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« Oi Friday, January 8, 1999 \ f A 4 |«.VJ V « o i ) l a i r r y e '" THE OAKVILLE BEAVER . r e £»► r r . /•» 21 Photo by Peter J. Thompson 'Wave Petunias" at Clargreen Gardens Photo by Barrie Erskine Daisies at Holland Park Garden Galley . . .*xrc th e m v c Waves are the first and only petunias with a strong ground-cover "habit." This means that instead of growing upright like other petunias, Waves develop horizontal stems that either can cover the ground or tumble over the edges of containers or hanging baskets. And, here's the best part -- flower production is continuous when the plants are given regular water and fertilizer, or in my case, sometimes even when the care you give them is not so regular. No fussy deadheading needed here. Formerly only available in pink and purple, there now are two new eye-catching colors for 1999: rose and misty lilac. Misty lilac is the lightest colored of the Waves. It also has the largest flowers. The blossoms open light lavender, and become lighter as they age. They're perfect companions to purple Waves. Rose is a bit bolder in hue and is outstanding as a foundation planting, or against a white picket fence. If planted in decent soil, Waves quickly grow into 6- inch-thick blankets of soft color when spaced 1 to 2 feet apart, or you can plant them in baskets or containers. Mulch isn't really needed, since the plants tend to choke out weeds, forming a thick mat of vegetation in no time. You can buy Wave petunias at local garden centers-- don't wait too long though, they tend to sell out early in the season! By Stephanie M acLellan SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER A s the weather turns warmer, working on the garden is the perfect excuse to spend more time outside. Gardening has always been a popular pastime, but people today are becoming more knowledgable about what they're putting in their gardens. "People used to come in and say, 'It's pretty, I'll take it," ' says John Evanson, Wal-Mart store manager. "Now they are more selective, and they ask more questions." "Customers come in with their books now, looking for specific plants," adds John Cudmore, owner of Cudmore's Garden Centre. One thing they're looking for more often is new hybrids. According to the owner of Connon Nurseries, Cor Vanderkruk, "Today there are far better varieties of most plants, including rhododendron and azalea." The new types of plants that are getting a lot of attention are a variety called European Annuals. These new hybrids are put into planters as accenting fillers. "People like them because they are very sturdy and they offer a new look," says Jason Pepetone, owner of Terra Greenhouses. The manager of Agram Garden Centre, Bob McCallum, says, "Euro Annuals bloom all summer, and they come in many different varieties in a wide range of colours." Accent plants like Euro Annuals have been very popular this season. "We sell a lot of ornamental green plants that are used as accents in the garden," says Joe Pepetone, owner of Holland Park Garden Gallery. Coleus is an accent plant that has a foliage of different coloured leaves. According to Natalie Anderson, the director of the garden centre at the Canadian Tire on Kerr St., "Coleus is used a lot in garden borders and in pots." Another popular plant is the Wave petunia. This new hybrid is similar to other petunias, but it trails quite a tut. Says Michael Dytnerski, president of Clargreen Gardens Ltd., "Wave petunias are popular bacause they are long lasting, come in bold colours, and since you don't need to pick off the old flowers, they need less maintenance than older varieties." Wave petunias make a perfect addition to hanging baskets, another one of the big gardening trends this season. "People like mixed hanging baskets like the kind you see on streets," says Dytnerski. "They're stuffed with all kinds of annuals." As always, perennials are one of the biggest sellers. While people like special varieties, the old-fashioned perennials are becoming popular again. "People are buying a lot of echinacea, daisies, black-eyed susans, sweetpeas, day lilies, hostas, and so on," says Jason Pepetone. Photo by Christine Smyth Ceramic lawn ornaments are also becoming more popular. Pictured: A ceramic tortoise at Wal-Mart's Garden Centre. WtMSHl A regular feature on what's happening around town by Nienke T. Jonkman 845-3824 ext. 289 CARRIER Of THE WEEK Sponsored By -- • M a x i & C o . • H y & Z e is -Hut* * N o F r il ls * S e a rs ( b i g n a m e s a l e ) • T h e B a y • P a y le s s S h o e You'll Love • L ittle C e a s a rs\ the stuff we re • T .O . F in e Fo o d s KARL TYRER TODAY'S FLYER DELIVERY WE NEED CARRIERS THE FOLLOWING ROUTES ARE AVAILABLE: Blackburn Dr. Skyvalley Cr. Oakbliss Cr. Mayor's Manor Westminster Dr. Willowridge Ct. Snowden Rd. Solingate Dr. Hillview Cres. Sixth Line Call 845-9742 T he O akville Beaver WE DELIVER RESULTS! • FLYER DELIVERY TO HOMES & APARTMENTS 4 DAYS A WEEK FOR AS LOW AS $35/M Call 845-3824