Custom Blend

1. Salvia 'Evolution'
Deep purple spikes add spark in hot, sunny areas.
2. Canna 'Bangkok'
Flashy foliage is what this short canna is all about
3. Buddleia 'Lo & Behold'
A mini version of the taller butterfly bush.
4. Calibrachoa Mini Famous 'Double Blue' and 'Double Pink'
Bloom all summer
5. Pepper 'Calico'
Leaves are a mix of gree, cream, and purple. Fruit is glossy black.

Pot Pointers

Good watering practices are key for containers. Plants will thrive when moisture is consistent, and in practical terms, that often means watering daily.  Here are some tips for containers that look great all season long.

1. Perfect partners
Make sure all the plants in the pot have similar needs. For example, don't mix drought-tolerant plants, such as sedum, with thirsty plants, like cannas. Check plant labels for water requirements.
2. Bigger is better
The bigger the pot, the longer you can go before watering again. And plants will perform better! Use the biggest container you can easily lift.
3. No wet feet
Water regularly, but allow excess to drain away from the pot. Allowing a pot to stand in a saucer of water is not a substitute for regular watering. Standing water also provides mosquitoes a place to breed.

8 Ways to bring on Spring

1. Place pots of forced spring bulbs (hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, crocuses) throughout the house.
2. Swap curtains for white sheers.
3. Dress your bed in pretty floral-patterned cotton linens.
4. Ditch lipstick in favor of gloss with a hint of color, like peach.
5. Opt for knits - just choose lightweight versions in citrusy colors.
6. Carry a canvas tote. Instead of boring beige, try a black and white print.
7. Slip on a pair of floral flats.
8. Put apple-scented soaps in the bathroom.

Grow your own salsa garden

Fresh ingredients make all the difference. Whether you prefer salsa that's hot or mild, chunky or smooth, you can serve the tastiest, most colorful salsa ever by growing your own peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, and cilantro.  All you need is a small garden or large containers in full sun. You can even combine vegetables with perennials in a sunny border.  Here's a good garden collection to make salsa from your own kitchen.  One plant each of medium-hot chile pepper 'Early Jalapeno', sweet golden yellow bell pepper 'Early Sunsation', early-ripening tomatillo 'Toma Verde', meaty red tomato 'Martino's Roma', and mild yellow tomato 'Taxi', plus cilantro.

Let your favorite cuisine be the guide when you plan your garden.  Plant salad greens, radishes, and carrots in early spring for harvest no later than early summer. Plant warm-season crops such as peppers and tomatoes after the last spring frost.

See gardens below for three awesome arrangements that could easily yield 40-50 lbs. of tomatoes, 10 lbs. of cucumbers, bushels of salad greens, and baskets full of the other vegetables shown such as carrots, onions, chard, eggplant, basil, oregano and garlic.

Plants that detox your home

Instead of heavy air fresheners, try nature's purifier: plants. Peace lilies remove toxins like acetone, benzene, alcohols, and ammonia. To get rid of formaldehyde indoors, add a few bamboo palms and rubber plants. Also great: English Ivy and Lady palm.