New Vibrant Garden Plants & Products for Spring 2015

Warm weather and blooming foliage are on the horizon. In anticipation, Garden Media Group has released its much awaited 2015 Garden Superstars for Spring. Making an appearance on this year’s list are breathtaking patio plantings, chemical-free lawn care products and a new spin on a traditional garden flower.

Much of the winter is spent wishing for warmth and color. Now, it’s time to grow! These low maintenance and durable plants and products leave a lasting impression with their easy outdoor style and vibrant appeal.

Garden Superstars will inspire and influence gardening and “green-living” amongst new demographics such as Hispanics and Millennials, as well as seasoned gardeners.

Celebrate a Special Mother-in-Law this October

Sunday, Oct. 26 marks Mother-in-Law Day, a special day to honor the woman who gave birth to your spouse and the grandmother of your children. This unofficial holiday offers a chance to get to know “mom” and show her the appreciation she deserves.

“Whether you’ve known her for years or you’re new to the family, every mother-in-law deserves recognition and thanks,” says Katie Dubow of Garden Media Group, a public relations firm specializing in the gardening and outdoor lifestyle industry.

Before choosing a gift, think about her interests and hobbies. Everyone loves a present that shows some thoughtfulness.

Not sure what her interests are? Surprise her with one of these sure-to-please gardening and houseplant ideas:

                                                         

Costa Farms® Sansevieria Houseplant ($9.99-$24.99)

If “mom” doesn’t have much of a green thumb, look no further than this durable houseplant. Coined Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, this Plant of Steel from Costa Farms has stiff, upright leaves rimmed in yellow or gold. Its striking appearance makes it perfect for both modern and contemporary styles – and anyone can keep it alive.

As an added bonus, it keeps “mom” healthy by naturally filtering the air and adding much needed moisture to a room. Visit www.costafarms.com to learn more.

Amaryllis bulb kit, Longfield Gardens ($16.95-$64.95)
These easy-to-grow flowers are a great surprise for any mother-in-law. No bulbs bloom with greater color or beauty throughout the dark winter months than amaryllis and paperwhites.

Longfield Gardens’ customizable gift sets, from vintage wooden wine crates filled with amaryllis to birch wrapped containers overflowing with paper whites, can be mixed and matched to suit “mom’s” style.

Amaryllis bloom six to eight weeks after planting.  Flowers will open wide to show off their striking coloration. Visit www.longfield-gardens.com to learn more.

NEW NativeCast’s DIY Container Kit ($20)
Mothers-in-law will love this DIY planter kit, especially since it’s a project she can do with grandkids.

And with NativeCasts’ NEW Hypertufa DIY kit, DIYers can mimic the texture, drainage and color of rock without any of the weight or fragility. All NativeCast DIY kits come with everything needed to cast a container that will be cherished for years to come. Everything needed to create a tabletop hypertufa planter is included.

Visit www.nativecast.com for more DIY shapes, décor accents or planters.

BrazelBerries® Raspberry Shortcake™ Shrub ($29.95)
The health conscious mother-in-law will love this thornless dwarf raspberry plant with full-size berries. The compact shape means a big garden space isn’t required. It grows great in containers so “mom” can harvest delicious sweet berries right from her patio. Plus, there are no thorns to get in the way.

For more details on locating an online retailer, visit www.Brazelberries.com.

Remembering “mom” on Mother-in-Law Day this October 26 is a sure way to keep her happy and help you grow in her love.

New Infographic from Longfield Gardens Illustrates How to Enjoy up to 60 Days of Spring Flowers

As fall approaches, gardeners are making plans to plant flower bulbs for brighter spring gardens, landscapes and bouquets. With a little understanding and forethought, gardeners can extend their flowering season by choosing the right bulbs that bloom one right after another, filling spring with flowers for months.

“Bulb gardening is very easy by nature. Just dig up some dirt, put in some bulbs and wait,” said Marlene Thompson, creative director for Longfield Gardens.

“Our new infographic further simplifies the bulb gardening process by helping gardeners understand spring’s four ‘sub-seasons’ – very early spring, early spring, mid-spring and late spring. If you plant the right bulbs, you will have a succession of blooms and enjoy a season full of color.”

