Gardening season starts with the first official day of spring and this year the warmer season brings hot colours and statuesque accessories to gardens.

Carla Allen, a syndicated garden columnist with Transcontinental Media, says backyard horticulturalists looking to keep up with modern trends should select bright flowers in brilliant colours such as red, orange and salmon.

The Cone flower, a traditionally purple plant, will become a sought-out addition to many gardens because the flower is being featured in new colours of orange, raspberry and pink this year, Allen said. “Maybe the trend in vibrant flowers is a reflection on the time. In a fast-paced society you have to have hot colours for people to stop and notice.”

Gardeners are always looking for different plants and accessories to grab the attention of others and resin-material statues have become another poplar addition to any garden because they’re weatherproof, light and realistic, Allen said.

“Gardeners are experimenting more and looking at their gardens as a sort of extension to the living room,” she said.

Popular trends

Popular planting trends from last year will continue and include shrubs, trees and perennials. Other techniques will include container gardening and four-season gardening. Alpine planting is one trend predicted to die out in 2007.

Marilyn MacKay, a home gardener residing at the Windsor Woodshire Inn, reads gardening magazines and follows the latest styles.

Gardening is one of the most relaxing and greatest hobbies, MacKay said. “There are so many people that do it and love to share their gardens.”

Everything possible was planted in her garden during the first year of moving to Nova Scotia, she said. “My husband and I lived in Toronto, so we never really had a yard before.” Two ladies would later take notice of the Woodshire Inn yard and asked MacKay to showcase her family garden in the YWCA tour.

“I would be honoured,” she said.

But maintaining a sprawling garden isn’t possible without proper care. Arborist Robert Baldwin, owner of Baldwin’s Landscape Nurseries, says proper fertilizing, pruning and spring clean-up are necessary for a successful spring garden.

Variety is the spice of life, but it’s important to have the right combination of plants in the appropriate spaces, Baldwin said. “You have to know your garden conditions” and there’s no better time than now to get acquainted.

source : BY CHRISTY MARSTERS www.novanewsnow.com