We make our clients Rock Stars!!

I have to admit it, this year's Garden Idol competition at ANLA (American Nursery and Landscape Association) Clinic was a blast. With drinks flowing, music pulsating and people gathering to enjoy some creative entertainment as growers geared up to show off their hot new plants, Garden Idol was the hot ticket for Friday night.

With the incomparable Lloyd Traven hosting and a panel of judges who are second-to-none, what's not to love?

The stage was decorated with gorgeous plants and cameras were set for live-to-tape action. Our clients, Hines Growers were prepped and ready. The script was nailed, the costumes perfect.

Backstage, the stage crew had beverages and food to calm jittery nerves. Our team seemed relaxed, like they were made for stardom. 

Since Hines was the last act, we cheered on fellow contestants who performed and chatted about their plants with charming skits.

Although the voting hasn't yet commenced for everyone to cast a vote for best new plants ,we can say that even though we didn't "win" the night, our guys were truly rock stars! Joe Gray, David Hernandez and Bill Allen were hilarious in a skit that had us all roaring with laughter. And wait 'til you hear their theme song on the Garden Idol video! 

The plants? The judges and audience loved Hines' two new Bloomtastic! plants. The dwarf butterfly bush: Buddleia Lavender Veil and new Bahama Bay Hibiscus 'Amazon Queen' are gorgeous bloomers that will give tons of color and are easy to grow. Their new Bloomtastic! website will be launching in mid-March. Keep an eye out for it to see hot new plants that make gardening in any size space easy and fun!

After the show, we had a wrap party at a restaurant, nothing too fancy, but just the right touch for stars in the making.  Now, with the buzz about the Bloomtastic! plants and great Hines team, we've arranged for Hines' plants to be displayed in two episodes for a new home-makeover TV series from A&E airing during May sweeps. TV land, here they come!

We'll keep you posted on the ANLA Garden Idol Contest live voting. All contestants were great sports but we must say, Hines and their new Bloomtastic! plants really made magic.

~Lynne
GMG

Crazy weather and Purple Dreams

Were you one of the millions who recently got walloped with the rare nor'easter that cut a brutal swath through the eastern states and New England?  It was definitely no fun going out to my car that was covered with chunks of hefty, wet ice pellets and turned over with a slower-than-usual sputter.

I have to admit, while my fingers were turning blue from scraping and melting my wipers with blasts of semi-hot air, I found myself yearning for sultry breezes and tropical plants bursting with rich colors.

Well, friends- for those of you in Zone 8-10, here's something to look forward to next spring.  Hines Growers is re-launching it's Patio Tropics (TM) line with new genetics and never-before-seen plants that will bring a tropical feel to gardens, landscapes and your outdoor living areas.

Over the course of the upcoming winter months, I'll be sharing some new plants that will be available in garden centers and Home Depot, next spring. Here's one of my favorite finds from Hines: Crinum Purple Dream (TM). Fantastic plant.

Purple Dream is an intriguing new Black Hawaiian Spider Lily that can be grown for its beautiful foliage alone! It boasts deep purple foliage that is nearly black when grown in full sun. The showy spidery deep-pink flowers bloom on dark red stalks above the foliage, from early summer to fall. As a compact perennial, this durable beauty reaches about 20" tall and wide and is perfect for patios, decks and smaller gardens.

Unlike other dark-leaved Crinums, this beauty provides dramatic leaf color that never fades in full sun. Best yet, she grows well even in part shade. This charmer prefers full sun and regular watering but is adaptable and surprisingly tolerant of drier conditions.

And get this... Purple Dream tolerates occasional watering and will grow in wet soil or in water up to 6" above the crown! Talk about a dream plant!

Let us know which of the plants I'll be highlighting make your must-have list!

~Lynne
Garden Media Group