December 2009

The Garden Splendor® brand by Overdevest Nurseries announced 10 new 2010 Showcase selections from the company’s premium plant collection of more than 500 varieties of perennials, ornamental grasses, patio plants, shrubs and vines.

This will be the seventh year that Garden Splendor has offered the Showcase line, and independent garden centers appreciate the consistency and branding of the high-quality product. This year, we spoke directly with a few garden centers that carry the Garden Splendor brand to gather some retailer insight about the Showcase line.

Glenn Pendergast is the owner of Willow Run Home & Garden Showplace, an independent garden center that has carried the Showcase line for four years. When asked about the benefits of carrying the Showcase line, Pendergast said, “Carrying a co-branded plant line of the highest quality benefits us as a good reflection on our company with our consumers.” Pendergast also shared with us that his customers have come to recognize and even anticipate the Garden Splendor Showcase varieties for quality and value.

The 2010 Garden Splendor Showcase line will be available to homeowners at participating independent garden centers in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions beginning spring 2010. They will be shipped to the garden centers at the best times for consumers to plant them. The plant material is chosen each year through extensive research and rigorous on-site evaluations for quality, innovation and reliability.

The new Garden Splendor® Showcase Plants for 2010 include the following:

Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’
Aquilegia Winky Double ‘Blue and White’
Chamaecyparis ‘Oregon Blue’
Clematis ‘Crystal Fountain’
Dianthus ‘Raspberry Surprise’
Dicentra ‘Burning Hearts’
Echinacea ‘Mac n’ Cheese’
Hosta ‘Touch of Class’
Schizachyrium ‘Carousel’
Veronica ‘Giles Van Hees’

Additional information about the Garden Splendor brand and plant availability can be found at www.gardensplendor.com. If you are a member of the media, contact us if you’d like us to assist with our usual spring or summer article contributions. We can quote local expert gardening and plant sources in most any area.

~Leslie

There are plenty of memory associations that accompany color. We think back to a favorite painting we saw in a museum or the fading colors of a carousel we used to love visiting. Every color can connote a feeling of past or present, and very few shades exemplify the feeling of the holidays quite like red.

Velvety scarlet, deep burgundy, bright cherry – there are dozens of shades worth a moment’s pause in the spectrum of this primary color, and they all have a place in exterior and interior design. The hue complements the blues, greens and whites common of the season as well as provides a bold design statement for the rest of the New Year.

While we have previously placed a focus on one specific shade for our color posts, we wanted to break from tradition this time to discuss different shades of red and how each one can be used to provide maximum interest.

What does red denote?

Red is often associated with passion, free-expression, fire, courage, and self-confidence. Best used in accessories and accents, red can be overwhelming if over-used and actually cause stress in abundance. However, just a dab of red can increase excitement and is a classic color option for nearly any room.

A few ways to use red:

In the Home: A little red can go a long way. This is a good motto when designing with a bold or bright shade of red. Even an accent wall may be too much, so the best way to use red is accessorize. Trends have shown stripes of red to be extremely popular in indoor and outdoor furniture. Combined with blues, browns and tans, red is the best method of making a more neutral pallet pop. Candles, lamp shades, mirror frames, table runners, and cut flowers are all easy ways to add red into a room. Red is an excellent color selection when designers choose a contemporary look, but rustic and deep burgundies can mold quickly into the principals of Victorian style.

Especially during the holidays, red can be a treat for the eye. Any shade of red will complement evergreen, so consider adding red throughout a room or on a door using decorative wreaths such as this one from Jackson & Perkins.

In the Landscape: While hundreds of shades of red have been produced in blooming flowers for spring and summer radiance, it is often harder to find bold, daring reds for the landscape during the fall and into winter. This year, we recommend a brand new perennial, Heuchera ‘Autumn Leaves’ by Terra Nova Nurseries, for an absolutely stunning display of cranberry-red foliage during frost.

Our favorite shade:

Glidden offers two shades of red we highly suggest, as each provides two different application possibilities for the color. Candy Apple is a fantastic option for a bold statement through accents, accessories and containers. The deep, classic red will not disappoint to draw the eye to new heights or into unused corners of a space.

We have also notated Terra Cotta Rose, or similar shades, as a popular choice for 2010 design. This lighter, more soothing red has brown tones that calm the shock of the color, allowing designers to use more if they choose. An excellent example can be found in the stone flooring of this outdoor space.

How have you used or plan to use red in your interior and / or exterior design work this year? Or, if a member of the media, what types of color information, sources and photos would be most applicable for your audience members during 2010?