Mini "Mother's Day" Roses

These mini roses are lovely indoor rose plants, often blooming around Mother's Day.  They do best in a south facing window and bloom mini roses through July. (Above) My Orange Mini Roses shortly after Mother's Day 2011.

Growing Tips: Grow indoors, in a south facing window, allow soil to become dry between waterings.

'Otto Quast' ('Quasti') Spanish Lavender

I started with a 4" starter 'Otto Quast' ('Quasti') Spanish Lavender, Lavandula stoechas, from Al's Garden Center. This particular variety of Lavender has very distinctive large purple flowers and attracts butterflies. (above) My lavender in May 2011, about a month after planting.

Growing Tips: Spanish Lavender prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Grows to 24-26" high and is hardy in zones 7 - 9.  Excellent indoor houseplant for colder climates.

Perennial Tips: Mulch base of plant in winter with hazelnut shells.  This hardy plant will do fine in winter, even with mild snows, if desired, bring indoors over winter.

Rose Mega Splash Geranium

I started with a 3" Americana Rose Mega Splash Zonal Geranium 'Amri Pikegs' from Al's Garden Center. This is a great plant for summer long blooming of rose colored blooms with dark eyes. (above) My Geranium in May 2011 a couple days after transplanting.

Growing Tips: Zonal Geraniums prefer full sun and dry to normal watering. They are heat tolerant and produce dark green leaves.

Devon Cottage (TM) Rosie Cheeks

I started with a 8"Proven Selections Award Winning Devon Cottage (TM) Rosie Cheeks (Dianthus hybrid) carnation.  These carnations are perennials and come back the second year with twice as many blooms.  Blooms from spring to through summer. (above) My Rosie Cheeks in bloom in July.

Growing Tips: Rosie Cheeks prefer full to partial sun and grow 10" - 14" tall.  Water every other day or daily if weather is really hot. For best results, fertilize or feed every couple weeks.  Remove dead blooms to encourage new growth.

Perennial Tips: This is a perennial in zones 7 -11.  Before winter, remove all dead blooms and cover base of plant with hazelnut shells. 

Day Neutral Strawberry Tribute

I started with a 4" starter Tribute Strawberry from Al's Garden Center.  This particular variety fruits very sweet, large fruit. They are so naturally sweet, you can eat them right off the plant without sugar.  Most berries require lots of light over long days, Tributes set fruit without regard to the length of days and nights and continues fruit production from June until frost. (above) My Tribute Strawberries, about 2 days before it's first harvest.

Growing Tips: Tribute Strawberries prefer full sun and water as needed.  They should be planted 18" apart and grow 6" - 8" tall, they are great for pots.

Harvesting Tips: Harvest when the berries are a bright red all the way around.

'Americana Violet' Zonal Geranium

I started with a 6" 'Americana Violet' Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) from Al's Garden Center.  I planted it in full sun in a cedar planter box (above, in June 2010).  This annual produces very bold, fuschia colored flowers on top of dark green foliage that will bloom through Summer, great for containers or planters.

Growing Tips: Geraniums prefer full or partial sun and water 2 - 3 times per week until established.  They grow to about 10" - 12" tall and should be grown as an annual.

'Fantasia Cardinal Red Imp' Zonal Geranium

I started with a 4" starter 'Fantasia Cardinal Red Imp' Zonal Geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) from Al's Garden Center.  This is a premium annual that produces masses of semi-double bright red flowers a top of dark green leaves.  It has excellent garden vigor and holds up to the hottest weather.  I planted mine in a cedar planter box (above, My Geranium in May 2010).

Growing Tips: Prefers full sun and water 2 - 3 times per week until established. Grows 15" - 18" tall.  Clip off dead flowers to encourage new blooms.

Dwarf Orange Marigold

I started with six 1" Dwarf Orange Marigold starters from Fred Meyer Garden Center.  I planted them all around the garden in terra cotta pots and cedar boxes.  Dwarf Orange Marigolds produce large, crested double flowers with a deep orange hue. Perfect for gardens or containers.  While marigolds are a natural pesticide for vegetable gardens, they do attract slugs in wet weather.

Growing Tips: Dwarf Orange Marigolds prefer full sun.  Plant 4" apart, grows 10 - 12" tall.  Remove dead flower blooms to encourage new growth throughout the summer.

White Alyssum

I planted six 2" White Alyssum starters from Al's Garden Center in an old metal washbin surrounding my Bleeding Heart.  White Alyssum's produce abundant masses of small, fragrant flowers that are great for edging and borders in pots and beds.  (above) My White Alyssum in May 2010 right after transplanting.

Growing Tips: White Alyssum prefer full sun or partial sun.  Water 2 - 3 times per week until established.  They grow to about 3" - 6" tall.

Sunny Lemon Star Thunbergia

I started with a 1 1/2 foot starter plant, 'Sunny Lemon Star' Thunbergia from Al's Garden Center.  I had an 'Apricot' one the year before and LOVED it!  This is an annual vine that will grow quickly and cover a small to medium trellis by summers end with lovely bunches of bright yellow flowers that bloom almost daily throughout the Summer.  I planted mine in a large terra-cotta pot with a wooden trellis for support (above) My Sunny Lemon Star Thunbergia in May.

Growing Tips: Thunbergia prefer full sun and moderately moist soil with a trellis or wall to climb, it will grow 12 - 15 feet tall or you can wind it back and forth on a shorter trellis.