2012 Spring Pack Trials – Day 1b: March 24, 2012

Day 1: Hunting flowers

This year we start from the North and work our way South. In Watsonville our first stop was a visit to see Syngenta where we found many new treasures and revisited some of our favorites!

Syngenta’s “Kwik Kombos” program takes the guesswork out of creating stunning container gardens with plants that grow well together.  We fell in love with the new mix “Night in Pompeii”  The eye-catching colors make wonderful containers and baskets.  The mix was trial tested “intensely” for summer performance which is always a big plus for Texas gardeners.

During this stop we bumped into Jimmy Turner and Jenny from the Dallas Arboretum Trial Garden.  Quick hugs and excited chatter about Dallas Blooms and the upcoming Chihuly exhibit ensured. I’m a fan of Chihuly’s glass so I am excited about the upcoming installation at the Dallas Arboretum.  Jimmy shared that some of the pieces would be 30 feet tall!  He said the displays will be lighted for evening showings.  Seeing the gardens with such lovely glass art will definitely be a must-see event!

Next we looked at Pot Mums.  Calloway’s and Cornelius Nursery has carried Pot Mums in the Spring in the past but not in recent years.  The Pot Mums came in many happy Spring colors that Texas gardeners might enjoy.  What do you think?  Would you like to have Mums available in the Spring?  Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Here’s a photo of a new interesting mix container of Floral Pot Mums.  This mix features Syngenta’s Rose Springs, Lemon Springs, Purple Springs, Red Springs and Encino Mums.  Go to the MyTexasGarden Facebook  page and rate this mix.  We’d like to know if Texas gardeners would enjoy Mums for the Spring.

Cyclamen!  Cyclamen look stunning in the landscape and in containers.  Syngenta has wonderful Cyclamen. Calloway’s and Cornelius Nursery garden centers primarily carry 'Laser' Cyclamen in the Fall because of its strong garden performance, bloom power, consistent growth habit and attractive foliage.  The 'Laser' Cyclamen fair very well in Fall and Winter gardens, encountering very little disease or pest issues.  When planted in quality well-drained soil Cyclamen are winners in Texas gardens.  The biggest risk with Cyclamen is over-watering.  They don’t like to be overwatered.  They also need some space and don’t like to be planted too close together.  Faith Savage shares some Cyclamen care tips here.

We were excited to see what new Cyclamen Syngenta have to show us.  And we weren’t disappointed!  New this year, a Cyclamen variety 'Fleur en Vogue' (or Umbrella Cyclamen).  The 'Fleur en Vogue' comes in purple and white flowers or solid white.  The flowers grow upside down with the petals spreading out to form an umbrella shape.  I think it offers more color since the petals are spread out.  But, reviews about the new variety were mixed.  What do you think?  Leave your comment below.  Would you plant the Umbrella Cyclamen in your Texas container garden or landscape?

Mini Cyclamen offer great flower power with lots of blooms.  They are bred to have fewer leaves and more blooms and blooms that cluster in the center of the plants.  Two new colors in the 'Snowridge Wine' minis with lush, wine colored blooms tipped in snow white and a deep rich wine color.  Very nice!

'Snowridge Wine'	'Snowridge Wine'

Last but not least of the Cyclamen from Syngenta – 'Friller'!  These beauties flower three weeks earlier than other Cyclamen and offer two new colors – 'Wine' and 'Purple'. 

'Wine'	'Purple'

See what other Spring Trial visitors are saying and seeing.  Parks Whole Sale Plants sends Calloway’s and Cornelius garden centers beautiful hanging baskets.  They are also on the Plant Hunting journey and have shared Day 1 photos here.

Day 1 continues with Syngenta....