Johns Creek, GA Timeless Art – Fresh Flowers

This spring, celebrate timeless art and fresh flowers with an exhibit showcasing the talents of regional floral artists, whose designs interpret works of art on loan from galleries in metro Atlanta. The inaugural Art in Bloom Festival presented by the Johns Creek Arts Center starts April 29 with a Preview Gala and opens to the public April 30-May 2.

Gala - $75.00.
Exhibit - $12 Adult, $8 Group (10 or more tickets), $5 Students, Children 12 and under free.

Sat., April 30 enjoy a free family day of kids’ activities, crafts, featuring a Home Depot flower box build project. Browse the Art in Bloom Shop of local vendors specializing in fine, homemade arts and crafts. Additional events include special lectures and workshops.

Workshop Info: www.johnscreekarts.org.

Sponsorships still available.

-----
Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage & @TheGATable @HookedonHistory
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga, @softnblue, @RimbomboAAG @FayetteFP

Wildflower Colors Tell Butterflies How To Do Their Jobs

The recipe for making one species into two requires time and some kind of separation, like being on different islands or something else that discourages gene flow between the two budding species.

In the case of common Texas wildflowers that share meadows and roadside ditches, color-coding apparently does the trick.

Duke University graduate student Robin Hopkins has found the first evidence of a specific genetic change that helps two closely related wildflowers avoid creating costly hybrids. It results in one of the normally light blue flowers being tagged with a reddish color to appear less appetizing to the pollinating butterflies which prefer blue.

"There are big questions about evolution that are addressed by flower color," said Hopkins, who successfully defended her doctoral dissertation just weeks before seeing the same work appear in the prestigious journal Nature.

What Hopkins found, with her thesis adviser, Duke biology professor Mark Rausher, is the first clear genetic evidence for something called reinforcement in plants. Reinforcement keeps two similar proto-species moving apart by discouraging hybrid matings. Flower color had been expected to aid reinforcement, but the genes had not been found.

In animals or insects, reinforcement might be accomplished by a small difference in scent, plumage or mating rituals. But plants don't dance or choose their mates. So they apparently exert some choice by using color to discourage the butterflies from mingling their pollen, Hopkins said.

Where Phlox drummondii lives by itself, it has a periwinkle blue blossom. But where its range overlaps with Phlox cuspidata, which is also light blue, drummondii flowers appear darker and more red. Some individual butterflies prefer light blue blossoms and will go from blue to blue, avoiding the dark reds. Other individual butterflies prefer the reds and will stick with those. This "constancy" prevents hybrid crosses.

Hybrid offspring between drummondii and cuspidata turn out to be nearly sterile, making the next generation a genetic dead-end. The persistent force of natural selection tends to push the plants toward avoiding those less fruitful crosses, and encourages breeding true to type. In this case, selection apparently worked upon floral color.

Hopkins was able to find the genes involved in the color change by crossing a light blue drummondii with the red in greenhouse experiments. She found the offspring occurred in four different colors in the exact 9-to-3-to-3-to-1 ratios of classical Mendelian inheritance. "It was 2 in the morning when I figured this out," she said. "I almost woke up my adviser."

From there, she did standard genetics to find the exact genes. The change to red is caused by a recessive gene that knocks out the production of the plant's one blue pigment while allowing for the continued production of two red pigments.

Even where the red flowers are present, about 11 percent of each generation will be the nearly-sterile hybrids. But without color-coding, that figure would be more like 28 percent, Hopkins said. Why and how the butterflies make the distinction has yet to be discovered.

Hopkins will be continuing her research as a visiting scientist at the University of Texas, and the clear message from all of her advisers is "follow the butterflies. Everyone wants to know more about the butterflies!"

The research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation.

By Karl Leif Bates

CITATION:
"Identification of two genes causing reinforcement in the Texas wildflower Phlox drummondii," Robin Hopkins and Mark D. Rausher. Nature, Advance Online Publication, Jan. 9, 2011 DOI:10.1038/nature09641

-----
Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage & @TheGATable @HookedonHistory
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga, @softnblue, @RimbomboAAG @FayetteFP

Bring springtime inside this winter through flowering bulbs

Flowering bulbs typically herald the coming of spring. By using a technique called “forcing bulbs,” you can enjoy many springtime bulbs during the winter, too.

