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 In
March, the Logan County Master Gardeners hosted their annual Russel
Allen Garden Day at the Oasis Senior Center in Lincoln. The day
consisted of breakout sessions on various topics in the first
two-thirds of the day and a keynote speaker in the last hour.
This year the keynote speakers were Anne and Lee Niepagen of Wendell
Niepagen Greenhouses in Bloomington. Anne led the talk with input
and contributions from Lee from time to time.
The talk was titled “What’s new in the gardening world in
2023-2024?” Niepagen began by explaining the title. She said that
each year she and Lee go to a garden tradeshow in Ohio, and they see
what large name brand plant providers are predicting will be the big
trend in gardening in the coming season.
There is a problem with the predictions though. Niepagen said what
they predict is usually in short supply in that first year, and
because it is a proven name making the prediction, it is in high
demand. Consequently, those trendy plants sell out quickly and many
greenhouses like Niepagen’s are left to wait until the next year
when the old trend is less trendy and becomes more in supply and
less in demand.
Therefore, trends in this part of the country are
usually finding their footing a year behind other areas.
Even so, she added that these trends are or can be timeless and even
though perhaps a bit behind the leaders, this part of the world
takes to the new suggestions with great enthusiasm.
A growing trend in this area that may intensify this
year is setting aside a portion of the garden for cut-flowers for
floral bouquets. Niepagen said that folks enjoy having fresh cut
flowers in their home. Flowers add a sunny personality to any room.
But, buying those floral arrangements or even a clump bouquet at a
big box store can be costly, which adds up over time.
Growers are turning to seed packets and other flowering plants to
provide the fresh cuts in the home. Some of these are flowers that
can pull double duty. They add interest in the garden and love to be
cut and brought into the house as well.
Examples of flowers that are good for bouquets include sunflowers,
dahlias, zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, celosia, asters, carnation,
gladiolus, and hydrangea, just to name a few.
Outside and inside there is also going to be a trend
to go dark. Niepagen said that flowering plants such as petunias and
calla lilies are going black, and gardeners are loving them.
The dark colors are excellent to mix with whites or pales to make
both the light and dark stand out in the beds.
A trend that Niepagen has some reservations about are
what are called garden meadows. She said this is a “proceed with
caution” trend and showed a slide of two very different styles of
meadow garden. She emphasized that the photo on the left depicting
what appears to be a wildly overgrown yard with clumps of plants
growing increasingly taller and ticker is not as pretty a sight as
the homeowner may think it is.
The plus side to the left-hand photo was that this is
a “set it and forget it” garden where that once planted, the grower
has very little to do to maintain it. The biggest negative to this
garden is that it may not be appreciated by the neighbors or city
officials.
On the right-hand side of the slide was another example of a meadow
garden that Niepagen found less offensive. She said that the garden
depicted is not a set it and forget. To maintain a meadow garden
where plants are equal heights, well groomed, colorful, and with
clean clear walkways takes planning before planting and a good deal
of work to maintain it afterward.
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While meadow gardens are one way to do away with
mowing, there are other trends that will do the same thing. Niepagen
said that homeowners are looking to alternatives to grass in their
lawns and finding value in trample-me plants.
One such plant is flowering thyme which has a dense foliage and is
flowering. It is good for small spaces or spaces where it is rocky
or has poor soil. These plants grow and spread over time, they do
not gain a great deal of height and remain green when the flowers
have died out.
Something easier to find in this area and equally as easy to grow is
white clover. This ground cover will withstand foot traffic, is
drought resistant, and requires little in the line of fertilization.
What is funny about this is that this is a throw-back trend, as back
in the 1940s lawns that contained white clover even in part were
considered to be a cut above the neighbor next door who had none.
White clover can and should be mowed from time to time but will not
require the mowing of a regular grass lawn.
Another big trend this year will be a push to hang plants to
brighten and decorate boring spaces. Niepagen said that planters on
porches with give the area a finished look and also be inviting to
those approaching the house. Covering plain-Jane fences with
trailing plants can also take a space from drab and boring to bright
and inviting.
Though black is trending, Niepagen said that the
trade show also offered opinions on the “2024 color of the year.”
Cyber Lime is going to be a big one. She showed a slide with plants
of that color mixed in with deep reds and greens being used as a
backdrop for a bright red outdoor café’ table and chair. She said
that the area had a French appeal to it, and with the colors of the
furniture and plants complementing each over it had a very nice,
finished look.
Another color trend is going to be Peach Fuzz. Not quite orange, not
quite pink, Niepagen said this was going to be one of her personal
favorites for the year.
Niepagen said there are always going to be new trends coming to the
garden. It is the job of the large plant providers to create that
buzz through marketing then sell it, and their job will never end.
At the same time, there are some tried and true
“trends” that will remain year in and year out.
Those trends include growing for wildlife and pollinators. She said
that growing plants that draw birds and pollinator insects is always
going to be popular, and it is also an environmentally responsible
act, as depletion of those populations would hurt the environment in
many ways.
When thinking about trends and what is going to be popular in the
growing season there are a couple of words of advice. First, “if all
your friends jumped off a cliff would you do it too?” In other
words, it may be a trend, but if it doesn’t touch your heart and
make you smile, then it is not a trend for you.
On the other hand, “try it you’ll like it!” If you are intrigued by
the thought of growing black plants or a cutting garden, then try
it. If you like it fine, but if you don’t then check it off as a
‘tried it and didn’t like it” and move on.
Remember no matter what you do, the most important part of your
garden is that you are in it, and it makes you happy.
Happy gardening!
[Nila Smith]
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