And get this — those who attend Austin Fling will have a chance to win some of their plants! For our banquet night raffle, Plant Development Services has donated 3 gift certificates, each one redeemable for 4 plants from one of their collections. What does that mean? It means that one lucky blogger will get to pick out 4 plants from Southern Living Plants. Another will get to pick 4 plants from Encore Azalea. And another will get to pick 4 plants from Sunset Plants. Which will YOU try to win? Take a look at the three exciting plant collections offered by Plant Development Services.
I’m growing several Southern Living plants, including personal faves ‘Everillo’ carex and ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia, as well as three plants I’m trialing for the first time: ‘Platinum Beauty’ lomandra, ‘Clarity Blue’ dianella, and ‘Marvel’ mahonia.
Southern Living Plant Collection is a partnership between Plant Development Services Inc. and Southern Living magazine, a lifestyle and entertaining magazine of the South. Longtime Flingers may remember meeting Southern Living‘s garden editor, Steve Bender aka The Grumpy Gardener, at Asheville Fling in 2012! Follow Southern Living Plants on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Unlike traditional azaleas, Encore Azaleas are sun tolerant. In fact, 4-6 hours of direct sunlight or high filtered shade will ensure optimal blooming and growth. Encore Azaleas are also cold hardy. University studies and extensive plantings throughout the Midwest and Northeast show that the majority of Encore Azalea varieties are cold hardy through USDA zone 6.
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Sunset Western Garden Collection is the first plant collection designed specifically for the Western gardener. According to SF Gate, “The collection offers a mix of bold, contrasting foliage and perennial flowering color — all on compact plants that won’t overwhelm Westerners’ urban and suburban lots.” It also emphasizes water-wise plants suited to the region’s arid climate.
Bloggers who attended San Francisco Fling in 2013 will remember our visit to Sunset headquarters and test gardens in Menlo Park — only a year before that beloved property was sold. Sunset’s new test gardens opened at Cornerstone Sonoma, just north of San Francisco, in 2016, and I made a pilgrimage to see it last summer. One word: wow! If you get the chance, go. You’ll see their plant collection growing in a beautifully designed space.
Sunset Western Garden Collection is a partnership between Plant Development Services Inc. and Sunset. Since 1898, Sunset magazine has been a source of inspiration for those living in the West. Sunset’s experts focus on regional travel destinations, home design, outdoor living, gardening ideas, and recipes that celebrate the best of the West.
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Our thanks to Plant Development Services and their plant collections for supporting Austin Fling!
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