Tropical Treats- We've been adding to our selection of elephant ears for years and always recommend their use in colorful containers. This year consider using Colocasia 'Nancy's Revenge' or C. 'Burgundy Stem' for something different. Sanchezia speciosa, Duranta, Tecoma and Crystal Stachytarpheta always get a lot of attention in our display gardens. Our beautiful Brugmansias are available in two sizes.

Sun Coleus- All of us here have our favorite color combinations of this versatile annual, and we're always looking for the next introduction.As long as you keep them watered these plants do fine in full sun--- but feel free to put them in partial shade,too. All are spectacular solo but amazing things happen when you add carefully selected "companion plants". Some examples that come to mind are sweet potato vines, Alternantheras, Acalyphas, Sanchezia,Cannas and 'Magilla' Perilla. Let us help you with more plant combinations!

Unusual Annuals-The tried and true standards are wonderful , but we always hunger for that rare plant treat! Some of our recent favorites are Castor Bean 'Carmencita', Gomphrena 'Strawberry Fields', Ayclepias 'Silky Formula Mix' and Zinnia angustifolia. Fast growing annual vines will screen ugly views and often attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Lab Lab (grown by Thomas Jefferson) and Moonvine are two of our favorites.

New for '06: 'Black Pearl' Ornamental Pepper, Fiber Optic Grass, Ipomoea Sweet Caroline Red, Oxalis 'Charmed Velvet', Petunia 'Avalanche Grape', Alternanthera 'Grenadine' and Zinnia 'Zowie Yellow Flame'.

Daylilies-With proper plant selection you can have daylily blooms in Tidewater from May through October. Four of our employees are members of the Tidewater Daylily Society and have a wealth of information. A wide selection of spiders, doubles, bitones, rebloomers and gorgeous "eyed" cultivars to choose from.

New this year: 'Anguilla', 'Bela Lugosi', 'Coquina Key', 'Daring Deception', 'Imperial Lemon', 'Ruby Throat' and 'Savannah Banana Split'. With proper plant selection you can have daylily blooms in Tidewater from May to October. Let us suggest some of our favorites!

Iris-Iris is Greek for rainbow, and we have a wide selection of this beautiful perennial- from the graceful Siberian to the amazing reblooming bearded varieties. The latter never fails to amaze our customers in the mid to late fall as they discover them in our gardens after the mums have finished. Siberian Iris can take wet or dry feet, and they can be grown under black walnut trees,too. Japanese Iris (I.ensata) are tolerant od excessive moisture, including bogs, and clay soils. They are considered by many the most elegant of all the irises. Shop early for these stately Japanese iris--- 'Cascade Spring Dress', 'Cascade Crest', 'Innocence', 'World's Delight', 'Crystal Halo' and 'Lace Ruff'.

Hostas-With over 60 varieties of this shade-lover, including the Hosta of the Year 'Stained Glass', you're sure to find a few to add to your garden this year! Hostas will grow in ordinary garden soil and withstand drought, but they are most beautiful when provided with ample moisture and organic matter. Light fertilizer in early spring is needed for best plant development. Did you know they can be grown under black walnut trees? Try them with other shade lovers like Asarum, Heuchera, Rohdea, Columbine, ferns, Pulmonaria, Alstroemeria, Acanthus, Ligularia and Tradescantia. From smaller varieties like 'Ginko Craig' to the spectacular 'Titanic' we're sure to have a Hosta that's perferct for your garden.

Salvias-You can never have enough of these long-blooming annuals and perennials that flourish in full sun and well-drained soil. We add more varieties to our inventory every year. Some stand-outs in our display gardens last year were 'Indigo Spires', 'Wild Watermelon', S. regla and the amazing Van Houttiis that come in several colors. If you want hummingbirds and love purple, S. guarantica is a winner and always a customer favorite.

PICTURE

COMING

SOON!

Fish & Water Plants- Ponds and water features are increasing in popularity every year and spring is a great time for you to "get your feet wet". We carry a great selection of bog, marginal and tropical plants for your pond. We can also show you how to make a "natural" plant filter. The Hard Goods department is stocked with great pond products to keep everything running smoothly, too.

Ferns- Nothing imparts a cool, airy feeling to the shade garden like this group of plants. We love the evergreen ferns- Christmas, Autumn, Holly and Tassel- but also find the delicate shadings of Japanese Painted fern a winner when combined with maroon foliage perennials like Heuchera. If you like lacy, light green foliage try Lady fern (Athryium filix-femina). Southern Shield fern is a graceful native with bright green fronds that turn bronze in the fall. With over 25 varieties you're sure to find one to love.

Ornamental Grasses- Graceful yet tough, these perennial companions thrive in full sun and are drought tolerant once established. The airy pink Muhlenbergia capillaris is a sell-out in the late summer once the flower heads burst open. From the petite (at 11" tall) Pennisetum 'Little Bunny' and Miscanthus 'Little Kitten' to the towering Arundo donax (5'-7' tall), we have a selection for your garden. We love grasses mixed with perennials, too!