My Wish List

Today in the Wall Street Journal "Off Duty" section, there is an article suggesting new plants available this year. They are listed A to Z. You won't be able to access the article without a subscription, but you can view the video for a quick peek and some information on the plants. Some of them are great improvements on plants I already have or used to have and lost or gave up on growing. Here's my wish list from the article--in alphabetical order.

C Is for Comeback.  I have never really liked impatiens but it serves a great purpose to brighten to dark spaces. Impatiens 'Beacon'is now improved to resist the blight or "downy mildew" which has hit it hard these past few years.

E Is for Everblooming. A new sunflower Helianthus 'Suncredible' will bloom all summer on a 3-foot stalk. A definite must for me!

G Is for Gleam. A new Brunnera 'Sterling Silver' is bigger and brighter for dark areas like the shade garden under my deck.

H Is for High Contrast. I've never liked hibiscus either, but they do well on my hot deck in August. This Hibiscus 'Evening Rose' is a real stunner for that time at the end of the summer when you need a lift.

L Is for Lilliputian. I've grown successfully and lost drastically Knock Out roses which contracted rosy rosette disease and were infested with gypsy moths. Now there is a new Knock Out rose, Rosa 'Knock Out Petite'. It's disease-resistant and smaller than a regular Knock Out rose. I want to try it!

N Is for No Staking. This new peony will not flop because it has sturdy stems. But I might need to wait for next year due to its expense! Paeonia 'Tonka Extravaganza' can wait at $250?

Q Is for Quirky. I have a Baptisia or False Indigo for its deep blue bloom and black seed pods in later summer but it's not doing well after a decade in its spot. A new Baptisia 'Flying Saucers' has cup-shaped leaves that provide water for hummingbirds! I love that idea and yellow blooms are fine too!

If I could make these improvements in my small garden bed, I would have improved plant health, sturdier blooms and light in my dark areas.  That would be a great accomplishment for a gardener during a pandemic so I might try mail order?