local dirt 2016 the year of the... Each year the National Garden Bureau selects one annual, one perennial, one bulb and one edible plant as their crop of
the year. Each selection is made by considering the plant’s popularity, ease of growing, adaptability, genetic diversity and versatility. Here are this year’s picks.
Allium Begonia Carrot Delphinium
Alliums
have
globe-like
blooms made up of a clus- ter of individual florets that sit atop a long leafless stalk. They definitely make a state- ment in the garden. These inverted exclamation points grow well with ornamental grasses, sedum, rudbeckia, echinacea and salvia. Best of all, they are avoided by deer and other predators but their flowers are adored by bees and other pollinators!
With over 1,700 different species,
begonias (family
Begoniaceae) are the fifth most diverse class of plants. In addition to the well- known little wax begonias that many use as bedding plants, there are also drag- on-wing begonias, begonias, showy
trailing tuber-
ous begonias, rex begonias and more! It can be hard to decide with such a wide variety of choices available.
One of the most popular vegetables in home gardens, carrots are also one of the top 10 most economically important vegetable crops in the world. Carrots are a power food that pack a healthy punch of vitamin A and offer benefits such as beautiful skin, cancer prevention and anti-aging. They are delicious, nutri- tious and easy to grow in many varieties and colours.
2016’s colours of the year
the Colour(s) of the Year selection for 2016. Serenity, a peaceful and airy sky blue marries well with the welcoming and compassionate pinkish blush of rose quartz. Together, Pantone thinks these colours will best represent 2016 cultural trends, and will be seen on the runways and in home/garden decor this year. Pinks and blues have always paired nicely in the garden and there are plenty of plant choices. Here are some of our recommendations: Rose Quartz:
T roses, cleman-
tis, echinacea, astilbe, rose mallow, rhododendron, chives, tulip, foxglove, anemones, pink false rockcress, pink barrenwort and pink sedum. Serenity: delphinium, English
bluebell, forget-me-not, grape hyacinth, Siberian bugloss, allium, gentian sage, Russian sage, globe
6 • Early Spring 2016 Flower of the year: Delphiniums.
thistle, blue spirea and hydrangea. Of course you can also accent mass
plantings of one colour with painted garden furniture in its compliment.
his year Pantone LLC has announced two colours, a first, Serenity and Rose Quartz, as
Tall floral spikes boast colourful rosettes in popu- lar colours such as blue, red, pink, white, violet or yellow. Delphiniums are a stately flower and popu- lar in English and cottage gardens. They often require staking for their heavy summer blooms. Cut them back after the first set of flowers for a second bloom- ing. They are hard to start from seed.
Huh?
Cilantro is a member of the carrot family.
The Apiaceae or Umbelliferae family, commonly known as the celery, carrot or parsley family are made up mostly of aromatic plants with hollow stems. The plants have a tap root, which can be used for food and many also develop heavy concentrations of essential oils – making them flavourful aromatic herbs. Their flowers are nearly always aggregated in terminal umbels which produce an abun- dance of seeds, which are often used in cooking (coriander, fennel, cumin and caraway). All make great companion plants as their flowers attract beneficial bugs and/ or their scent can mask the odours of nearby plants. The black swal- lowtail butterfly uses these plants for food and laying their eggs.
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