“My first Christmas in Ringold (Ga.) I bought amaryllis bulbs and held a contest with the ladies in the Extension office,” said Charles Lancaster, a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent in Catoosa County. “I bought bulbs in four colors, and we each picked one.”

Watch and wait

Over the next few weeks, the office staff waited and then watched as the stalks began to emerge.
“We all had a great time watching and waiting as our plant blossomed and brought a little sunshine inside our office during the short days of winter,” he said.

Planted now, bulbs may not bloom before Christmas, but you and your family can still watch as they grow in the coming weeks.

From tulips to daffodils

Bulbs can be forced to bloom indoors earlier than they normally would outdoors. Crocus, galanthus, hyacinth, narcissus, daffodil, scilla and tulip are the easiest to force.

Pot the bulbs in October or November using a well-drained soil. The number of bulbs per pot will vary according to pot and bulb size.

Keep them in the dark at about 40 degrees F for 8 to 12 weeks in a cold frame outdoors, an unheated garage or basement, or in your refrigerator. (The bulbs must not be allowed to freeze.) Do not allow the soil in the pots to dry out.

After two or three months, the root system should be extensively developed, and shoots will start to emerge from the bulbs. Place the pots in a cool, bright room at about 55 degrees. If possible, place them in a southern window. Eastern or western windows are second best.

Poor light = weak stems

Once shoots emerge, bulbs will produce blooms in about one month. High temperatures and/or poor light will cause spindly, weak stems.

Crocus, hyacinth, narcissus, and tulip bulbs can be refrigerated at 40 degrees for two months prior to planting, then potted and forced. The results are not usually as satisfactory because the root systems don’t have enough time to fully develop.

Lancaster says most forced bulbs will seldom grow and flower well when replanted in the garden.

Amaryllis can grow indoors and out

“Amaryllis bulbs will do okay planted outside, but the flower color will be different than when it’s grown indoors,” he said.

According to UGA Extension horticulturist Bodie Pennisi, when amaryllis blooms fade indoors, cut the bloom stalk off near the soil surface. Sometimes a bulb will send up a second stalk.

When the blooms are gone, allow the leaves to remain on the plant, she said. Keep it in a sunny window until May and then plant it outdoors.

Amaryllis will grow in almost any well-drained soil as long as they receive adequate moisture and some shade.

By Sharon Dowdy
University of Georgia


-----
Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage & @TheGATable @HookedonHistory
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga, @softnblue, @RimbomboAAG
www.FayetteFrontPage.com
Twitter: @FayetteFP

Use deer-tolerant plants in your home landscape to keep wildlife at bay

Spring is the perfect time to add new flowers and trees to your home landscape. However, deer may love the new addition as much as you do.

“Deer like nutrient-rich plants, especially in spring and summer when does are pregnant or nursing, when young deer are growing and when bucks are growing antlers,” said Michael Mengak, wildlife specialist with the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. “Fertilized plants, such as those in home landscapes, provide protein, energy-rich carbohydrates, minerals and salts.”

Asiatic lilies, jessamine, daylily, hibiscus, hollyhock, hosta, Japanese maples, pansies and roses are a few deer favorites.

Adding deer-tolerant plants to the landscape will keep deer at bay, says Gary Wade, a UGA Cooperative Extension horticulturist.

“A good way to prevent deer from browsing in landscapes is to plant ornamental plants that deer do not like to eat,” Wade said. “Deer generally do not like plants with pungent aromas. They also shy away from plants with prickly or rough leaves and plants with a bitter taste.”

