48 | JULY 13 • 2023 

N

o matter where you live or how 
green your thumb, you can enjoy 
the beauty and bounty of garden-
ing at home. Now is the ideal time to plan 
a spring garden that will be the envy of the 
neighborhood.
The experts at Ball Horticultural Company 
share their recommended plants, top topics 
and tips to set up every type of gardener for 
success this year.

PLANTS FOR YOUR POCKETBOOK
Creating a stunning garden doesn’t have to 
break the bank. To get even more bang for 
the buck, select hardy plants known to thrive 
through adversity or fast-spreading flowers 
that fill in quickly.
New Hula Spreading Begonia is a great 
example of a budget-friendly plant that 
quickly fills in garden beds with a blanket 
of high-impact color, covering the soil and 
discouraging weeds in minimal time. They’re 
bursting with eye-catching blooms, very 
forgiving for novice gardeners, and are also 
great for outdoor hanging baskets and mixed 
containers.
If heat, humidity or drought are a concern 
for you, opting for resilient flowering plants 
can help ensure greenery and blooms no 
matter the weather condition. Angelonia 
AngelDance, for example, thrives even in 
harsh conditions like high heat, producing 
tall flower spikes that are perfect for that cot-
tage garden vibe. Additionally, because the 
stems are flexible, they bring awesome move-
ment to your garden, and you don’t have to 
worry about breakage.

TROPICAL COLORS DELIGHT
Tropical hues are trending, which is evident 

by the rich, pink shade of Viva Magenta 
selected as Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year. 
From deep burgundies to bright, energetic 
pinks, you can use florals reminiscent of a 
south beach escape to turn your outdoor 
space into a personal oasis.
To add instant color to sunny spots, try 
all-season blooming Easy Wave Burgundy 
Velour Petunias either solo or in mixed 
planters, baskets, gardens and window boxes. 
Brighten up shadier spots with the Glimmer 
Burgundy Double Impatiens, which produce 
beautiful, rose-like blooms that are easy to 
maintain, as the plant’s old blooms do not 
need to be removed as they fade.
If you live in climates that require 
low-maintenance plants that can withstand 
chillier temps, try Oscar Cherry Velvet 
Dianthus, which has frost tolerance and a 
soft floral fragrance. Another hardy option 
in a vibrant shade is the Sombrero Poco 
Hot Pink Echinacea, a compact version of 
winter-hardy prairie coneflower, with bright, 
non-fading blooms. As an added bonus, 
the plant is known to be deer resistant and 
attract song birds and butterflies.

IMPRESS WITH VEGETABLES
When you grow your own vegetables, you 
reap even more health benefits, including the 
positive emotional boost of being outdoors, 
plus you save money on groceries. This year, 
try unique homegrown choices that add 
fresh flavor to your meals and impress guests 
at your next gathering.
To upgrade your vegetable platter, check 
out Sun Dipper Tomatoes. Their unique, 
elongated shape makes them easy to hold 
and ideal for dipping into your favorite 
spreads and party dips. Another visually 

mesmerizing variety is the Mocha Swirl 
Snack Pepper from Burpee Plants. This sweet 
snacking pepper produces 4-inch fruits that 
ripen green and white at 50 days and then to 
rich chocolate-red stripes at 70 days.

If you’re limited on space, you can still 
enjoy the benefits of growing your own 
fresh vegetables by exploring indoor, 
tabletop options. Kitchen Minis Quick 
Snack Cucumber are a restricted-vine 
crispy-and-delicious cuke that can be kept 
inside on a sunny windowsill or counter for a 
fresh harvest over a few weeks.

LIVING COLOR INDOORS
Have you recently downsized, or do you live 
in an apartment, condo or townhome? No 
matter where you live, you can still enjoy 
the beauty and benefits of plant parenthood 
by exploring indoor-flowering varieties that 
brighten spaces and enhance interior design.
Yellow is reminiscent of sunshine and 
conveys positive emotions, which is why 
the ColorBloom Gerbera is such a happy 
addition to indoor spaces. Perfectly happy 
to grow in small indoor pots, you’ll enjoy 
long-lasting blooms when you place them in 
sunny locations throughout the home.
If you prefer leafy varieties in your home, 
try color- and texture-rich foliage plants, 
such as Jurassic Dino Rex Begonia. With 
bold patterns, including a beautiful rose-pink 
leaf color with green edges, white dots and a 
black leaf center, the plant sets the mood and 
accents any room. 
From indoor tabletops to outdoor land-
scapes, porches and beyond, garden experts 
agree: There are plenty of plant options to 
help you create a stunning space this year. 

Garden Expert Approved

REAL ESTATE

New trends and plants for 2023.

BPT

