Too much of anything is never good…

I took a personal day and went on a trip to Palm Beach, Florida to hang out at the beach for a day while my husband met with clients.  Taking a personal day is a really big thing for me. I haven’t had one in 10 years. Yes, I’ve traveled sans husband and kids in the past, but never for fun.

This was a first and I really tried to enjoy myself with nothing to do but walk around all day and look at the gargantuan houses and couture shops, most of which, I had never heard of, but they looked fancy and glamorous women and men were coming and going from them like they knew nothing of the economic crisis we’re facing.  This diamond clad beachfront town is not for me, but there was a beach and miles of fabulous houses (and attempted gardens) so along I strolled.

I found myself staring at the tropicals I so adore and try desperately to grow well in my non-tropical Baltimore garden.  I found myself wondering in amazement why there were the same plants, house after house, street after street, in the same colorful combinations.  Why, in this tropical plant haven, would the selection be so limited?  Why is there no diversity here?  With so many tropical plants to choose from, I’m quite disturbed that I saw the same combination of 10 plants in every public and private space.  Sure there was the occasional agave, but not nearly enough for my taste (yes, I admit having an agave problem, I can’t help myself).  Sadly, amidst all the wealth I saw very little diversity.

Diversity in everything is the key to life.  In our natural landscapes, in gardens we plan and plant ourselves, in the food we eat – diversity is the true essence of life.  Even in my neighborhood, while walking around, you find the same old plants over and over again.  It’s such a treat to see something special.   When I see something special in someone’s yard, I remember and I instantly have more respect for them as stewards of their land.  Whether they planted it or had someone plant it – it’s a little piece of diversity and it goes along way.

When I founded Plants Nouveau, I didn’t want to start just any new plant introduction company, I wanted to take all the good and bad things I’ve learned about introducing new plants and make the BEST New Plant Introduction Company.  Of course I want to have the coolest, most desirable new plants, but I want to make sure they are truly novel and useful before they make it to market.

Our industry is facing some of the hardest economical times we’ve seen in my lifetime.  New selections are not going to be added just because they are new.  They need to be special and they need to be trialed so that nurseries can spend less time trialing them.  I want growers to feel confident they can add a new plant from Plants Nouveau to their line without question.

So with that – I bring you Verbascum ‘Flower of Scotland’,  the cuttest, most petite little verbascum I’ve ever seen.   This plant needs no care – trust me, I killed it three times by simply watering it.  Mine are  happily flowering away right now among the lavender in my herb garden.

It is truly a rock garden plant and should be planted in a container or raised bed or in gravel to aviod getting any moisture on it’s very flat, deep olive green leaves.

So – if you’re looking for a plant that would be happy in a crack in a wall or between two stones, or in a stepping stone path – or perhaps you have a rock garden or trough and you’d like a plant that will rebloom all summer – this is the plant for you!

Remember…Don’t water it, but please deadhead it and I’m sure you’ll be impressed with the rebloom of this adorable new plant from Dick Maas in The Netherlands.  Sample plants are available – order yours now!

Happy Weeding,

Angela Treadwell Palmer
President, Plants Nouveau