Wayside Gardens Voices

The Dwarf Banana Tree from Wayside Gardens

I always like to take a look at the “on sale today!” link on the Wayside Gardens homepage, and see if there is anything that really catches my eye. Today, the dwarf banana tree was what really got my attention. A banana tree is an excellent way to add that tropical feel to your garden or patio. This dwarf variety makes that tropical feel even more accessible because it can be grown in a container in your home.

Treat this plant like you would tender foliage plants, giving it plenty of protection from hot, direct sun when grown under glass in the summertime, but give it full sun in winter or put it under a bright light indoors. Grows in sun outdoors. Pot in soil mixture containing a high amount of humus (leaf mold, peat moss, compost, etc.), and feed it every week with half strength general house plant fertilizer. Keep the soil evenly moist at all times. Best grown warm (65°-70° nights) with high humidity. This particular variety is only hardy to zone 9, but it can be grown in containers and protected over winter much further north.

Color Theory and Garden Design

Collector's Edition 2007

Going beyond the rare, newest, and unique- the Wayside Gardens Collector's Edition 2007 catalog is an invaluable tool for designing a beautiful garden. We were very lucky to collaborate with Tracy DiSabato-Aust on this project , and the response so far has been tremendous. Her book, The Well-Designed Mixed Garden encourages you to view your garden as a blank canvas and the many shapes, textures and colors as your medium for artistic expression as a gardener.

This catalog focuses on color theory. On the very first page you are introduced to the color wheel and are given a little vocabulary lesson and a short explanation. The next page is DiSabato-Aust's introduction, Color Schemes for Your Garden, which explains the importance of color in designing your garden and gives a few helpful hints. The rest of the catalog is arranged according to the color wheel. Beautiful pictures of the rarest plants in the most vivid colors, including 125 brand new varieties span from the brightest reds to the deepest violets.

Order the Wayside Gardens Collector's Edition 2007 now for only $5.00.
It comes with a $5.00 coupon- so basically, if you buy something else, you got this wonderful tool for free.

Astilbe

At our meeting this morning it came up that we have very low supply of many of our Astilbes. Customer Service already has a notice to let customers know when they call, but if anyone else is talking with customers in the next few weeks, please let them know.

The new Chinese Astilbe is the faster seller of them all so far, I think because customers know it does better in warm climates.

Thanks,

Sharon H.

Thuja Steeplechase is out of the bag!

Dear Martin:

Oh dear -- I don't think we're supposed to mention upcoming specials and sales on the blog. I know tomorrow is just a few hours away now, so it probably doesn't matter, but I thought I'd send out a general note about this. I think the whole point of those specials is that they are announced each day.

Sorry to be such a spoilsport! But your photo of the Steeplechases is lovely. (And believe me, I speak as an admirer, not a practitioner, of good digital camerawork!)

Sincerely,

Kay

Product Administration

KayRavenel@gmail.com