Salvias as Pollinators

 
If pollinators were at the polls, Salvia would have won

If pollinators were doing the voting, the most popular flowers at Field Day were the Salvia, by far. Salvia’s appeal is broad and deep—we saw native bees, bumblebees, honeybees, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators drinking from the generous fountains these plants provide. If you support the beneficials, have a pollinator line, or just work with kids and gardening, it’s important to include Salvia in the heart of your program. Several features of the blooms make this plant especially attractive.

This year we planted some poached eggs in one of our display beds

We planted some ‘Mohave White’ strawflowers in one of our display beds for Field Day and we discovered a neat phenomenon when the flowers close up at night. To our surprise it looked like we’d planted a garden of poached eggs! Or soft boiled, with the tops cracked off and the golden yolks inside waiting for us to dip our toast in them—do you agree?

Soft boiled? Or ghoulish eyeballs in a Halloween arrangement…

This is just one of many eureka moments we’ve had over the years with our trial gardens. Of course we value the learning opportunities these beds provide by allowing us to see how new and different plants perform in a variety of situations, but we also enjoy having some fun in the process. It’s one of the perks of being a grower—and why we look forward to coming to work everyday.

Our Mohave Bracteantha is shipping now in the 4.5-inch pot.

‘Mohave White’ is sunnyside up when it opens 

Order your Poinsettias today—especially the popular art-style varieties

Believe it or not, now is a good time to order your Poinsettias. It seems early but it truly isn’t, especially if you plan to include art-style varieties this year—they sell out quickly. Early ordering assures you of the best selection, and offering fresh, quality material to your customers out of the starting gate opens the door to repeat business. Bump up your inventory ahead of the rush and make the most of the long holiday season.