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