WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Annual Plantings

Burlington, Vermont - June 2, 2011

It's time to plant the annual flowers. Sharon Meyer and garden expert Charlie Nardozzi show us some new varieties that will add an extra splash to your garden.

Sharon Meyer: "It's annual season. I love annuals."

Charlie Nardozzi: "Yes, and there are all these new varieties out there and some of them, you might recognize."

Sharon Meyer: "I know, I recognize this one with the beautiful green around the edges, we saw that in New Hampshire when it was just like an experiment."

Charlie Nardozzi: "Yes, that one is called Pretty Much Picasso and it's a great, cascading one."

Sharon Meyer: "Now anybody can buy it."

Charlie Nardozzi: "Anyone can get it, and there's some new other petunias out there too, this one I really like, it's called Black Velvet and look at that."

Sharon Meyer: "That really is something."

Charlie Nardozzi: "It feels like velvet, it's the first all black petunia on the market... One similar to that is called pinstripe. It's got that black velvet look to it, but it's got pin stripes through the petals. Beautiful, 8-12" tall, cascading plant.

Sharon Meyer: "Do they need sun?"

Charlie Nardozzi: "Yes. They do best in full sun. This is an annual Dahlia, not the ones you would save year to year, but one you would buy just as an annual plant, and look at the beautiful colored petals on this one."

Sharon Meyer: "That's fancy with the little petals in there."

Charlie Nardozzi: "It's striking. And you probably know of Calibrachoa, or Million Bells. They've been around, great cascading plant for a window box or hanging basket. There are now double flowered versions of these, look at those... They look like little Dianthus, really sweet. And then finally, the Osteospermum, and these usually look like daisies, but this one has spoon shaped petals, look at how cool that looks. They like full sun and cool temperatures."

Sharon Meyer: "How big is that going to get?"

Charlie Nardozzi: "This will get about a foot tall and it will be upright, so it won't be cascading... All for you, Sharon.