Deer-tolerant plants to try include:
Trees: bald cypress, crepe myrtle, Eastern red cedar, ginkgo, pawpaw, pine, spruce and tulip poplar.
Shrubs: boxwood, butterfly bush, common witchhazel, gardenia, Japanese rose, junipers, oleander, pomegranate, primrose jasmine and yucca.
Ornamental grasses: fountain grass, lemongrass, pampas grass and sedge.
Vines and groundcovers: columbine, creeping lantana, junipers and thyme.
Herbaceous perennials and bulbs: African lily, amaryllis, bee balm, butterfly weed, Christmas fern, daffodils, elephant ears, foam flower, iris, lantana, marjoram, peony, purple coneflower, tarragon, toad lily and yarrow.
Annuals: annual periwinkle, baby’s breath, basil, California poppy, snapdragon and sweet pea.

“There is no such thing as a deer-resistant plant, and when deer populations are high and food becomes scarce, deer may feed on plants that are thought to be deer-tolerant,” Mengak said.

By April Reese Sorrow
University of Georgia

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Flowering bulb favorites

Paul Thomas loves bulbs that produce fragrant flowers.

“I absolutely adore hyacinths,” said the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension horticulturist. “I’ve found that a good grouping of hyacinths puts a fragrance all over the garden. I love paperwhites for the same reason. I like to have my nose in the garden.”

Hyacinths come in various colors and have a large, cylinder-shaped mass of flowers at the tops of their stems. Paperwhites have smaller, white flowers.

He also adds old timey jonquils to the fragrant list. These jonquils look like smaller versions of daffodils. Unlike their larger cousins, the plants have very thin leaves, and their flowers have a longer trumpet shape.

At an old home site in Georgia, Thomas found jonquils from cultivars that are almost 200 years old. He now has some of them in his garden.

Spanish eyes “put up an awful lot of foliage first. It comes up as this big green pincushion of fairly large leaves and then it puts up a stunning bunch of sky blue flowers,” he said. “You can’t kill them, and they’re just marvelous.”

For a flower that is “tough as nails,” Thomas likes Star of Bethlehem. These bulbs have very grass-like, variegated leaves and hundreds of star-like flowers. “If you have an area in full sun that has poor soil where other things die, put this plant there, and at least once a year, you’ll have a solid green and white carpet that explodes into millions of white flowers.”

Most bulbs do best in full sunlight, but rain lilies will grow in the shade. Their white flowers will only appear after prolonged wet periods, “when we get a rare frog-strangler” of two to three inches of rain, Thomas said.

For early color, gardeners should plant crocus and paperwhites.

“There’s a bit of misinformation that you can just take crocus bulbs and throw them on the lawn,” he said. “That may work up north but not in Georgia.” Instead, open the ground under turfgrass at a 45-degree angle with a trowel. Plant the crocus, and then push the sod back. It won’t hurt the grass, and the crocus will be dormant in time for spring green-up.

“I can plant about 100 crocus bulbs in 7 to 10 minutes using this method,” Thomas said. “Always pick a day when the sod is wet so the work will go quickly.”

Other plants he considers worthwhile are hyacinthus orientalis, which have fragrant purple flowers, and star lilies, which are related to the onion but are not edible.

By Stephanie Schupska
University of Georgia

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Create Your Own Gift Of Beauty

(NAPSI)-Taking the time to create homemade treasures remains one of the most cherished traditions of the holiday season. Flower arrangements leave fresh, fragrant, personal touches that can brighten any room.

"Fresh floral arrangements can range from basic and simple to more creative and elaborate," said flower designer Jill Slater. "Regardless of the design, the charm and allure that a homemade floral arrangement offers will add a warm and inviting feel to any room of the house."

She offers the following festive flower recipe to add elegant and distinctive decoration to your home or to give as a unique present:

Gerbera Daisy Topiary

A holiday-inspired mug is filled with a topiary Christmas tree of red gerbera daisies and tied with a festive holiday ribbon. Cranberries-a holiday tradition-cover the foam for a picture-perfect look.

