What's New

This year with the drought on everyone's mind, we have included the X-rating system
that the Garden Centers of Colorado are endorsing. This system should help you put
the right plant in the right place for the most efficient water use.
We all need to do our part to be water smart!

X = thrives with 1" of water every week
XX = thrives with 1/2" of water every week
XXX = thrives with 1/2" of water every other week

Click on image for a better veiw.

All American Selections

Gaillardia aristata 'Arizona Sun' - Each three-inch single flower is mahogany red with bright yellow petal edges. The bright colors are similar to the desert sun in Arizona. Like many annuals, plants produce flowers continuously. Even the spent blooms are attractive as tufts of seed. When grown in a full-sun garden, 'Arizona Sun' is a compact plant reaching only 8-10 inches tall, spreading about 10-12 inches. Gaillardia is native to the great plains and usually considered a perennial. Most perennials don't flower the first year but, 'Arizona Sun' performed as an exceptional plant the first year. This AAS winner may over-winter, depending upon the severity of winter. 'Arizona Sun' flowers can be cut and used for summer bouquets. They may attract butterflies to the garden in search of nectar.

Vinca 'First Kiss Blueberry' - The first blue-flowered Vinca (Catharanthus rosea) is an AAS Winner! The large 2 inch single blooms have a darker eye which accentuates the violet blue color. For decades breeders have been diligently working towards a blue Vinca. 'First Kiss Blueberry' fills the color void. Proven to be heat and drought tolerant, mature plants will be about 11 inches tall and spread 16 inches, given adequate growing conditions. Easy to grow 'First Kiss Blueberry' can be grown in patio containers or combination planters.

Zinnia elegans 'Magellan Coral' - These blooms are radiant! They illuminate the garden. The fully-double, dahlia flowered 5-6 inch blooms gleam with brilliant coral petals. The flower quality and color are superior to other Zinnia elegans. In addition to the color, 'Magellan Coral' plants are brimming with luminous blooms. Consistent flower production is an improved quality. Earliness to bloom is another exceptional trait. Mature zinnia plants will reach about 15-17 inches tall and spread 15-19 inches, depending upon growing conditions. Like all zinnias, 'Magellan Coral' will perform best in a full-sun location. This AAS Winner is adaptable to container culture. In the garden 'Magellan Coral' is undemanding, needing little maintenance.

Eggplant 'Fairy Tale' - is a petite plant with decorative miniature eggplants. The fruit appearance is as luscious as the taste. 'Fairy Tale' eggplants are white with violet/purple stripes. The fruits are sweet, non-bitter, with a tender skin and few seeds. The elongated oval eggplants have a wide window for harvest, they can be picked when quite small at 1-2 ounces or they can be left on the plant until double the weight, and the flavor and tenderness remain. 'Fairy Tale' eggplants are recommended for marinating and grilling whole. The harvest can begin in just 49-51 days from transplanting. The petite plant reaches only 2 1/2 feet tall and wide, perfect for container gardening. An eggplant has not won an AAS award since 1939, so Fairy Tale is truly an exceptional new variety.

Squash 'Bonbon' - This Squash (Cucurbita maxima) has three improved traits. They are restricted habit, earliness and superior eating qualities. 'Bonbon' has an upright, semi-bush habit needing less garden space. Mature vines spread about 8 feet. When 'Bonbon' plants are transplanted into a full-sun garden, look for ripe fruit within 81 days; a full week earlier than other varieties. 'Bonbon' squash has thick orange flesh and when cooked delivers sweet flavor and creamy texture loaded with vitamin A. The "boxy" shaped dark green squash is painted with silver stripes and weighs about four pounds. Easy to grow, 'Bonbon' is not highly susceptible to diseases and is adaptable to any location where squash is grown.

Tomato 'Sugary' - The name says it all. Judges raved about the sweet tomato flavor. The half-ounce dark pink fruit has a sugar content of 9.5%, higher than most others. The fruit is produced in clusters like grapes and can be eaten like them. 'Sugary' tomatoes have a distinct shape; they are oval with a pointed blossom end. In addition to the flavor, 'Sugary' plants produced a high yield with a noticeable lack of cracked fruit. Look for ripe fruit in the strong semi-indeterminate vines within 60 days from transplanting into warm, prepared garden soil or large containers. Plants are vigorous and may need pruning to contain growth. 'Sugary' should set a new standard for "cherry" size tomatoes with sweet flavor.

