Salvias are members of a big family of
plants that includes some woody shrubs,
annuals and perennials, and they make
great garden plants for Minnesota.
Bachman’s carries 6 great varieties of
perennial salvia ranging in height ranging
from 8” to 24”. Their spiky blooms come in
blue, purple and pink and they put on a show from June to
August and even longer if spent bloom spikes are removed.
Provide this group of plants with full sun and keep them
on the dry side over the growing season. Be sparing with the
fertilizer, too.
One of my favorite varieties is ‘May Night.’ This plant produces dense spikes of violet-blue flowers from May to August. It has a mounding shape and grows to 24”. I think it’s a must for any perennial garden. New for 2007 is Sensation Rose, a dwarf salvia that has brilliant rose-pink flowers. It, too, has a mounding shape, growing 12” tall and wide. Sensation Rose blooms in May and June and may rebloom if prevented from going to seed. Look for this new variety later this summer.
What’s new in petunias?
Wave petunias, hybrids that can grow over 3’ in diameter
during the growing season, changed American gardens for
the better. This breed has been around for a number of years
now. Wave petunias bloom
vigorously, and since they put
so much energy into blooming,
they demand extra fertilizing.
A new petunia series, the
Ramblin series, is not quite
as vigorous as the Wave,
but it does have advantages.
It doesn’t get stringy and
it blooms even more than
Waves. The foliage stays a
nice rich green and won’t yellow if an application of fertilizer
is missed. Both series are a great addition to a sunny
garden, container or basket.
Something different for container
gardening in the shade
Having a shady deck or patio is
very nice on a hot day, and there
are a lot of great shade loving plants
that will keep you company. You
probably know about begonias,
caladiums, impatiens and coleus. If
you crave something different, go to
the houseplant area of Bachman’s.
You’ll find a great selection of plants
that can live outside once night
temperatures are above 50˚.
Try
peace lily (spathiphyllum) instead of spikes (dracaena) for
a tall center plant that will bloom all summer. Try tropical
maidenhair fern for a fresh spring green color and watch it
billow out of a shady outdoor container. Buy a vining
houseplant, like ‘philodendron cordatum,’ to plant with
impatiens and provide a tropical feel. Fertilize all these
plants as you would any garden annuals.
NEW! Diamond Frost euphorbia
Those who were able to get their hands on a pot of
’Diamond Frost’ euphorbia last year are back looking for
it again. This outstanding new annual is a must for very
sunny gardens or containers. Though delicate looking,
Diamond Frost is a tough, drought tolerant plant that
resembles baby’s breath. Unlike baby’s breath, it is in
bloom from the day you buy it until first frost. The
mounded plant will grow to a height of 18” and about
12” wide. No pruning is required.
Tips
Saving Space
Grow vine vegetables, like cucumbers and pole beans,
on fencing to save space. Buy wire fence that is used to
reinforce concrete (stocked at hardware stores). You’ll need
it at least 4’ wide. Cut off the length you need for your vine
crops and use heavy-duty stakes to keep the fence vertical.
Flowers and gifts from Bachman’s make any day a special one. When you order your flowers or gifts online, you know you’ll be getting a beautiful fresh floral arrangement from a trusted florist known for outstanding floral design, plus quality and service.
If you’re sending flowers or gifts out of town, you can rely on us to choose the best florist from either the FTD or Teleflora nationwide flower network. Florists who can be counted on to deliver the best fresh floral arrangements and gifts, even when doing a same day delivery.
