I am old enough to remember the Sears Toy Catalog. Each Fall it would arrive at our doorstep. My brother and sisters would argue over who gets it first. We would them spend the next month or so circling or dogearing the page that displayed the toys we most wanted Santa to bring for Christmas. Well here it is 2019 and the Sears toy catalog no longer exists. But I find myself repeating this same routine, only with garden plants! Yes, every cold winter I peruse through catalogs and search the web for details on new plant varieties, hoping I will be able to try the few that will work out in our area.
Two years ago I began a wonderful relationship with the Proven Winners folks. You will recognize that name on the white pots that grace every decent nursery in our region. They are a leading plant grower here in the US. Over the years I have admired their ability to take many of our North American plants and further develop varieties that provide gardeners with robust blooms, colors and sustainability. You will inevitably find many empty Proven Winner pots at my new garden designs/installations around town. http://provenwinners.com
Last week I arrived home from a full day of spring garden services to find a Proven Winners box on my office doorstep. Each year the company graciously sends samples of the season’s new to market varieties. I am thrilled to be on their list of gardeners throughout the country they invite to “try out” these plants. This is truly “Christmas in May” for me! I open the box with the same anticipation as Ralphie did his Red Ryder BB Gun in A Christmas Story. I cant wait to pluck out the pots and read the tags.
In the box I discover new varieties of annuals, perennials and vegetables. Immediately I consider how I will use each plant this season: the plant that will interest children in gardening, make an annual display pop or contribute to my pollinator friendly gardens. Over the next month I will devote my blog to highlighting these sample plants so you too can experience the gift of new varieties for your garden. As always keeping “common sense and sustainability” at the core of all my garden practices.
Would you like to introduce a child or grandchild to gardening? Then come to the Garden Goddess’ Pollinator Garden Event for Kids Saturday June 22. The Garden Goddess will open up her gardens for children families to touch, feel and see plants, along with the environments that attract pollinators to gardens. Families will paint a butterfly feeder or birdhouse, go on a pollinator plant treasure hunt and take home ideas to welcome pollinators to their home. Lets celebrate National Pollinator Week together. For more information and registration go to my website http://gardengoddesssenseandsustainability.com
