A great way to end the winter blues is to start seeds indoors. It's also one way to add different plants or that perfect shade of impatiens to your garden if the plants are not readily available locally. Learn all about "Seed Starting in the Home" during the program on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. and repeated on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. Classes are taught through the University of Illinois Telenet system by Martha Smith, U of I Extension educator.

Trees and shrubs are the backbones of a well-landscaped garden. They can provide beauty throughout the four seasons. Their shapes, colors, flowers and fruits change with the seasons. Native plants thrive in our Illinois conditions. If you are interested in learning more about selecting the perfect native trees and shrubs, plan on participating in "Native Trees and Shrubs for The Home Landscape" on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. and repeated Thursday, Feb.19 at 7 p.m. Class is taught through the Telenet system by Barb Bates, U of I Extension educator.

Both programs will be held at University of Illinois Extension auditorium at 801 North Country Fair Drive in Champaign using the University of Illinois Extension telenet distance learning system.

There is no charge for the programs, however registration is requested. If interested, please call Extension office at 333-7672 or email at champaign_co@extension.uiuc.edu to reserve a seat and packet of information. Another upcoming program is "Tree Pruning" Tuesday, March 2 at 1 p.m. and repeated Thursday, March 4 at 7 p.m.

All America Selections announces eight new varieties that earned the AAS award for the 2004 garden season. The All America Selections, a not-for-profit organization of seed developers and producers, helps to entice gardeners to try new cultivars with its new introductions. Winners are tested at trial grounds across North America including the Hartley Gardens at the University of Illinois Arboretum. Each winner has superior qualities or traits that distinguish them from similar varieties in side by side trials.

Celosia ‘Fresh Look Red' provides a vibrant splash of rosy red color in the garden or in containers. It thrives through summer heat and humidity and through drought or rain in a full sun garden. Celosia ‘Fresh Look Red' always looks fresh requiring minimal care or grooming. The plants mature at 12 to 18 inches tall with a spread of 12 to 20 inches. The central plume can be a whopping 8-10 inches tall and 5 inches wide. Like other celosias the flowers can be cut and dried for dried flower arrangements. It is easy to see why Celosia ‘Fresh Look Red' was awarded the coveted Gold Medal.

Celosia ‘Fresh Look Yellow' offers the same easy care as ‘Fresh Look Red' except it offers golden yellow plumes.

‘Gypsy Deep Rose' is an annual Baby's breath with dainty rose like blooms. The flowers give more of a show than its counterparts with its larger, double to semi double flowers and a darker rose color. It also produces a higher number of flowers over a longer bloom time. ‘Gypsy Deep Rose' is a nice mounded plant reaching 8-10 inches tall and spreading 12-14 inches wide. ‘Gypsy Deep Rose' is easily grown from seed or plants. It requires little maintenance in a full sun garden or container.

It seems impossible that there could be any new petunias left to develop. We have big ones and little ones in just about every color of the rainbow but how about big flowers on little plants? Petunia ‘Limbo Violet' fits just that description. The 3 inch or larger blooms of dark violet cover the small plant. At 6-7 inches tall and spreading to 10-12 inches petunia ‘Limbo Violet' is perfect for small garden spaces. Plants require no pinching to remain neat and tidy.

The developers of Hollyhock ‘Queeny Purple' also had small garden spaces in mind. At 20 to 30 inches tall it fits nicely into the mid to back of the flower border. The 3 to 4 inch wide flowers have frilly edged petals in the powder puff bloom. Hollyhock ‘Queeny Purple' is an annual and will flower prolifically the first year from a February or March seeding. Seed and plants will be available.

Other AAS winners for 2004 include three vegetables: Melon ‘Amy' , winter squash ‘Sunshine' and Watermelon ‘Sweet Beauty'. These will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of Extension Connection. For past winners and more information about AAS, visit http://www.all-americaselections.org/

 

The Perennial Plant Association has named ‘Pictum' Japanese Painted Fern, Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum' the 2004 Perennial Plant of the Year. Shade gardeners are always looking for plants to dress up their gardens. Japanese painted fern to the rescue. It is a low-maintenance and showy fern that is very winter hardy. ‘Pictum' grows 18 inches tall. The clump widens to reach more than two feet wide. ‘Pictum's color and texture add diversity and contrast to the shade garden. The magnificent coloration of the 12- to 18-inch long fronds are metallic silver-gray with hints of red and blue.

Japanese painted fern is a wonderful companion to other shade plants including hosta, astilbe, bleeding heart, columbine and foam flower. Or combine ‘Pictum' with some of the grass-like sedges.

Japanese painted fern appreciates a well-drained soil with plenty of moisture and organic matter. Although it will grow in full shade, it develops its best leaf color in light shade.
Japanese painted fern is a truly lovely plant worthy of a spot in every shade garden.

 

Animals have different ways of surviving the winter. Some like ground squirrels hibernate and wait for better weather and more plentiful food. Some days that doesn't sound like a bad idea. Others such as deer and rabbits eat all winter. Their food may include your favorite rose or new apple tree. Periodically walk through your landscape to evaluate animal damage. Rabbits leave a sharp 45 degree angle cut on the stems of woody plants and will chew the bark off of young trees and shrubs. Deer leave a ragged edge when they chew stems. You may want to protect new plants now. Favorite banquet plants include roses, brambles, fruit trees, blueberries and euonymus. The best protection are cylinders of fine mesh hardware cloth or chicken wire.

Cylinders should completely cover the plant or be at least 3 feet high. Remember rabbits can stand on snow mounds to eat. The fine mesh should also protect plants against mice and vole damage. Repellants are available but are not very effective during prolonged snow cover and high animal populations.