Spring Rush 2019

Your inventory defines your garden center for neighborhood customers  

Spring has arrived and it will be in town for the next 10 days. You couldn’t tell that to the folks to the west and north of us, but the weather has been beautiful around here. We checked the long range forecast and it looks like Spring is here to stay. That’s a forecast so take it with a grain of salt, but consumers do react when the soil and the weekends warm up at last.

Of course, this also means it is time to get the garden centers ready with fun and colorful material for the influx of customers browsing for ideas. Let’s take a quick walkthrough to point out a few of the interesting items we have on hand, but keep in mind—this is only the tip of the crop. We pride ourselves on selection and diversity, so we have over 450 different cultivars to help our customers compete with interesting, unique, and desirable material.

 
Wax Begonias in two sizes: large for the urn and standard for the garden

Wax Begonias are ready to ship, from the Cocktail Series (bronze leaf) and Super Olympia (green leaf). Both are mainstays of the landscaping industry, valued for their pretty appearance, durable habit, and reliable nature. They possess the same traits that many home gardeners seek in plants to add color around their yards and homes: a no-fuss nature, free of pests, very tolerant of both sun and shade, and a reputation for growing under any level of gardener’s thumb.

We have a wide range of Wax Begonias, large and small—here is a recap of their sizes and leaf colors:

• In hangers and cones we have the Dragon Wings. Shorter than the Whoppers, they are more wide than tall with very pendulous leaves and flowers. Nearly all have bronze leaves. Dragon Wings also come in 1801L, 4.5-, 6-, and 8-inch pots. Use them for a draping Begonia look.
• In 1801L, 4.5-, 6-, and 8-inch, we have the Whoppers. They sit upright in their space. Whoppers have both bronze and green leaves. Use them when you need a presentation bigger than Cocktails and Olympias.
• In 1801L, 6- and 8-inch pots we have the Cocktail (bronze leaf) and the Super Olympia (green leaf) series. These are the standard, rounded varieties people associate with the Wax Begonia look.
• In the 1203 flat are Bada Boom (bronze leaf) and Bada Bing (green leaf). They have a very similar habit to their bigger brethren, but they are more suitable for a lower look or a smaller planting.

A detail of the Begonia garden showing the importance of the contrasting leaves

It used to surprise us that Ferns sold well in the spring when they’re surrounded by so much color—Ferns are greens after all. We decided that their appeal is the same as petting a sleeping cat in your lap, especially if you’re sitting in the sun: they’re nice to have around in a low-key way. A few hanging Fern baskets make a space feel better and people react to them.

We have a good selection of Ferns to choose from, but we would have to say that ‘Boston’ Fern and ‘Fluffy Ruffle’ are the two most popular. ‘Boston’ is a classic with long graceful fronds. We use it in unexpected ways—as edging, for example—to bring life to a design. ‘Fluffy Ruffle’ has a unique texture that’s simply fun. It’s particularly effective when used up close so passersby can get a good look at it.

Our ‘Boston’ and ‘Fluffy Ruffle’ Ferns are available in the 10-inch hanging basket. ‘Boston’ comes in the 16-inch planter as well.