Please check back daily. We will be making additions to the 2005 What's New section.

All American Selections
	Gaillardia aristata 'Arizona Sun' - Each three-inch single flower is mahogany red with bright yellow petal edges. The bright colors are similar to the desert sun in Arizona. Like many annuals, plants produce flowers continuously. Even the spent blooms are attractive as tufts of seed. When grown in a full-sun garden, 'Arizona Sun' is a compact plant reaching only 8-10 inches tall, spreading about 10-12 inches. Gaillardia is native to the great plains and usually considered a perennial. Most perennials don't flower the first year but, 'Arizona Sun' performed as an exceptional plant the first year. This AAS winner may over-winter, depending upon the severity of winter. 'Arizona Sun' flowers can be cut and used for summer bouquets. They may attract butterflies to the garden in search of nectar.
	Vinca 'First Kiss Blueberry' - The first blue-flowered Vinca (Catharanthus rosea) is an AAS Winner! The large 2 inch single blooms have a darker eye which accentuates the violet blue color. For decades breeders have been diligently working towards a blue Vinca. 'First Kiss Blueberry' fills the color void. Proven to be heat and drought tolerant, mature plants will be about 11 inches tall and spread 16 inches, given adequate growing conditions. Easy to grow 'First Kiss Blueberry' can be grown in patio containers or combination planters.
	Zinnia elegans 'Magellan Coral' - These blooms are radiant! They illuminate the garden. The fully-double, dahlia flowered 5-6 inch blooms gleam with brilliant coral petals. The flower quality and color are superior to other Zinnia elegans. In addition to the color, 'Magellan Coral' plants are brimming with luminous blooms. Consistent flower production is an improved quality. Earliness to bloom is another exceptional trait. Mature zinnia plants will reach about 15-17 inches tall and spread 15-19 inches, depending upon growing conditions. Like all zinnias, 'Magellan Coral' will perform best in a full-sun location. This AAS Winner is adaptable to container culture. In the garden 'Magellan Coral' is undemanding, needing little maintenance.
	Eggplant 'Fairy Tale' - is a petite plant with decorative miniature eggplants. The fruit appearance is as luscious as the taste. 'Fairy Tale' eggplants are white with violet/purple stripes. The fruits are sweet, non-bitter, with a tender skin and few seeds. The elongated oval eggplants have a wide window for harvest, they can be picked when quite small at 1-2 ounces or they can be left on the plant until double the weight, and the flavor and tenderness remain. 'Fairy Tale' eggplants are recommended for marinating and grilling whole. The harvest can begin in just 49-51 days from transplanting. The petite plant reaches only 2 1/2 feet tall and wide, perfect for container gardening. An eggplant has not won an AAS award since 1939, so Fairy Tale is truly an exceptional new variety.
	Squash 'Bonbon' - This Squash (Cucurbita maxima) has three improved traits. They are restricted habit, earliness and superior eating qualities. 'Bonbon' has an upright, semi-bush habit needing less garden space. Mature vines spread about 8 feet. When 'Bonbon' plants are transplanted into a full-sun garden, look for ripe fruit within 81 days; a full week earlier than other varieties. 'Bonbon' squash has thick orange flesh and when cooked delivers sweet flavor and creamy texture loaded with vitamin A. The "boxy" shaped dark green squash is painted with silver stripes and weighs about four pounds. Easy to grow, 'Bonbon' is not highly susceptible to diseases and is adaptable to any location where squash is grown.
	Tomato 'Sugary' - The name says it all. Judges raved about the sweet tomato flavor. The half-ounce dark pink fruit has a sugar content of 9.5%, higher than most others. The fruit is produced in clusters like grapes and can be eaten like them. 'Sugary' tomatoes have a distinct shape; they are oval with a pointed blossom end. In addition to the flavor, 'Sugary' plants produced a high yield with a noticeable lack of cracked fruit. Look for ripe fruit in the strong semi-indeterminate vines within 60 days from transplanting into warm, prepared garden soil or large containers. Plants are vigorous and may need pruning to contain growth. 'Sugary' should set a new standard for "cherry" size tomatoes with sweet flavor.