GMG's Friday Find: Sizzle With Suntory This Summer

Independence Day is all American with red, white and blue colors dominating decorations and activities.  From picnics and parties to all kinds of celebrations, we proudly fly, wear and put out the colors that represent our nation's heritage--freedom for all.

If you are planning a 4th of July gathering, consider potting up a patriotic garden display that will burst like fireworks. The red, white and blues from the Suntory® Collection offer perfect combinations to achieve a flag raising holiday look.

You can put red, white and blue flowers together for a traditional look, or put a stunning Sun Parasol® with
Surfinia® Trailing Petunia in a blue-glazed pot for a more dramatic look.  Put your patriotic blooms in a hanging basket, or as a compliment to 4th of July bunting along a porch.

When July 4th is in your rear view mirror, many other options are available to switch up your color scheme from firecracker to other hot colors for a hot time of the summer.

Suntory Virtual Designer

Mixing and matching combinations like cream, magenta and deep purple give a new twist to red, white and blue.

The new Virtual Garden Designer Tool from the Suntory Collection makes it fun and oh so easy to create a combination of flowers you can see before even heading out to the nursery.  This free designer tool is brilliant, letting you do an almost endless number of combinations from the Suntory Collection. You can choose from 4 different container sizes and then you simply drag and drop the flowers into the circles, click "OK" and viola!  You have a lovely example of how your container will look with the particular flowers you chose. 

Suntory Virtual Designer

Switch up your blues and whites with Summer Wave® Bouquet Torenia in cream yellow and gold, or keep some white with gold for a soft summer look that lends itself perfectly into the lazy days of summer.  Stop back again in the fall and test drive some warm oranges and golds for a fabulous fall look.

Pot up your patriotic garden this July 4th with traditional red, white and blue or colors that suit your own likes and decor.  The Suntory Collection has the flowers and colors you love, and best of all, they're available in garden centers and home stores.  

Have a sizzling summer, and Happy 4th of July!

~Peggy

Garden Media Group

GMG's Friday Find: Create an Instant Oasis this Memorial Day!

The Memorial Day holiday signals the beginning of summer celebrations on decks, patios and backyards across the nation. 
Here in the east, we're just getting around to planting from a long, cool spring and if you're feeling a bit rushed to get your outdoor space just right for the Memorial Day weekend, relax!  A beautiful blooming combination of hibiscus and mandevilla from Costa Farms® Tropic Escape™ Patio Collection can create an instant oasis.

A vibrant outdoor experience doesn't require endless hours of bending and digging when you pair and pot the big, bright blooms of hibiscus and mandevilla.

Hibiscus from the Tropic Escape Collection bursts with some of the biggest, most flamboyant blooms around -- up to seven inches across.  And the color range and mixes are enough to make a rainbow jealous! These hibiscus are sold in citrus-hued deco pots that immediately add color to you patio or porch for an instant view.

The Tropic Escape mandevilla with its trumpet-shaped flower loves the hot summer weather and pumps out flowers in pink, red, fuchsia and white. This twining and climbing plant splashes color while comfortably making a home just about anywhere from trellis to fence to container.

For a dramatic statement, pair them both in a pot and you'll enjoy show-stopping blooms all summer long. Heat tolerant and not fussy, this combination from the Tropic Escape Patio Collection is easy to care for, produces abundant flower power, and is readily available at local home improvement stores or mass merchandiser.

A backyard getaway doesn't have to cost a fortune or require hours of labor.  These tropical wonders can transform your outdoor space quickly so you can enjoy the seasonal celebrations with ease.

Happy Memorial Day!

~Peggy
Garden Media Group 

 

GMG's Friday Find: Garden Goodies for Mother's Day!

We know mom can be tough to shop for, so here are some ideas to make Mother's Day gift giving a breeze.

Easy Edible Pickins

Since moms everywhere love to feed their families healthy food, a gift of these brand new, low maintenance, small fruit shrubs will be most loved.  These compact berry shrubs provide ornamental beauty and delicious berries! RaspberryShortcake™ is a thornless dwarf raspberry shrub that reaches 2-3 feet and fruits the first season.  This compact, rounding plant requires no staking or trellising, no companion pollinators and very little space, and has sturdy upright canes. Raspberry Shortcake loads up with full-sized, super sweet raspberries and is ideally suited for large patio containers, balconies or any size yard.

Take Mom to the Tropics
Busy moms will love the Tropic Escape Patio Collection from Costa Farms®.  This collection pairs bold flowering hibiscus with trailing/climbing mandevilla - an unbeatable combo for mom's patio or garden!  And the best part is these plants bloom non-stop from spring until fall and are easy to care for. Look for the Tropic Escape collection at your local home improvement store or mass merchandiser and turn mom's outdoor space into a tropical paradise!

The Birds #1 Best Friend
Does your mom love to feed the birds? These new bird feeders from Perky-Pet® look like old-fashioned mason jars.  The Mason Jar Collection is reminiscent of the vintage blue glass canning jars used in the 1800s. They bring rustic, shabby chic elegance to any yard while attracting various types of birds. Perky-Pet® offers three types of Mason Jar feeders including Wild Bird Feeder, Hummingbird Feeder and Wild Bird Waterer.  Mom can have beautiful outdoor décor while enjoying watching the birds.

Eco-Friendly Containers 
Moms love to get handmade gifts from their kids, but if that's not happening this year give her the next best thing - handmade pottery containers from Native Cast. These eco-friendly concrete planters are individually hand-cast, lightweight and durable.  Easy to move and stunning in design, your mom will love this planter for indoor or outdoor, all year long. The heart-shaped cast- your-own kit is a fun project you and your mom can spend time doing together; after all, that's all she really wants!

 Twists on Tradition Cookbook
The next best thing from taking a break from cooking is cooking a meal together with family. James Farmer's newest book, A Time To Cook is a celebration of garden to table lifestyle recipes updated for today's conscientious cooks. Steeped in Southern tradition, A Time To Cook offers scrumptious recipes that are fresh from the land and garden and will be one of your mom's go-to cookbooks for years to come.

Celebrate this Mother's Day with a gift that says "I love you", a gift she'll use and enjoy for years, and a gift that will remind her of just how special she is.

Happy Mother's Day!

~Peggy
Garden Media Group

Costa Kicks Off Spring In a Big Way

The folks at Costa Farms in Miami really know how to grab your attention. On March 21st, a 30 truck caravan filled with show-stopping Sun Parasol mandevilla plants left Costa's farm headed to retailers throughout the country to kick-off the first day of spring. The event began with music from a local marching band, a ribbon cutting ceremony with local officials and hot air balloon. Too bad I couldn't be there to enjoy all the fun. Maybe next year!

Check out the spring kick-off here. It was a beautiful day!

Happy Spring,

Stacey

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