Specialty annuals are hybridized for specific uses, like container gardening, and for particular landscape uses. They are also hybridized to perform certain growth habits, for example height, flower production, and color, disease resistance, and many more characteristics.
The plants we trial come from horticultural companies located all over the world. Four of which are some of the largest.
Ball Seed Company is a world renowned company located in Chicago. They are the sponsors of the Erie Basin Marina Trial Garden. They are leaders in plant breeding and hybridizing, and provide an enormous contribution to the field of horticulture. Ball produced the Erie Basin Marina’s 2009 number one favorite for both the public and the local growers, Delphinium ‘Diamonds Blue’. A more compact delphinium then we are used to seeing, and have brilliant blue blooms throughout spring, and into summer that will take your breath away. Their family includes; Ball Horticulture (USA), Darwin Perennials (Netherlands), and Selecta First Class (Germany).
Danziger, other wise known as “Dan’s Flower Farm”, was founded in 1953, and is located in Israel. It began as a cut flower farm and has developed into a premier plant breeding company. In 2009 we featured one of their most popular flowers, Salvia Sallyfun ‘Blue Emotion’. This blooms all season with large violet stems holding pretty blue flowers, and rising well above the foliage. They are the largest vegetative plant producer and hybridizer company in Israel, and are largest plant supplier in the Far East.
Proven Winners brand is owned by three leading U.S. plant propagators - Euro American in Bonsall, CA; Four Star Greenhouse in Carleton, MI; and Pleasant View Gardens in Loudon, NH. These companies "founded" Proven Winners in 1992, and, together with 3 licensees in Canada, produce superior liners under the Proven Winners name. Liners are then sold to wholesale growers to "finish" and sell to retailer garden centers across North America. The Proven Winners group also sells a complementary brand, Proven Selections®, which consists of regional favorite varieties that complement Proven Winners. They have been credited with creating the “container gardening craze”. With so many specialty annuals to choose from, they have allowed consumers to become more creative with their plant selection.
Syngenta Flowers is a worldwide corporation. Their products are sold and distributed in 40 countries. Syngenta Flowers is a world class hybridizer and creates outstanding plant material. We were delighted to present their Bracteantha (Straw Flower) ‘Sunburst Yellow’ in 2009. This was another crowd pleaser. Probably for is large bright yellow flowers, that will bloom all season long, and well into the fall. They are the largest producer of vegetative annuals in the Netherlands. Their family includes; Goldsmith Seeds (California), Fischer (Colorado), and Sluis and Groot Seeds (Netherlands).
In the future we can expect many more new and exciting varieties of annuals from these companies, as well as introductions of perennials that grow fast enough to bloom within the first year of growth.
In 2011 we plan to expand by adding vegetative plant material from Fides in the Netherlands, and Dummen from Germany. We plan to include 50+ new introductions of Dahlias due to the overwhelming interest in our garden walks in 2010.
This year we held three large events. The first was the Marina Garden Walk. This was a three day event that allowed Western New Yorkers to come and vote on their favorite flowers. We were also involved with the Buffalo Garden Walk, the largest garden walk in the USA; again we took public polls on personal favorites. The third was our university trial day where local professional greenhouse growers come and give their opinion on their favorite plants. This record is valuable information to the horticultural companies, and we have a goal to have the largest amount of public input in the country. You can help us by coming and sharing your outlook next time we have an event!
Our friendly staff is always on hand to answer any horticultural questions you may have. You can find us in the garden Monday through Friday during regular work hours. You can also email us at ebmgarden@verizon.net.
The Erie Basin Marina is a wonderful spot to come and hang out when the weather is nice here in Buffalo. There is always something beautiful see. The gardens are just one of its loveliest assets.