Trumpet Daffodil Commands the 2014 Spotlight

Searching for a fresh, bold burst of spring color? Look no further than Trumpet daffodils. Crowned 2014 flower bulb of the year, the Trumpet steps into the spotlight this fall.

Trumpet daffodils are beloved for their classic shape and style: huge, bright canary flowers with a prominent, extra-long cup. Plus, this daffodil is a dependable "repeater," returning year after year with more blooms.

The Trumpet daffodil has proven to be a classic display of color that offers beautiful blooms each year.

Make the Most of Labor Day with Gardening Tips from Garden Media

Labor Day marks the end of summer and time to prepare the yard and garden for Old Man Winter.

“Spending time outside in your garden this Labor Day weekend while the weather is nice is the perfect time to get a jumpstart on spring,” says Suzi McCoy, president of Garden Media Group, a public relations and marketing firm specializing in the garden industry.

Put gardens on the fast track to success this fall with these Labor Day gardening projects from Garden Media Group:

How to Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs in 3 Easy Steps

Flowers make life more beautiful. They provide a sea of color in the yard and fresh cut flowers to decorate every room of the house.

Starting a garden for the first time can be a daunting task. Fortunately, bulbs are an easy and economical way to ensure flowers this coming spring—and provide a fool-proof way to jumpstart gardens.

“Bulbs are the gateway to the garden,” comments Hans Langeveld, co-owner of Longfield Gardens. “They provide all the beauty of high-maintenance flowers with little effort.”

Win A $100 Gift Card for Fall Planted Bulbs!

As cool fall weather hits most regions of the country, the time is now to be thinking fall planted bulbs. Longfield Gardens is giving you a chance to win a $100 gift card towards their quality bulbs and perennials.

To enter the contest, like Longfield Gardens on Facebook, then click to enter to win.

Plant bulbs Mid-September to late October, when temperatures are pleasant and the ground is easy to
dig.  Bulbs store their own food so there’s no need to worry about them surviving the winter. Come spring, dozens of buds emerge and blossom.

With a staggering array of bulbs to choose from, you can enjoy fall bulb planting and anticipate the spring arrival of some of these beauties:

Hyacinth Shades of Blue
No need to choose your favorite blue hyacinth when this mix lets you enjoy them all. The full range of blues perfectly complements every variety of daffodil and mid-season tulip. They will fill your garden with weeks of intense color and heady fragrance.

Tulip Queen of Night
Close out the tulip season with a dramatic planting that features this dark
and sultry beauty. On the outside, the petals are maroon with a dusky blue sheen. Inside, they're lustrous wine red. A favorite since the 1940s.

Narcissus Palmares
Star shaped outer petals sets off these ruffled, creamy yellow to orange cups. This mid to late season bloomer is as eye-catching from afar as it is up close. Frilly cups give the bloom a ruffled look. Plus, the deer don't like these beautiful bulbs!


Allium Gladiator
Decorate your early summer garden with these big, rose-violet balls of color. The 6" diameter flower heads are slightly smaller than Globemaster allium, but bloom earlier and are about a foot taller. Easy, long-lasting color for the time between spring bulbs and summer perennials.

Falling in love with bulbs is easy, especially when it's free!  And $100 can buy a garden full of bulbs to plant this fall and enjoy the burst of color and fragrance come spring.

So just hop over to Longfield Gardens Facebook page, like them, and click to enter the contest.  There's only a few days left...good luck and happy bulb planting!

~Katie
Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find: Plant Your Spring Bulb Garden Now!

Queen of Night

As Autumn begins and the weather cools, gardeners look to the tasks at hand - including one more chance to play in the dirt.  While addressing your garden's fall clean-up, now is the time to plan for spring bulbs that will come as a respite from winter, returning each year to welcome spring.

Mid-September through late October is an ideal time to plant spring bulbs in many regions, allowing for a six week rooting period before the soil becomes too cold. But before you get your hands dirty, consider these tips, from purchasing to planning to planting.

Black Eyed Beauty

First and foremost, size does matter! Bulbs from sources such as Longfield Gardens are top notch yet still affordable, guaranteeing happiness now and in the spring when the lovelies pop up. Pictured are several of our favorite varieties.  Make sure to purchase bulbs from a reputable source, ensuring you get the best bulb for your buck.  Steer clear of sales that offer bulk bulbs for a very low price as many of these bulbs are inferior in quality.

