Every year the National Garden Bureau announces many of the gardening industry’s newest varieties. The flowers below are just a sampling of what’s in store for 2012. My observation is that color is being amped up and cleaned up (less subdued hues) across the board.
The National Garden Bureau was born in 1920 and was the inspiration of James H. Burdett. He lead the charge of promoting gardening and beautification to the masses by enlisting horticultural writers and broadcasters to further education of everyday citizens and creating a population of gardeners. The Bureau came into age during World War II when the victory garden movement was in force. Today, the mission of the Bureau is the same as it was then, to improve the quality of life and the environment through increased use of seeds and plants.
There are many organizations with a similar purpose, but I look to the Bureau this time of year to get a glimpse of what to expect at nurseries and garden centers this coming season. Hopefully, some of these sensational introductions will find their way to a retail outlet near you. You may also find them in catalogs or online. For detailed plant characteristics and growing needs, visit the National Garden Bureau’s website and click on New Varieties.
All images courtesy of the National Garden Bureau Inc.