Dianthus F1 'Supra Purple' fills garden space with space. It is a cross between various species and the result is a strong plant that will flower under hot summer growing conditions. Plants remain under 12" tall, but are vigorous. They are recommended for containers and rock gardens and will add continuous bloom to the perennial border. The color is a rosy-purple and makes excellant centerpiece decorations.

Diascia F1 'Diamonte Coral Rose' exhibits earliness, freedom of bloom and hybrid vigor as improved traits. It is a frost tolerant annual that performs well during the hot summer growing season and under cool growing conditions also. The flowers are tubular with backward pointing spurs with five lobed blooms. They have a spreading habit that will cascade over the tip of a full sun container. Typical plant height is 10" and exceptional garden performance is predicted by AAS judges.

Nicotiana F1 'Perfume Deep Purple' bloom are shaped like the stars that shine at night and this is when 'Perfume Deep Purple' begins its performance. The strong fragrance scents the evening air as well as emitting a slight fragrance during the day. It should be considered as a natural aromatherapy plant. The rich, lavish deep purple flower color is unique for this family. Nicotiana 'Perfume Deep Purple' is easily grown from seed, does not require pinching or deadheading to maintian a crown of starry blooms all summer. Full sun is required and it is quite heat tolerant. The plant height is 20". I have personally seen this plant in trials and it is going to be one of the new ones that will find a home in my own garden in 2006.

Salvia 'Evolution' is the first salvia with lilac flower spikes. This new color is desirable for garden use and it widens the color choices for "blue" annuals. It is a full sun, low maintenace, heat tolerant annual that will provide continuous bloom from early summer to the first hard frost on 16" to 20" plants. Also as additional advantages are the facts that this salvia can be grown in patio containers and the flower spikes can be cut, dried and used as everlastings.

Viola F1 'Skippy XL Red-Gold' is the first viola to win the prestigious AAS award. The unique combination of colors which are ruby red with a violet red shading below the golden yellow face containing whiskers is one of the reasons for being chosen. Both flower shape and size have been improved. It is a great cool season plant for our Zone 6 climate and will perform well in the border, window box or patio planters.

Zinnia F1 'Zowie! Yellow Flame' has a gorgeous bicolor pattern of a scarlet rose center with yellow petal edges. There is no other zinnia with this design and it is going to knock your socks off when it blooms in your garden. I have seen it, also in trials this past summer, and it will have a place in my gardens also. This zinnia makes a great cut flower with a vaselife of up to two weeks. Great companion plants for 'Zowie! Yellow Flame' would be other full sun annuals such as yellow marigolds, or purple leaved foliage plants. A 24" - 29" plant, it will catch everyone's eye until first frost!

Coming next: 2006 AAS Vegetable Winners