Moulin Rouge

Planning your spring bulb garden is easy and fun.  Take a look around your outdoor space and visualize early spring.  Consider the height of the bulb's flower, whether short or tall, and then plant accordingly, either in the rear or front of your garden area. 

Sky High

Create a 'wow' effect with mass plantings of spring bulbs grouping many in an open space, along a walkway or surrounding a garden feature.  Another fun option is to toss a bunch of bulbs in the air, see where they land, and plant them there...you'll be surprised how well this works!

Planting spring bulbs is easy too.  Once you've decided how many and where, just dig a hole that's 3 times the diameter of the bulb and plant the bulb with the pointy side up.  Plant in a triangular clump, a circular clump, or a rectangular clump, but never in a single line--that's a no-no in the design world.

Mango Charm

Replace the soil on top of the bulb and water to help settle the bulbs in and remove any air pockets.  Don't be stingy with the first watering, letting it seep through to the bulb's dept of 6 to 8 inches under the surface.  Moisture must be present at the base of the bulbs to encourage fall rooting.  Throughout the fall and winter only water if you are experiencing a particularly dry period.

Allium

Now that you're done designing and digging, you can get to the fall cleanup knowing that come spring you will be rewarded with a beautiful array of stunning flowers to celebrate the new season.  Order from a huge variety of spring bulbs at Longfield Gardens and be the envy of your neighborhood.

Happy spring bulb planting!

~Peggy
Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find: Win A $100 Gift Card for Magical Spring Bulbs!

As the summer season comes to a close, thoughts change from beach outings and garden parties to football and breezy cool nights, and the transformative brassy landscape of fall.

Before letting the summer season fade away, indulge in one more treat: a chance to win a $100 gift card from Longfield Gardens, a retail website for quality bulbs and perennials. To enter the contest just like Longfield Gardens on Facebook, then click to enter to win. With a staggering array of bulbs to choose from, you can enjoy fall bulb planting and anticipate the spring arrival of some of these beauties:

Striped Apeldoorn - Each of these designer mix tulips has its own special pattern of color and stripes, from buttery yellow to deep orange and red.  It blooms midseason and since every blossom is unique they are stunning in a bouquet or left to admire in a group setting in your garden.

Hemisphere - Another tulip with its own special pattern of freckles and stripes and a color range from almost pure white to pink and rose, combined with the hues of  Striped Apeldoorn can create a natural looking sea of color.

Flaming Purissima - This elegant early bloomer tulip has flowers that change day by day, opening wider as they mature. White petals overlaid with blush pink are a great companion for daffodils and hyacinths, and are sturdy and weatherproof for lasting enjoyment.

Moulin Rouge - This color-changing tulip puts on a new show every day.  It opens creamy white with striking raspberry pink accents and as it matures the petals become more colorful until they're bathed with cherry pink, rose and crimson.  And the fragrance of the extra large flowers is extra special.

Shirley - A simple name for a simply stunning tulip, Shirley opens creamy white with lilac-purple stitching around the edges of each petal.  As the blossoms mature, the color slowly spreads until the entire flower is laced with soft purple.  A true favorite for your cutting garden.

Falling in love with bulbs is easy, especially when it's free!  And $100 can buy hundreds of bulbs to plant this fall and enjoy the burst of color and fragrance come spring.  So just hop over to Longfield Gardens Facebook page, like them, and click to enter the contest.  There's only a few days left...good luck and happy bulb planting!

~Peggy
Garden Media Group

Gardening Spotlighted at the Largest Event for Women in Social Media in the World

To introduce the joys of gardening to the ever expanding world of social media, we've decided to exhibit at the ninth annual BlogHer Conference in Chicago this year.

BlogHer is the world’s largest conference for women in social media.  Reaching 92 million U.S. women each month across blogs and social media, BlogHer is the leading cross-platform media network created by, for and with women social media leaders.

In 2012, 5,000 bloggers attended BlogHer ‘12, bringing together social media experts in food, parenting, health and wellness, entertainment, style, social change, politics, technology, and business. 