You will need:

10 red gerbera daisies

One red or green mug

One-half brick floral foam

Flower food/preservative

Two feet holiday ribbon

Fresh cranberries

One rubber band

Step 1: Fill container with floral foam that has been soaked in water treated with flower food/preservative for at least 30 minutes. Gather the flowers in the web of your hand (between thumb and other fingers), holding them just under the bloom. The flowers should tuck neatly into each other. If right-handed, gather the flowers in your left hand. Secure the stems together with the rubber band and bring the rubber band up just under the blooms. This will make the gerberas perky and straight.

Step 2: Hold all the stems of the flowers in a neat bundle and cut off about one inch from the bottom of the stems. Insert the bunch into the center of the floral foam.

Step 3: Cover the floral foam with fresh cranberries. Using your favorite holiday ribbon, tie a bow around the rubber band. For trans-seasonal appeal, change the color of the gerberas or try other flower varieties such as iris, standard and miniature carnations, chrysanthemums, roses and lilies. Be sure to match the container and ribbon to the season.

You can get more flower- arranging tips and ideas from the Flower Promotion Organization Web site, http://www.flowerpossibilities.com.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia

How To Create Inspiring Spaces Using Flowers At Home

NF Note: Flowers are such a part of our daily lives in Fayette County. Whether they evoke memories of fresh love or comfort during the hardest of times of life, they can make us smile.

Photo: ©2008 AS Eldredge. Used with permission.

(StatePoint) Your home should be more than a collection of rooms used for different purposes. It should be a place that restores your soul, refocuses your energy and creates the proper atmosphere.

While redecorating can be expensive, beautifying your home with flowers can be a powerful yet economical way to create the desired atmosphere.

Decorating your home with flowers can be more than just a cost-effective way to make your personal space reflect your taste. Research indicates flowers hold an intrinsic, natural energy that, when used throughout the home, can create positive shifts in emotions.

In fact, a Harvard University study introduced small bouquets of flowers into people's morning routines and discovered that respondents immediately perked up, feeling happier and more energetic.

"We need and deserve simple ways of creating homes where we feel happy and harmonious by disconnecting from the hectic pace of the world outside," says personal fulfillment expert and best-selling author Jayme Barrett. "Flowers are a wonderful way to ease the stress of everyday life and refocus our emotions."

Anyone can introduce a range of positive energies in the home, stresses Barrett, who applies the principles of Zen and feng shui to floral design. Here are some easy ways to create different soul-stimulating atmospheres in your home, simply by decorating with different flower varieties, color combinations and vase styles:

* Serenity: Allow your mind to unwind and release tension. Loosely arranged hues of blue, violet and lavender can evoke serenity and help clear the mind of stress. Flowers to achieve this include hydrangea, delphinium, lisianthus and stock. Consider placing the flowers in a cobalt blue glass vase in your entryway to set the tone for tranquility as you step inside your home from the chaotic world outside.

* Love and Romance: The right floral decorations can spark intimate connections and blossoming love. A tight bunch of flowers flush with burgundy and red embodies feelings of passion and romance. Incorporating lush pinks and peaches will help invite love and inspire kindness. Place a circular vase (the perfect shape for never-ending love) containing such flowers as stock, roses or alstroemeria in your kitchen or dining room, to help instill love while you nourish your body at mealtimes. These can be a great addition to the bedroom, too.

* Wellness: The proper arrangements can evoke balanced feelings of mind, body and spirit. Yellow is the primary color for this emotional energy, as it represents the sun, life force and health. Supplement a big burst of blooms with greens, which induce nature's healing energy, and white, which reflects serenity. Locate this energy in the living room or family room to enhance the space of relaxation, meditation and family connection. Choose an oval or round terra-cotta, wood or bamboo container to provide grounding and balance. Suggested flower options include gerbera, carnations, solidago, hydrangea, callas, pompons and chrysanthemums.

* Inspiration and Motivation: Infuse your soul with rejuvenating energy! Use red flowers to epitomize motivation, fame, courage and power. Design an up-shooting spray that also includes sensuous, rich orange and fuchsia, which suggest enthusiasm and exuberance. Try roses, callas, Asiatic lilies, snapdragons or hypericum. A tall mirrored or shiny metal container of any kind will stoke inspiration. Mirrors boost positive energies which will circulate through all endeavors. The home office is an ideal place to inject this motivational energy.

