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The Basil Purple Ruffles, ‘Ocimum basilicum’, is a beautiful form of basil that grows about 1 1/2 feet high and has ruffled jagged leaves. The scent and flavor are slightly different from sweet basil with more licorice and cinnamon flavor. Purple Ruffles Basil can grow in shadier areas than sweet basil but still needs about 3 hours of sun per day. It is excellent for both culinary or ornamental uses in the garden or containers. Purple Ruffles can be finiky because it needs a very uniform spot where it is not too hot, too cold, or too dry. Purple Ruffles has beautiful lavender pink flowers which are edible also. Basil is used in so many foods, it is hard to mention them all. It is used in Italian foods and pesto and pasta sauces. Fresh basil makes a nice tea, an excellent vinegar, and tastes great fresh with fish, poultry, rice, mild vegetables, eggplant and many others. Plant 1 to 2 weeks after the last average frost date. Place the Basil seeds in well drained soil with lots of organic matter. To harvest, cut about a third of the branch from the top, down to where a new set of leaves is beginning to grow

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The Geranium Rocky Mountain* Deep Rose, ‘Pelargonium x hortorum’, is outstanding for landscaping. They make large, full-sized plants and are very showy in ground beds and containers with their large, colorful deep rose blooms. Geraniums are a favorite bedding and container plant and are grown in almost every region of the country. These plants have succulent leaves and stems and they are commonly called garden geraniums or zonal geraniums. They are excellent in containers of all types from small pots to large tubs to window boxes and combine well with other plants such as petunias and ivies. Geraniums are one of your best choices for use in hanging baskets. Plant in ordinary well-drained soil. Over fertilization results in excessive foliage and few flowers. Fertilize lightly every 2 weeks. Pinching of the shoots will promote bushiness Remove spent flowers to enhance flowering.

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The Morning Glory Spilt Personality, ‘Tpomoea purpurea’, has graceful, delicately split, star-shaped flowers that will add a unique look to your garden. The 2 inch star shaped flowers are magenta-pink in color. They are called morning glory because blooms open in the cool of the morning. During the fall, flowers open all day. They will bloom from summer until fall frost. The Spilt Personality Morning Glory does not like to dry out, so water frequently. Morning glories seem to bloom earlier and with more blooms when they are constricted to a pot. Plant in the spring after the last average frost date. Plants started too early are less vigorous than those started later. This excellent vine will cover fences and trellises, grow as ground cover, or hang in large baskets or pots.

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The Tulip ‘Hemisphere’, ‘Tulipa triumph’, a fall planted bulb, is a new introduction this year. This variety has white petals and is painted with reddish-pink across the bloom. Triumph Tulips are the largest and one of the most important class of Tulips. They come in every possible shade of color possible for tulips, including some wonderful pastels. They are particularly esteemed for their beautiful, traditional “tulip” flower shape. Triumph Tulips have sturdy stems and withstand windy weather. They are great for cut flowers and they have a long vase life. These are mid sized tulips with compact leaves and shorter flower stems. They are ideal for pots or even a spring color hedge. Triumph tulips respond well to a cooling period of six weeks in the fridge prior to planting.

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The Marigold Inca II Orange, ‘Tagetes erecta’, is an African Marigold that grows to 12 to 14 inches in height. It can bloom up to 7 days earlier than other types with large 4 to 5 inch blooms on strong stems. The Inca II marigolds are sure to stand out and be a major attraction of your flower beds. This Marigold produces enormous double flowers in vibrant shades of gold and orange. They begin to bloom early and continue all suumer long until frost. These sturdy plants are abslutely grat for massing in sunny beds and borders.

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The Liatris Kobold Gayfeather, Liatris spicata, has tall, lilac-rose spike-shaped flowers with a fluffy appearance and dark green foliage. The flowers open from the top down and bloom from June to September. Liatris Kobold has a plant height of 2 and a spread of 12-18. Liatris Kobold should be planted in full sun in a well-drained area. It does prefer a bit more moisture than most Liatris, but do not over water. Liatris Kobold looks great as a perennial background, with grasses or white blooming flowers such as Physostegia Miss Manners. It is a major butterfly and bee attractor.

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The Tulip ‘Mixed Colors’, ‘Tulipa fringed’, a fall planted bulb, produces a blend of the most interesting fringed tulip varieties with their ruffled edges. The flowers are extremely long-lasting and set atop of tall, strong stems. Fringed tulips bloom in late spring and they are good for cut flowers, beds, and borders. Fringed Tulips are also known as Crispa Tulips. These tulips are a must-see (and have) with their delicate, lacy, fringed edges. Most fringed tulips open with petals arching outward.

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The Cactus Dahlia Mixed Colors, ‘Dahlia’, a spring planted tuberous root, produces endless supplies of various colored, 6 inch flowers all summer long. The Cactus Dahlia take their name from their unusual pointed, narrow petals. Dahlia’s are ideal for cut flowers, borders, containers, and massings. They tend to bloom for long periods and few plants offer as much variety and showy flowers as the Dahlia. They do best in well drained, humus rich soils.

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The Spider Dahlia Mix, ‘Dahlia Mix’, produces a glorious mixture of colors. The Spider Dahlia produces uniquely shaped flowers with many spiky petals in lovely soft pastels. They are ideal for interesting cut flower arrangements. They are hardy in zones 8-10; elsewhere dig and store in a frost free area.

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The Gladiolus Dusk, ‘Gladioli’, a spring planted corm, exhibits magnificent dark purple colored flowers on tall stalks. Gladiolus are also commonly called Sword Lily or Corn Flag. Plant in groups of six or more in the garden, or grow lots of them for cuttings in a bed. To extend the time of flower availability of your Glads, plant in two week intervals from early spring through June. They make striking accents in a mixed border. Glads are easy to grow and like to be in full sun and in well drained soil. Increase water and fertility when flowers begin to develop, then plant 4″ deep in clay soils, 6″ deep in others; the deeper the planting the less need for staking. In frost prone areas, dig them when the leaves turn yellow, dip them in a fungicide, and store in a dry frost free location over winter.

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