Park Seed Garden Journal

Thanks for Joining us for Flower Day!

Thanks so much for everyone who joined us today, it was an amazing day full of bustling energy. 

More from Thomas and me later, but before I drop off to bed, I wanted to invite you to view some of the photos from the day, in our Park Seed Flower Day 2009 photo set on Flickr. Let us know, what were your favorite parts of the day?  The garden tours? The speakers, including featured guest speaker Joe Lamp'l? The plant sale?

Also, if you haven't seen the topiary display in uptown Greenwood, you can take a photo tour with Topiary Safari, Uptown Greenwood. Enjoy!  Leave comments or questions if you like!

Hydrangea Starlight: One of Many Great New Fall Items

Hydrangea Let's Dance^TM Starlight is the first ever-blooming macrophylla Hydrangea. Starlight is unique because it blooms on both new and old wood. So, if you happen to have a late frost that kills off your early blooms, your hydrangea will still have a goo showing later in the season. The bloom color is dynamic, aging from their usual pink or blue to a fun minty green as the season progresses.

This hydrangea provides three season interest, blooming through the summer into the fall. The fluffy blooms are excellent for cut-flowers, and this shrub can also be tamed for patio or container gardening. This is just one of many new fall planting items from Park Seed.

Flower Day is This Saturday!

If you don't already have plans for the weekend, come visit us at the Park Seed Company in sunny Greenwood, SC this Saturday, June 27. There will be tours of the gardens, expert speakers, good food, and plenty of pretty flowers, shrubs, and trees. And, once you've seen all you can see here, you can head downtown to continue the party. The South Carolina Festival of Flowers will continue into the night with food, drinks, free live bluegrass music, crafts, artwork, and much, much more.

Follow this Google Maps Link to find directions to Park Seed.

Coneflower 'Tomato Soup': A Hot Summer Echinacea

This is definitely one of the prettiest flowers I've seen in a while, and that is saying a lot working here. Coneflower 'Tomato Soup' has some of the warmest, purest colors you can find in nature. Not only is it pretty - it's tough to. Echinaceas resist heat and drought, and  it will shrug off pests that devastate lesser herbaceous perennials.

These enormous blooms, easily five inches across, will keep you entertained though the whole summer if you deadhead promptly. You can expect blooms from the early spring well into fall. This is a truly beautiful plant that will make an excellent focal point in your perennial beds.

Fall Planting Items Available Now!

Over 100 fall items have been added to ParkSeed.com, including old favorites as well as many new items. The fall line-up includes bulbs, perennials, shrubs, and trees. Remember, fall is the best time for planting!

A few of the newest items are creating a little buzz, so I will go ahead and share with you three items that I predict will be fairly popular this year:

Blanket Flower 'Commotion^TM Tizzy' is a floriferous little full sun perennial with unique crimson and orange blooms that will steal the show. A definite conversation piece, 'Tizzy' is sure to be huge this season. This blanket flower is also drought and heat tolerant, a great summertime perennial.

India Pink is a Spigelia with bright red, upright blooms that have been compared to fireworks for the way they pop against the mat foliage. It's fairly adaptable, thriving in full sun and part shade. India pink loves this rich moist soils of shade borders and along garden paths.

Another item that seems to be picking up steam is our Dynamite Premium Fertilizer. This is an all-purpose concentrated plant food that is so environmentally friendly it has won an award from the EPA.

Request Your Fall 2009 Catalog Now!

Request your fall catalog online now. As soon as the first new fall catalogs reach our customers we will also begin shifting gears online, focusing on our fall items. Our brand managers are really excited about this years fall line-up, many new exciting garden items to choose from!

Fall is the best time for planting! Trees, perennials, and shrubs thrive in the mild weather. Give all of your bulbs a head start for the spring season. You will also find a great selection of cool season veggies and flowers.

Father's Day and Flower Day - Busy Weekends

Every year my father grows tomatoes as tall as his house, all of his flowers seem to bloom from the last frost of spring to the first frost of fall, and his grass seems to be greener than any plant naturally should be. He loves his garden.

There is no doubt what he'll be getting for Father's Day - something from Park Seed. And though you may not get my employee discount (I don't have to pay shipping because I can carry it out the door myself) you might find exactly what your Father fancies on our website, or you can get him a Park Seed gift certificate and let him choose for himself. All of our gift certificates come gift-wrapped with our newest catalog and a personalized message from you.

Also, don't forget, on June 27, the week after Father's Day, the Park Seed Company is holding its annual Flower Day Celebration. There will be plants and seeds for sale, tours of the gardens, expert lectures, and local vendors will be selling food. This is all part of the SC Festival Flowers here in Greenwood. The whole town turns into a giant street party for the weekend of June 26-28. There will be food, music, crafts, and lots more. You should visit us if you get a chance.

Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue': Bright Color for Shade

'Nikko Blue' is a true blue hydrangea, with bright flowers that really stand out against the dark green foliage. This is one of Park Seed's most popular hydrangeas, and with good reason. It's big fluffy blooms provide reliable color for your garden, especially in more acidic soils. The shrub will reach up to 6 feet tall in just three years, providing your garden with an impressive stack or bright blue flowers.

Macrophylla hydrangeas are easy to care for, impressive, and they will tolerate shade to part shade, filling in those low-light areas in your garden. Pruning is easy too - macrophyllas bloom on old wood, so there really is no need to prune except to remove dying or unsightly stalks.

Plant Your Own Herb Garden

Stocking the spice cabinet from your own garden is a fun project that will save you money and provide you with variety that you can't get in a supermarket. Even the cheapest herbs and spices are at least $4-$10 for a tiny jar of dehydrated, flavorless dust. Do yourself and your wallet a favor - cook with fresh herbs from your own garden.

If you are an organic gardener, you can find organic seeds for all of your favorite herbs. Herb gardens can be grown inside in containers, on the patio, or even out among your flowers. Most herbs are very hardy and easy to grow. If you grow your own seasonings you can choose which chemicals they come in contact with and how they are handled before they reach the dinner table.

Here are some of the most popular herb seeds online at Park Seed right now - you can grow them from seed in your own kitchen garden: Basil; Dill; Thyme; Cilantro; Oregano; Stevia; Lemon Grass, and many more.