Pixie Sunshine Zinnias Add a Happy Pop of Color to Any Container Garden

Maybe it's because they're the first flower I grew successfully from seed, Zinnias have always been one of my favorites. A no-fail choice for most gardeners (even the newest of gardening newbies), Zinnias are also one of the most low maintenance flowers blooming non-stop through summer into fall. 

Renee's Garden is offering an exclusive color combo of yellow, orange and white compact zinnias named appropriately 'Pixie Sunshine.' Also a butterfly favorite, Pixie Sunshine zinnias grow to only about 8-12" yet feature generous 2-3" blossoms.

Zinnias like to be kept evenly moist and require six or more hours of full sun each day. And be sure to provide proper air flow to prevent the onset of powdery mildew.

Order Zinnia 'Pixie Sunshine' on the Renee's Garden website at:

http://www.reneesgarden.com/seeds/packpg/flowers/zinnia-pixie.htm.

Hydrangea Bobo Brings Big Impact to the Small Garden

A classic for more than a century in sprawling gardens throught the country, Hydrangeas are clearly a favorite among garden enthusiasts. While not exactly a staple among small space gardeners due to their imposing stature, hydrangeas may now have a new following with the recent introduction of Gold Medal Winner Hydrangea paniculata 'Bobo.'

Bobo (gotta love the name) is a native of Belgium from the same hybridizer as 'Pinky Winky.' Featuring explosive white blooms beginning in midsummer, Bobo takes on a pinkish hue once fall sets in. With a mature height and width of only 3 feet, 'Bobo' works well as an addtion to your container gardens also.

Happy in either part or full sun in zones 4-8, Bobo is available now on the White Flower Farm website at:

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/m063157-product.html?utm_source=rkgkeywords&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=20130101&utm_term=hydrangea+paniculata+bobo&creative=9855265641.

6 New Fun Finds for the Small Garden

It's that time of year when seed catalogs start filling mailboxes, and I've certainly received my fair share.          On a recent cold and rainy Sunday afternoon I spent several  hours  dog-earing pages with promising new finds. Here are six you may want to try this spring featured in the Jung catalog:

1. Mowgli Marigold - topping out at only 6" in height, this diminutive marigold is said to boast the tiniest blooms of any French marigold.

2. Santa Cruz Sunset Begonia - its vibrant orange-scarlet flowers make it ideal for both hanging baskets and as an eye-catching filler in container plantings. See one of my previous posts for an article on this beauty's sister plant 'Bonfire.'

3. Field of Dreams Ornamental Corn - a touch of pink sets off this container corn's green and white variegated leaves. Reaching 4-5' in height, the colorful stalks produce ears of dark purple corn perfect for popping.

4. Blackberry Vinca - with deep purple blooms throughout summer, blackberry takes the boring out of vinca.

5. Cheyenne Spirit Echinacea -shades of orange, purple, red, yellows and cream give this compact version of the popular coneflower its charm. At a mature height of only 18-24", you'll find a spot for these cuties all around the garden and even in containers.

6. Waooh! Sunflower - keep your festival of flowers going strong through fall with these vibrant  golden-yellow blooms bursting from 3' plants in mid to late summer.

Check out these new seed varieties and more on the Jung website at www.jungseed.com.

Add Blazing Torch Tithonia to the Top of Your 2013 Spring Seed List

Each spring I like to try my hand at growing a couple of "new-to-me" plants from seed. This year, torch tithonia was one that caught my eye, and I have no doubt it will make the top of my 2013 spring seed list.

Known as Mexican sunflower, torch tithonia (Tithonia rotundifolia) has brilliant, red-orange flowers that offer butterflies and hummingbirds an added incentive to make your yard their home base through summer and into fall.

This mid-summer bloomer reaches about 6 feet in height and is a perfect screen or accent plant. Another big bonus is that they seem to be pest-free and require no staking. Plus, with their autumn color palette, they're a natural for the fall garden.

Pick up a pack or two at Renee's Garden online at: http://www.reneesgarden.com/seeds/seeds-hm/flowersT.htm.

Plant Mini-Pumpkin Seeds Now for a Fun Harvest this Fall

If you've always wanted to try your hand at growing mini-pumpkins, there's still a little time to plant seeds for fall harvesting.

Strangely enough, I've had them all summer, thanks to an unusually mild winter and an especially eager volunteer who popped up this spring along with my perennials and a few other annuals.

Anyway, mini-pumpkins grow happily in any container about 14" diameter and larger. And they make a fun garden focal point with a rustic bamboo structure supporting them. I tie three bamboo stakes to form a tripod and tie off the top with jute.

My favorites are Jack Be Little, available from Burpee at: http://www.burpee.com/vegetables/pumpkins/pumpkin-jack-be-little-prod000861.html.

For faster planting and earlier harvest, your local garden center will probably have them as well.

Maximize Your Garden Bounty by Making it Home to a Family of Mason Bees

While you've probably already put a lot money and hard work into your garden, there may be one more critical step you need to take to ensure an abundance of your favorite fruits and veggies throughout the summer.

Good pollination is vital to a bountiful garden, and Mason bees are the ones to make it happen. One way to keep them buzzing about is to offer a little shelter in the form of a bamboo hive.

Creating a homemade hive is easy: Visit your local garden garden center and pick up a few bamboo reeds  with an opening of about 1/2-3/4 inches and cut them to about 6 inches in length. Tie the bundle with twine and nestle it in a shady tree branch.

If you're not feeling especially industrious, you can still keep the bees and your belly happy. Gardener's Supply has ready-made Mason bee hives at:

 http://www.gardeners.com/Mason-Bee-House/37-481,default,pd.html. 

Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' Offers a New Look for Every Season

If you've been looking for an especially interesting specimen plant for that empty container, Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' is the one. This dwarf, evergreen shrub is a bit of chameleon, so just when you're wanting a different look, it's happy to oblige.

In spring, Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' features chartreuse-yellow growth that matures to variegated golden-yellow. White bell-shaped flowers follow in summer, and during fall, expect gorgeous shades of orange and intense reds on the foliage.

Only minimal pruning is required to maintain its compact stature of about 2' x  3.'

Visit the Monrovia website for more info: http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/947/kaleidoscope-abelia.php.