WEST CHICAGO, Ill. -- More than 350 attendees spent a sunny June day at Ball Horticultural Company’s perennial gardens for Darwin Perennials Day. The weather was perfect for the June 19 event, and the trial gardens were in fine form.
Plenty of intriguing varieties were on display, from Darwin Perennials' 2014 introductions to woody shrubs from Ball Ornamentals. More than 30 suppliers were on hand to show their lineups, as well.
There were several educational options available at the event. Information stations were set up throughout the gardens, on topics like first-year-flowering and overwinter production, unique mixed container recipes, and a comparison between bareroot and liners.
Plant promoter and writer Maria Zampini, president of UpShoot LLC (and frequent contributor to Nursery Management and its sister publication, Garden Center), was a guest speaker. Zampini gave an informative talk using J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy of fantasy novels as a basis for how the green industry can improve communication and sales. Like Tolkien's characters, growers, IGCs, master gardeners, garden writers and the industry’s professional associations all need to work together if they want to succeed.
Photo notes:
Acacia Cousin Itt: Neat thornless acacia with dangling foliage.
Achillea Moonshine: This achillea impressed in the trial beds with its bright yellow color.
Achillea New Vintage Violet: This 2014 introduction is hardy for Zones 4 to 9.
Agapanthus 'Gold Strike': Blue blooms and gold/green variegation make this agapanthus stand out.
Aquilegia 'Swan Red': This hybrid is hardy from Zones 3 to 9.
Astilbe Rhythm and Blues: This false spirea was in the bareroot vs. liners display.
Ball trial beds: The trial gardens at Ball were one of the star attractions of Darwin Perennials Day.
Digitalis Dalmatian Purple: This first-year-flowering perennial is available in two new colors for 2014.
Echinecea 'Cheyenne Spirit': This AAS winner tolerates heat and drought and overwinters in Zones 4 to 10.
Echinecea 'PowWow': The PowWow series boasts more flowers per plant than any other seed-grown Echinecea.
Flutterby Petite Blue Heaven: Every variety of the Flutterby Grande series is sterile. The Petite series is Ball Ornamentals' dwarf series of upright buddleia.
Gardenia Coconut Magic: This gardenia boasts 5-6 inch blooms.
Heliopsis Sunstruck: New for 2014, blooms earlier than other Heliopsis and variegated leaves add appeal.
Heuchera Carnival series: The Carnival series of huechera, and the new Anouk Supreme Lavandula.
Hydrangea Double Delights Freedom; Hydrangea Magical Ruby Red: These were two of the best-looking hydrangeas on display in the gardens.
Hypericum Harvest Festival White: The Harvest Festival series offers six color choices for berries.
Lavandula SuperBlue; Leucanthemum LaCrosse: This lavandula and shasta daisy looked great in the trial beds.
Salvia Lyrical White: The Lyrical series added white as a color for 2014.
Salvia New Dimension Blue: The bright blue flowers of this salvia were eye-catching.
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