For more information on decorating with flowers, visit www.flowerpossibilities.com or www.aboutflowers.com.

-----
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone

Distinctive 'Lady' Turns Heads in Fall Garden

PRNewsFoto/McCorkle Nurseries, Michael A. Dirr

PRNewswire/ -- Moody is a good thing when it comes to one beautiful lady. And this little lady's moods change with the season.

The lady -- Lady in Red Hydrangea -- is the ideal plant for any garden, where she'll surely add drama from spring to fall. In fall, this lady dons rich reddish-purple foliage as cooler temperatures arrive. By spring, count on her distinctive red stems and veins against dark green leaves. Come summer, the plant blooms with remarkable pinkish-white/bluish-white lacecaps (depending on soil pH) that mature to lush burgundy rose.

Truly the many "moods" of this lady are lovely to behold. And the enchanting plant is perfect for borders, groupings and mass plantings.

For those who do not yet have Lady in Red as part of their garden, here are some reasons why fall is an ideal season for adding this attractive plant.

Five Reasons to Plant in Fall

1) Stress Less - Air temperatures are cooler, reducing stress on plants... and gardeners. Cooler temperatures mean less transplant shock.

2) Happy Roots - Soil temperatures are still warm, promoting strong root growth. Root growth will continue through most of the winter, establishing the plant without competition from leaves, flowers or fruit and before the stress of the following summer.

3) Conserve Away - Rainfall is usually more abundant in fall and winter. Rain makes the soil easier to work, encourages root growth and lessens the amount of watering gardeners would have to do if planting in the summer. Always remember to mulch new plantings.

4) Bug Off - Generally, there are fewer insects / disease problems in the fall.

5) Move On Over - Fall is an ideal time to plant new perennials, as well as divide and transplant those that are overgrown or need to be moved. Also, container grown perennials and shrubs can be moved to permanent spots in the garden.

To find where the Lady in Red Hydrangea is available, go to www.ladyinredhydrangea.com , click on "where to buy" and enter a zip code.

-----

Fayette Front Page
Georgia Front Page

Showstopping Performer Is A Winner In The Landscape

(NAPSI)-The “golden rule” for America’s favorite perennial has always been that gold (or yellow) daylilies bloom longer than lavender, pink, purple or red daylilies. Meanwhile, “trophy” or “exhibition” type daylilies, with dramatic markings and petal edges, bloom less than “landscape” types that have smaller, less dramatic blooms.

Yet the newest winner of the All-American Daylily Selection Council (AADSC) award breaks this rule: a stunning “exhibition” type daylily that blooms longer than most of the yellow varieties.

Known as Blushing Summer Valentine (Hemerocallis “Blushing”), this blossom has striking pink blooms featuring a magenta eye and picotee edges. A winner in the landscape and exhibition categories, Blushing Summer Valentine blooms 30 to 150 days per year in zones 5 to 10 and adds drama to any landscape or border.

Since 1994, AADSC has been awarding its “All-American” on hardy, beautiful blossoms with scientifically proven superior performance. The title is not just an award granted to the prettiest cultivar, but rather given only to those rare daylily varieties that have demonstrated superior performance in dozens of criteria across at least five USDA hardiness zones.

The award differs from others in that its results are based on rigorous scientific methodology. Since 1989, AADSC has operated a network of test sites throughout the U.S. and has collected data on more than 50 performance characteristics so that consumers can purchase All-American Daylilies with confidence, knowing that these low-maintenance, sun-loving beauties will thrive in their backyard beds, front-walk borders or sundeck containers.

In 2001, rust resistance was added as one of the key test criteria. In selecting for “bulletproof” performance, the AADSC has focused on identifying and promoting the most rust-resistant daylily varieties. The 2008 All-American variety is a tried-and-true cultivar whose test scores earned it the AADSC’s top honor. This winner offers a unique combination of beauty, performance and flexibility, making it a guaranteed success in any garden.

