June is a busy month for the PlantHaven Plants Team. As everything starts to hot up at retail here in the USA we are heading over to Europe to check out all the latest trends for summer 2010 and beyond.

We’ll have email access while we are traveling but if you have any urgent enquires please contact Denise in main office who will be only too happy to help. Everyone is back on board Monday June 21st, just in time for the summer solstice “Mid Summers Day”.

This summer is already looking like it is going to be a scorcher. With temperatures here in Santa Barbara over Memorial weekend topping 85°F / 29°C.

Dianthus Starlette

This little show stopper is in full bloom at the moment and is stopping everyone in their tracks in our one gallon pot trials. This double star from Whetman Pink’s is in a total league of its own.

Starlette is ideal for planting at the front of the border or for use in mixed pots, containers and hanging baskets. Totally photogenic. Perfect for all your customers summer garden planting requirements.

Dianthus 'Starlette'

Heuchera Crimson Curls

May saw lots of our southern hemisphere friends and colleagues escaping their early winter weather to come and enjoy some USA sunshine.

Apart from regular nursery visits to check on progress with trial crops we stopped by a couple of California landmark gardens. We thought you would be interested to see the attached images of Heuchera Crimson Curls enjoying the dappled shade in the Getty Centre Garden here in LA.

This Heuchera selection from Ray Brown in the UK has outstanding garden performance.
Perfect in both shade and high light conditions. The wavy edged foliage really makes a statement and is great for both bulk landscape installations as well as stylish mixed containers for the home garden. Hardy to Zone 5. This is a real trouble free selection to add to your mix.

Heuchera 'Crimson Curls'

Ajuga Black Scallop

You are safe – the Martians are not landing – well not just yet!! This image is of the award winning display of Ajuga Black Scallop Martian topiary from the inspirational show garden team of InPlants in New Zealand.

Ajuga is not just a stunning groundcover crop, it is also very happy grown in hanging baskets or in this planting in spheres as Martian topiary. This crop is in a total sphere of its own. Pardon the pun!! Glossy mahogany black foliage topped in early summer with blue spike blooms.

Ohio Short Course

The 2010 Short Course runs 10-13th July. For more than 80 years, the horticulture industry has met at the OFA Short Course; it is considered the largest and most important industry event. Attendees come from across the world to learn, be inspired, connect and find business solutions.

The PlantHaven team are really looking forward to catching up with you all at OFA. Denise is currently scheduling meetings.

Facebook – Social Networking

We’ll be taking lots of pictures while we are traveling in Europe to add to our facebook pages.  If you haven’t had a chance to check out our pages yet, take a few minuets to join our PlantHaven community. On our pages you can see lots of images from Spring Trials 2010 / videos and industry links as well as check out our upcoming events in the PlantHaven Calendar.

Until our next issue, have a great month.

Kind regards
Geoff, Maureen & The PlantHaven Team