By Tony Waggoner Staff Writer
Despite what the weather may feel like outside, spring is just around the corner.
This means the gardening season is just around the corner, as well. This year, there are several flowers making waves in the gardening community.
A number of roses this year received the prestigious Earthkind designation from horticultural experts at Texas A&M; University. Included in this year’s list are Belinda’s Dream, Caldwell Pink, CL. Pinkle, Else Poulsen, Katy Road Pink, Knock Out, Marie Daly, Mutabilis, Perle d’ Or, Sea Foam and The Fairy. These roses have undergone years of extensive research with no pesticides of any kind applied and have proven to deliver outstanding landscape performance under widely varying soil conditions, with minimal care, and provide maximum protection. The roses are not immune to pest problems, but rarely do they require harsh pesticide, according to Steven W. George, Ph.D. Professor and Extension Landscape Specialist at Texas A&M; University.
The “hot” flower on the block right now in Oklahoma is the Knock Out rose, according to Eddie Taggart of Taggart Garden Center. Taggart said the Knock Outs come in a variety of colors, including home run, rainbow, carefree sunshine and regular red among others.
“Any more it’s the marketing that gets things noticed,” Taggart said.
Many Knock Out roses are self-cleaning and can survive in just about any climate. Most also are drought tolerant upon establishment and relatively maintenance free.
Taggart said these roses are very noticeable right off. They are very bright in color and very disease resistant. In 2007, the Rainbow Knock Out was an All-America Rose Selection award winner.
The availability of the flowers is not in question. What is, though, is the weather. Taggart said he has many customers who already have planted things like potatoes and Brussels sprouts, but flowers are something that need to be waited on.
“It’s hard to promise when we will get a few nice days,” Taggart said. “I’ve made the mistake of doing it in the past.”
Taggart said planting in the city may be easier than in the country right now, because of the buildings and concrete helping to keep the ground warm.
Eloise Smith, owner of Garden House in Enid, be-lieves people should listen to local weather forecasters to determine when the best time to plant will be.
“I would recommend that no one plant any flowers yet,” Smith said. “They can plant trees and scrubs, but radio and TV will give us a good day when we can plant flowers.”
Smith said it is best to go with what is on the list of 2008 Proven Winners, which are widely available perennials and annual plants. Smith said she has been doing a lot of combo pots at Garden House, including a lot of begonias and impatiens. She also has been selling a lot of petunias so far this year.
Smith said she realizes the urge to get out and plant immediately, but she warns there could be serious repercussions.
“I know the first warm day people tend to want to get out and plant,” she said. “But, it’s best not to plant until (the experts) tell you.”
Spring is around the corner, but this is Oklahoma, and the weather can change at any given time Taggart said. Gardeners will want to make sure the weather is warm enough for an extended period of time before they plant. When that will be, Taggart believes he knows.
“It should be around June,” he said jokingly.