Blushing Summer Valentine joins the previous All-Americans to provide gardeners with a steady stream of tried-and-tested perennial beauties. They are available at garden centers and can be a beautiful and successful addition to virtually any garden. Past winners include:

1994-Black-Eyed Stella, best known for its landscape performance as a nearly continuous bloomer.

1998-Lullaby Baby and Starstruck, honored for exquisite beauty and balance in the exhibition category.

2002-Bitsy, featuring a petite personality with powerful performance; Leebea Orange Crush, which commands attention in any setting; and Judith, a large, vigorous variety, with a profusion of glowing pink blossoms-a trophy in anyone’s garden.

2003-Frankly Scarlet, a vibrant red that not only sustains but builds color intensity in the heat; and Plum Perfect, a clear, vibrant bloom with a striking symmetry of foliage that offers purity of color, vigorous growth, multiple bloom periods and wide adaptability.

2004-Lady Lucille, a large, showy bloom that starts off just as most other daylilies are winding down; and Chorus Line, which offers a mass of blooms that provide a splendid display of color with fragrant, well-formed, wide, ruffled pink petals.

2005-Red Volunteer, a velvety, crimson beauty with striking eye appeal; and Miss Mary Mary, a wonderfully compact border plant.

2006-Buttered Popcorn, a large, buttery-gold bloom that boasts nearly continuous blooming from mid-season into fall and up until frost; and Persian Market, a large, showy salmon-pink with a rose halo.

2007-Lavender Vista, which pairs profuse, lavender blooms with lush, evergreen foliage.

For more information about the All-American Daylily winners, or to download high-resolution photos, visit www.allamericandaylilies.com. Consumers can also go to the site to locate the closest garden center offering All-American daylilies or to place an order online.

Beauty and hardiness are complementary characteristics of plants that earn recognition as “All-American Daylilies.”

Roses Can Be Easy To Grow

NAPSI-Everyone agrees that roses are beautiful, but many also believe that roses are hard to grow. Today, nothing could be farther from the truth. New varieties give homeowners exactly what they want--brilliant roses that are a breeze to grow. Plus, roses are the only plant that will bloom repeatedly throughout the season: a sweet reward for very little effort.

With hybridizing advances, roses are more vigorous, fragrant and will bloom more frequently than ever before. If you have sunlight and water, you have what it takes to raise the perfect rose.

Sadly, the rose remains shrouded in misconception. Here are four myth busters that prove you don’t need a green thumb to successfully grow roses.

Myth 1: Amateurs need not apply. Think that only expert gardeners can grow roses, and the rest of us should throw in the trowel? Wrong! The truth is that roses are very easy to grow. The key is to start with the best varieties from your local garden center. Look for roses that have won the All-America Rose Selections (AARS) seal of approval. Only the very best new roses are named AARS winners. These are sure to flower to your heart’s content with minimal effort.

Myth 2: Roses are labor intensive. Roses have an undeserved reputation for being high maintenance and fussy. If you think growing roses means constantly spraying, grooming, feeding and pruning, think again. Experts agree that success can be as easy as choosing an award-winning rose plant and giving it regular water and six hours of sun a day.

Myth 3: All roses are disease prone. In reality, the number of disease-resistant roses has been steadily increasing, which means that it’s now possible to find gorgeous, worry-free roses that will flourish with little effort.

Myth 4: Only old roses are proven performers. Many people are sentimental and tend to stick with roses they know from their childhood memories. In truth, new varieties are more vigorous, have more blooms and are easier to care for. Not many people covet the old Edsels these days, so in the same vein, now is a good time to introduce a modern rose plant to your garden.

What’s the easiest way to conquer these myths? Look for the All-America Rose Selections’ “seal of approval,” which means you’ll be getting the best roses for your garden. Only AARS winners have passed two years of testing in 23 gardens across the U.S., representing all climate zones. These roses have proven themselves in the AARS gardens, so they’re sure to thrive in yours. For more tips and information, visit www.rose.org.

