinator-friendly garden, anyone can take it one step further and create a Certified Wildlife habitat by following these simple steps as per the National Wildlife Federation.
Applewood Seed, an NGB members, provides a good list of garden flowers that attract bees.
NGB member Botanical Interests has this article that talks about attracting bees to your garden.
For hummingbirds, this article from About.com lists flowers, perennials, bushes and vines that will attract the hummers in your area.
Our friends at Birds & Blooms magazine have a list of flowers that are the Top 10 Butterfly Favorites.
Another NGB member, Gardeners Supply, has this all-around article featuring Five Techniques to Attract Hummingbirds, Butterflies and other Pollinators.
Ready to start planting? Here are some NGB members with specific plants, seeds and/or plant collections, and products:
Harris Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Park Seed
R. H. Shumways
Territorial Seed
W. Atlee Burpee
It's a perfect time to plan your pollinator-friendly garden. Pollinators positively effect all our lives so let's help them in any way we can!
Let's Go Garden!
Any or all of this information may be reprinted, with credit given to National Garden Bureau.
The first F1 gaillardia from seed delivers a more uniform plant with more flowers than other varieties. This vigorous drought, wind and rain resistant plant won’t get loose and floppy. Attractive neatly mounded plants reach 16 to 18 inches tall and spread 20 to 22 inches in full sun. Bright yellow 3-inch daisy like flowers won't fade. First year flowering perennial (to zone 5) blooms in spring 120 days from sowing seed.
Vibrant flowers are produced on well-branched plants. The Telstar series was developed to have a high degree of resistance to Phytophthora and other damp-off pathogens.
Watch out for the blinding flower power of this new shrub rose from Bill Radler, hybridizer of the ‘Knock Out’ Roses. ‘White Out™’ will never stop blooming in the mildest areas of the country. Plant enthusiasts will love the contrast of the creamy white flowers against the dark green, matte foliage. Compact, rounded and bushy 3-1/2 foot tall plant is covered with 2-inch single ivory blooms when grown in full sun.
The bicolor blooms of Celosia 'Smart Look Romantica' are far from ordinary. The plumes start a warm cream kissed with hot pink but as they mature the pink deepens to a firey rose. Best of all they come with the same great garden performance as 'Smart Look Red'. Great for a traffic stopping mixed containers or an eye-catching bed, 'Smart Look Romantica' will capture your heart all season long.
Large light pink/purple bicolor flowers with a free branching habit to produce an attractive pot and garden plant. Upright medium green plant reaches 11 inches tall and spreads 9 inches. Cold and drought tolerant, this annual will add elegance to any part sun to shade location.
Geo. W. Park Seed Co. Inc.
Park's offers seeds, plants, and bulbs specially selected to do well in American gardens--the best of the new breeding, garden classics, and old favorites too.