This year, we will introduce this important group to a new category - gardening.

As first time BlogHer sponsors, we want to ignite a gardening fever with some of the world’s most influential bloggers who can reach a new audience and share their stories about the joys and rewards of gardening. 

We open our “Garden Shop” July 25 - July 27 at the McCormick Place Chicago. The booth allows attendees to “shop” in a beautiful pop-up tent filled with flowering plants and new garden products.  We will also offer giveaways, and educational materials on gardening, including top gardening trends and story ideas. 

Follow #GardenShopGiveaway for contests and giveaways provided by Costa Farms®, RESCUE!®, Suntory® Flowers, Longfield Gardens® and Perky-Pet®, the garden stars who are helping us introduce gardening to this new audience.  

It's no secret that bloggers are extremely influential. They are the trusted friend to literally hundreds of thousands of potential new gardeners, and BlogHer is a great place for us to get to know them.  With 25 years of experience in public relations, we know the importance of connecting with media influencers on a personal level. Developing meaningful and beneficial relationships at BlogHer’13 will help us reach more people and get them into gardening.  

If you're planning on attending BlogHer '13, let us know!  Stacey and Megan, pictured above, will show you around our "Garden Shop" and offer you a breath of fresh, clean air.  Stop by Booth #2326 to learn more.

And if you can't attend this year, virtually follow along via our @GardenMedia twitter handle and our Garden Media Facebook page July 25- July 27 for news, updates, photos and more!  

See you in Chicago!

~Garden Media 

GMG's Friday Find: Grow a Cutting Garden to Create Gorgeous Bouquets!

One of the hottest home décor trends is the "slow flower" movement, using locally grown flowers and other garden materials for beautiful bouquets. There's just something about being able to walk outside, snip fresh flowers and greenery to create an instant arrangement that can brighten any space in your home.

According to Debra Prinzing, author of The 50 Mile Bouquet and Slow Flowers, flowers are not just a luxury or a frivolous expense for special occasions. “A vase of flowers is like a little garden, connecting us with nature and reminding us of the way things grow - slowly. Each bouquet tells a story about one moment in time. Those are the intangible gifts of bringing flowers into our lives.”

With a renewed interest in cutting gardens, you may wonder how to start your own cutting garden. One of the easiest ways to begin is with quality flower bulbs from Longfield Gardens because they provide a kaleidoscope of color, have huge flowers and are simple to grow. From spring tulips and narcissus to summer dahlias, hyacinths and gladiolas, there is a shape, size and color to suit anyone’s taste. A variety of bulbs can provide you with spring to fall cutting options that continually add diversity and beauty for your in-home arrangements.

Here are some tips for cutting longer lasting blooms:

• Cut your flowers first thing in the morning after the dew has dried. Early morning flowers are well rested from the previous day.
• Select the flowers that are just beginning to bloom but are still days away from full bloom.  These will continue to open and last longer in your vase.
• Head outside with a bucket of cold water and put your freshly snipped flowers into it to lessen the shock of being cut.  This also keeps the flowers hydrated until they're brought inside.
• Once the flowers are inside, remove any spotted leaves or leaves that become submerged when placed in the vase.
• Finally, and perhaps most importantly, make one more angle cut at the bottom of the stem while it is submerged in the water.  This allows more water to be drawn up, extending the life of the blooms in your vase.

Here are some tips for arranging and maintaining your flowers:

• Use odd numbers of flowers, as in 3, 5, or 7. Our eyes are naturally drawn to this symmetry.
• Create some variety in height with some large and some small stems.  Keep in mind whether the bouquet will be seen from just one side, or many angles, arranging the flowers for optimum viewing pleasure.
• Place your bouquet in indirect light.
• Change the water at least every other day.  Flowers love fresh water.
• Remove spent leaves and blooms to prolong the life of the arrangement and also to keep the appearance fresh and beautiful.

Freshly cut flowers from a home garden can last for weeks, and it certainly is an economical way to enjoy the fragrance and beauty a home-made arrangement can bring to your indoor spaces. Use a variety of flowers, or go with a bunch of same kind of flowers for a WOW look.  Planting bulbs is easy and the benefits are abundant.  Happy flower cutting!

~Peggy
Garden Media Group