Today’s roses are easier to grow than ever.

New Plants, Less Work, Gorgeous Garden

NAPSI- Your dream garden can grow real with the help of new breeds of hydrangeas, coneflowers, roses and evergreen shrubs that let you create more beauty with less work.

Many new plants are virtually disease free and extremely low maintenance. For instance, a collection of hydrangeas provides blooms from late spring to early fall and, unlike their ancestors, will tolerate pruning at most any time. Their ability to weather wintry conditions and still produce blooms each year is another improvement.

Don't Be A Stranger To Hydrangeas

A dream garden can be beautified by Peppermint and Blue Heaven hydrangeas from Forever & Ever. They exhibit good disease resistance and respond well to sunny locations in Northern gardens and to partial shade in Southern gardens.

The Peppermint is a unique variety with gorgeous mop-headed blooms with one-of-a-kind, bicolor petals. Depending on your soil, the petals will display a brushstroke of either pink or blue in the center. Growing to approximately 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide, it is well suited for smaller gardens or patio containers.

Blue Heaven has blooms over 12 inches wide and a magnificent blue color. An adjustment in soil acidity will produce blooms in shades of pink or purple. A bit larger than Peppermint, Blue Heaven will grow to approximately 4 feet tall by 5 feet wide.

Head For Coneflowers

To complement your new hydrangeas, consider planting one of the new breeds of coneflowers--Pink Double Delight and Coconut Lime. These two beauties are tough as nails and, unlike most others, have double flowers. They are hardy, virtually disease free and tolerate drought conditions very well.

Pink Double Delight is a new variety of Echinacea that is compact and free flowering. Flowers are double upon first bloom and remain so consistently. Their stems are sturdy and numerous, creating a full appearance in containers and the garden.

For contrast, consider Coconut Lime, a double white coneflower with pale green at the center, sturdy stems and full blooms. Both these beauties will grow to approximately 26 inches high and spread about 27 inches.

The Subject Is Roses

Next, consider a new variety of a traditional favorite, the Double Knock Out Rose.

In contrast to older varieties of roses, this is a practically care-free landscape rose. It has double, fluorescent cherry red blossoms and is resistant to all the common rose diseases. It grows to about 4 feet by 4 feet and can be a great addition to your dream garden.

Everloving Evergreens

A new breed of evergreen shrub can add color to any Southern garden. Called Abelia Kaleidoscope, it lights up with bright yellow and green variegation in spring, then darkens to a deep green with a creamy, golden yellow outer edge. In summer it has abundant white flowers and in autumn, a spectacular, vibrant display of green, yellow, orange and red with brilliant red stems and abundant white flowers. The colors become muted in winter.

It will grow 5 to 6 feet tall in a sunny location.

With these beautiful new breeds, you can sit back and relax and enjoy your dream garden.

A riot of hardy hydrangeas can be an easy way to give yourself a gorgeous garden.

Coweta County Master Gardeners Present Spring Garden Gate Tour May 31

It’s warm, the garden centers and nurseries are bursting with color, and it’s that time of the year again when Coweta County’s Master Gardeners open their own gardens to the public. The Spring Garden Gate Tour will be held Saturday, May 31 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a catered lunch from noon until 2 p.m. Bring along your camera, a notepad, and ask questions. Master Gardeners will be available at each site to share their experience and gardening knowledge.

Three exceptional, mature gardens are on display this year in Newnan. They are outstanding after many years of transition and hard work. Each garden is a delightful journey with colors and textures that pull you along walkways and entertainment areas. Two of the gardens are across the road from each other, each an example of gardening on large properties. In historic Newnan, a city garden, tended by one of the most experienced master gardeners in this area, is filled with colorful blooms, textures and foliage.

Ticket prices are $20 with lunch included or single garden tours can be purchased at the individual gardens for $5 each. Lunch will be served in the Shade Garden at Country Gardens Farms and Nursery, 3728 Lower Fayetteville Rd. It will be catered by Making Memories.

