Our Display Gardens

We’re counting the days until Field Day on Thursday—our display gardens are looking lush and ready for visitors. The best way to find out which plants work well together is by touring our display gardens to see them in action. Take advantage of this opportunity to view our test cultivars for next year—here’s a sneak peek:

First up we’ve planted some of our disease-resistant impatiens with a new serrated coleus for next year—‘Chipotle’. This garden moves from full sun into shade so we can track how these plants perform in both scenarios. These impatiens are bushy and full of color; that’s ‘Bounce Violet’ in front, and we’ve spotted in four patches of ‘Sunpatiens Royal Magenta’—you can see some down in the lower left. 

Another plant we turn to for bright, bold splashes of color from midsummer to frost is zinnia. As a tried and true garden standard it often gets overlooked for trendy, edgier selections, but with vibrant shades and interesting forms zinnia can transform a ho-hum landscape bed into a lavish display. 

We like to use zinnia in the middle to the front of the border, depending on the cultivar—they range from 1 to 1-1/2 feet tall. To show off the pretty flowers that appear at the top we try to plant zinnia in a solid block about five feet wide rather than a narrow row. A grouping of one color is very effective but we also like to mix the Profusion colors together for added drama. Zinnia is handy for filling in bare spots in a sunny garden, too.

During the long, hot days of summer we appreciate an all-zinnia design: these plants thrive in the heat and humidity plus they’re drought-tolerant, and that adds up to an impressive color payoff for very little work. Need I say more?

Our zinnia selections come in shades that are also suitable for autumn décor. All are available in the 4.5-inch pot:

• ‘Profusion Deep Apricot’
•  ‘Profusion Double Yellow’
•  ‘Profusion Double Golden’
•  ‘Profusion Fire’ (scarlet and orange)
•  ‘Magellan Yellow’
•  ‘Zahara^® Sunburst’ (orange-yellow bicolor)

Everyone who attends the Field Day Garden Tour will receive the Diefenbacher Display Garden Planner. It lists all the cultivars grown out by display bed, with enough room to make notes as you walk through the gardens. It’s convenient to have a list handy when you think of a plant that impressed you but can’t remember the name when ordering time rolls around.

Last year, I noticed everyone jotting down notes to themselves as I described various features of each of our display plants. It’s rewarding to know that you, our customers, take advantage of the resources we provide. If you are unable to make it to Field Day, you’re welcome to stop by our office and tour the gardens at a more convenient time.