Children’ s Spring Party
Perennial Updates
2016 Annual Beds: Colorful and Eco-Friendly
Cheerful shades of yellow, orange, and rose will brighten the annual flowerbeds this summer with the theme“ Let the Sunshine In.”
In an effort to be even“ greener” than usual, this past winter the Green Team planted flower seeds that require less time in the greenhouse, thus saving time, water, and heating fuel. Two types of flowers that grow quickly and do not need to be planted until mid-March are marigolds and zinnias. Thus the entry bed features a large circle of“ Dreamland Yellow” zinnias bordered by“ Dreamland Rose” zinnias with“ Safari Orange” and“ Bonanza Yellow” marigolds filling out the rest of the space.
The centerpiece of the upper McKay Plaza bed is a sunburst composed of short yellow and orange marigolds flanked by“ Magellan Orange” zinnias,
Children’ s Spring Party
Bloom into Spring
On Sunday, May 15, close to 1,500 people, including children, parents and grandparents, came to DABG’ s annual Children’ s Spring Party. Children came in strollers, toddling next to a parent or grandparent, or dancing in excitement. They were able to see one of their favorite characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Elmo, Dora the Explorer and more. Many hugs were exchanged.
The activities varied from games, face painting and tattoo stations, a makeand-take craft( of course it involved a flower), picture-taking areas, touring a fire engine, police car and ambulance, balloons, food— and more. This year, Toys for Tots outdid themselves by donating Princess Barbie, Darth Vader and R2D2 as giveaways.
Our corporate sponsor, American Trust, did a fantastic job with tasks on the day of the event along with a number of DABG volunteers. Thank you to all who helped to make the day fun for our community families. Also, a big SHOUT OUT to Lynne Hager, with American Trust, who partnered with the fearless DABG Director, Sandi Helgerson, to plan the festivities.
The Children’ s Party is a great way to connect youth with nature. Many come back to visit the gardens and park again and again.
Perennial Updates
7
“ Alumia Vanilla Cream” marigolds, and our old-reliable“ Super Olympia Rose” begonias. The lower McKay bed repeats those same flowers in triangular-shaped mass plantings.
The 16 square flowerbeds feature traditional flowers in the theme colors as well as some less familiar types. On the shady side, look for“ Lemon Drop” and“ Rose” torenia; New Guinea impatiens in“ Florific Sweet Orange”; and a deep-rose nicotiana. Following are some of this season’ s other noteworthy plants:
• An annual Rudbeckia called“ Tiger Eye Gold” is like a black-eyed susan, only better, because it blooms all summer long.
• Calendula, also known as“ pot marigold” or“ poor man’ s saffron,” was once a common ingredient in German soups and stews and can serve as a natural dye. Our“ Bon-Bon Mix” flowers are yellow and orange.
• Cosmos won the unofficial“ people’ s choice award” in last year’ s annual beds, although it faded toward the end of summer. This year we’ re trying a mix of cosmos in shades of light and dark orange and hoping they will continue blooming a little longer when planted in a sunnier spot.
•“ African Sunset” petunia was named a 2014 All-American Selections( AAS) bedding plant based on its“ designer color.” It is considered the first true orange petunia to be grown from seed.
•“ Alumia Vanilla Cream” is a brand-new variety of short marigold in a soft, buttery yellow.
The color scheme for the two oblong flowerbeds in the annual gardens incorporates“ Evolution Violet” salvia bordered by yellow zinnias and orange marigolds. The two bi-level beds follow color schemes in orange / purple and yellow / purple, respectively, complemented by ornamental peppers in similar shades.
Perennial Updates
This spring the Green Team planted perennials in two beds that formerly hosted annuals. The Stout Collection daylilies were most recently displayed in narrow beds bordering the peonies but have now been relocated next to the Herb Garden, where they should thrive in the full sun. Only the daylily hybrids that are still color-true were moved; the rest will be replanted in a different location.
The Green Team is especially proud of transforming one of the large rectangular beds near the Gazebo into a butterfly garden. This effort began about 18 months ago when we received a gift of raw seeds for orange butterfly weed( Asclepias tuberosa), a type of milkweed that is a favorite of the Monarch butterfly and its caterpillars. The seeds were started in the DABG greenhouses in January 2015 and then transferred to the outdoor holding beds last summer. After surviving the winter, our butterfly weed crop has finally been moved to its new home, where it joins other butterfly favorites( also grown in our greenhouses): fleabane, feverfew, pincushion flower, gayfeather, columbine, coneflower, and blanket flower. To find this repurposed garden, look for the large yellow butterfly!
What Else Is New
Every year the DABG looks forward to receiving sample flower seeds or plugs that have been named All-American Selections based on their garden performance in tests conducted throughout the United States. The 2016 AAS award-winning bedding plants include two types of geraniums(“ Brocade Cherry Night” and“ Brocade Fire”) and the first-ever lavendercolored salvia, called“ Lavender Jewel.” These plants are just now becoming available for retail sale for the first time. For gardeners interested in seeing the very latest, we are displaying all three 2016 flower winners in a small bed marked with a special sign.
We hope visitors to this summer’ s gardens find a lot to smile about! Submitted by Kennie Harris