Owners of Country Gardens, Mike and Judy Cunningham, are sponsoring the tour. You can call the garden center at 770-251-2673 or the Coweta County Extension Office at 770-254-2620
for ticket information. On the web, visit www.ugaextension.com/coweta or www.countrygardensfarm.com. Tickets are on sale at Country Gardens or the Extension Office, 275 Pine Rd., Newnan.

The proceeds from the tour help support the Coweta County Master Gardener Association and local University of Georgia Extension program projects such as 4-H, Junior Master Gardener, and the operation of an educational greenhouse.

The Association is a volunteer organization that promotes the University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension programs. Master Gardeners provide horticultural information to the community in educational and beautification projects by using the research and resources of the University of Georgia.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone

Showstopping Flowers Blooming Beautifully On Patios And Decks

NAPSI-Gardeners have long enjoyed the beauty of hydrangeas, but until recently these showstopping flowers were not usually potted for display on a patio or deck.

Fortunately, many varieties of these gorgeous garden dwellers can now be planted in large containers and thrive all summer long. Here’s how you can enjoy these blooming beauties potted right on your patio:

Select A Well-Suited Variety

There are several new varieties of hydrangeas that have been introduced in the past few years that perform wonderfully in containers. The Forever & Ever Series and Endless Summer Hydrangeas are quite successful as potted plants, with compact growth and long-lasting blooms.

Forever & Ever Peppermint features gorgeous mop-headed blooms and one-of-a-kind bicolor petals. Depending on your soil, the petals will display a brushstroke of either pink or blue in the center. Growing to approximately 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide, its compact stature makes it ideal for patio containers.

Forever & Ever Together is yet another attractive variety sure to bring attention to your patio. Its blooms span 8 inches across and are made up of unique double florets that actually change color throughout the season. Starting the summer off by opening with a light-green color, the blooms change to pink or blue by mid-summer (depending on your soil pH), and end the season with a rich violet or red color as temperatures begin to cool.

Choose The Correct Container

As a general rule, the patio container you select should be a good 2 to 4 inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot in which your hydrangea came. This will give the roots adequate room to grow. Choose light-colored containers to reflect heat away. Most importantly, the container should have adequate drainage holes.

Start With A Specific Soil

When planting hydrangeas in containers, always use a commercial potting mix that is sterilized and disease-free. Remember, your plants will thrive in a humus-rich soil. Some mixes even contain polymers to retain water, as well as slow-release fertilizers, both of which are excellent for containers.

Plant A Particular Way

When planting hydrangeas, place several inches of soil in the bottom of your container first. Remove your hydrangea from its previous pot and center it on top of this base soil. Fill in the sides with soil so there are no air pockets, then press gently with your hands, adding more soil if needed. If your soil mix did not contain fertilizer, apply a blend made for flowering shrubs according to package directions. Top it off with a thin layer of bark to help keep the plant from drying out. Water thoroughly right after planting, making sure the soil is very moist.

Look After It Lovingly

Hydrangeas prefer full sun to partial shade, but potted hydrangeas should not be placed in full sun for the entire day. Find a place on your patio with morning sun and afternoon shade for your hydrangea to be happiest and perform its best. It’s also a good idea for the location to be protected from the wind.

Hydrangeas tend to be thirsty plants, even more so in containers. Daily watering will keep your plants looking their best, but be careful not to overwater either--just keep the soil nice and moist. Using a water-soluble fertilizer every few weeks will help with new growth for continuous beauty.

Keep a watchful eye out for signs of pests or diseases. Pests such as red spider mites and aphids, as well as diseases like powdery mildew, can be common. If you suspect problems, contact a garden center to help keep your blooming beauties healthy and strong.

Cold winter temperatures are hard on container plants since their roots are above ground. Bring your hydrangea inside an unheated garage or storage building over the winter, watering regularly. Then in the spring, bring your plant back out onto the patio.

Hydrangeas might require a little extra TLC, but the summer—long blooms are worth every minute of it.

Beautiful new varieties of hydrangeas have been introduced that perform wonderfully in containers.