What's New at Landscape Ontario's Garden and Floral Expo 2013

The October Landscape Ontario show is definitely the glamour show of two they stage each year.  For those of us whose tastes run more to flowers and a little less to heavy equipment it is definitely the show to attend.

From our favourite blue-pot folks at Valleybrook Gardens, they're offering a line of Fairy-garden accessories.  If you build a fairy-garden, it's only a matter of time until they take up residence, so who wouldn't want some sweet little fairy bits.  In addition to the wee-hardscape products, they're offering dear little plants.  I can only imagine how much fun this would be for a young child.  Next year the fairies will be joined by a Gargoyle line.  Seriously, gargoyles.  As soon as I hear that they keep the racoons at bay, I'll be all over it.

The growers had gone to a lot of effort to have some of the newer plants on hand to inspect. In previous years, growers has just pointed things out on a plant list.  Having the product there to look at was a great improvement.  Here's Heuchera 'Fire Chief'.

Echinacea 'Sombrero (TM) Salsa Red'.  It is a vegetatively propagated plant - related to the seed variety Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit'.  They've chosen the most popular colour of the seed mix and made this bright creation.  I heard from trade people that it clumps quickly and stays about this height.

Leucanthumum 'Freak!' at the back.  Short, frilly, Blooms of Bressingham introduction, comes with an exclamation mark and a question mark as to how hardy it really will be here in Ontario.   Aster 'Marie III' looks like a very pretty pocket plant.

Heuchera 'Blonde'

And here's a lbetter shot of the flowers.

Knautia 'Thunder and Lightning'.  At this stage they almost resemble fancy dandelions.  However, when I went out onto the net, I've found some photos where when established in the garden, with the full height flowers they look quite attractive.

Fernlea are the folks who bring reasonably priced tropicals and pansies to box stores everywhere.  I've got several of their pink and red dipladenia that I've abused and are blooming very well.   They'll have lots more next year in all sorts of different sized pots in addition to a new red/pink cordyline.

Say goodbye to dull pots - it's colour/colour/colour.

Here are some HGTV plants.....maybe there's a plan to put the G back in HGTV?

Maple Leaf Nurseries had a great display.  'Blonde Ambition' Blue Grama Grass.

Who needs flowers in the fall when you've got colour like this 'Tough Stuff' Hydrangea.

Be still my heart.  Give me a flower the colour of baby aspirin and you've got me.  However, none of the growers have trialed this Echinacea 'Supreme Canteloupe' in their gardens, so nobody is saying it's perennial or not.

Two more corners of the Maple Leaf Nursery display.

E. 'Big Sky'.

On to a another grower for First Edition's Symphoricarpos 'Kolmcan' Candy

The zone hardiness is listed as 3-8.  I'm thinking I've got to start looking for a spot.  As pretty as it is, I'm certain the fairies would like it.