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 If mom likes to garden, provide her with a few
seeds, potting mix and a container. Include a few new varieties of
traditional favorites. Marigold Super Hero Spry is a compact French
marigold with 2” dark maroon and golden yellow flowers. The striking
bicolor blooms top 10- to 12-inch-tall plants. Best of all, mom will
have flowers eight weeks from the time she sows the seeds until
frost.
Surprise mom with a container of instant beauty. The 2017
All-America Selections (AAS) winner Calliope® Medium Dark red is
beautiful alone or mixed with other flowers in containers, hanging
baskets or in-ground gardens. It was selected by AAS, a non-profit
national plant trialing organization, for its outstanding
performance for home gardens.
Brocade Fire and Brocade Cherry Night are two more winning geraniums
selected for their striking foliage and colorful blooms. The
semi-double orange flowers and green and bronze foliage are sure to
brighten any garden location or container. The green edged bronze
leaves and red blooms of Brocade Cherry Night will surely impress
mom and any of her visitors.
Or provide some added seasonal interest with Pinto Premium White to
Rose geranium. Mom will enjoy watching the flower petals change from
white to pink to rose-pink. The change occurs over time, providing
interesting color combinations throughout the growing season.
Help mom bring the birds, butterflies and bees to her garden with a
few sunflowers. They’re easy to start from seed right in the garden
and mom will enjoy the motion and color the visiting pollinators
provide. Don’t let a lack of space stop your mother from enjoying
these colorful beauties. Suntastic Yellow with Black Center produces
5- to 6-inch flowers on 20-inch plants; perfect for containers and
small space gardens.
Grow the taller, 4- to 5-inch-tall Ring of Fire sunflower for its
unique blooms. The flower’s chocolate brown center is surrounded by
a ring of red and golden tipped petals. Mom can cut a few blooms to
enjoy in a vase and allow the rest to set seed for wildlife to
enjoy.
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Add more wow to mom’s garden with Onyx red ornamental
pepper. The dark black foliage contrasts nicely with the shiny red
fruit. Its stunning beauty adds ornamental appeal to containers and
garden beds. Ornamental peppers are edible but very hot, so it’s
best to look and not taste. Or include the family-friendly Chilly
Chili ornamental pepper for all the beauty without the heat. Perfect
for families with young children that like to explore. The abundant
upright fruit changes from yellow to orange to red, providing a
wonderful display throughout the season.
Bring the tropics to your mom’s patio or deck with cannas. Their
large foliage and bright colored flowers make any home feel like an
exotic escape. South Pacific Orange, South Pacific Scarlet and
Tropical Rose are compact vigorous varieties suited to containers
and the garden. The large leaves add drama to the garden and once
their blossoms emerge they’ll provide lots of color and hummingbird
appeal.
Make this Mother’s Day one you and your mother will remember
throughout the summer. Give her a gift of winning beauties to
brighten her containers, gardens and uplift her spirits all season
long.
[Photo credit: All-America Selections]
Melinda Myers has written more than
20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The
Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” gardening DVD series and the
nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments.
Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms
magazine and was commissioned by AAS for her expertise to write this
article. Myers’ web site is www.melindamyers.com. |
