Desperate for winter to end, gardeners flock to shows like the upcoming Flower and Patio Show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Like fashion, movies, music, and hairstyles, there are trends in gardening. After a careful survey of every online catalog and fancy garden magazine, these are my take-aways for 2018:
• The color purple is everywhere this year. The more intense the better, purple flowers, vegetables and fruit are hot in 2018.
• Multi-use gardening incorporates ornamental plants with vegetable plants. Why should you hide your veggies in the back yard?
• Lots of water features this year key in on meditation and relaxation rather than multicolored lights and jets.
• It looks like 2018 will be another year of repurposed accessories, especially water features.
• The birds and bees. Gardens featuring plants that attract pollinators such as bees, or cover for butterflies, are growing in popularity.
• Pine trees are making a comeback. Pitch pines are native to Indiana and do well in poor soil.
• Hydrangeas of all colors, shapes and sizes are very popular this year. However, these somewhat fussy plants require a sheltered area, careful attention to soil pH, and patience.
• Shared gardening and mentoring programs. Newcomers to gardening are turning to the old hands and Master Gardeners for advice on growing, and depending less on online resources.
With the period of warmer weather in late February, crocus and other early-early bulbs have begun pushing out of the soil. If we get another bout of winter, the bulbs will be fine, but the flowers and foliage are done for.