There isn’t a day that people come searching for our special friends.  It started with Kara and Ollie in the beginning.  They were Maltese and we loved them beyond normal family/dog relationships.  They traveled with us, went to work and often plans were made around their participation.

Kara and Ollie were the absolute opposite.  Kara was such a sweet kind dog, you often forgot she wasn’t your child somedays.  Ollie on the other hand, he was a 4 lbs attack dog.  It is was known in our house that Beth would get Ollie so worked up that he would chase you all over the house nipping at your heels.  Beth always thought that was funny….I still want to get her for those days.  Even today, if you are walking up the stairs, you’ll hear the “Hurry”  and that was code for, ” Attack them Ollie”  it send the boys and I running.

So before we got Kara, Beth wanted a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  She contacted a breeder in New Orleans and basically she took one look at us and was like,” I am sorry I won’t sell my dogs to you”  by the way, she said all that with her teeth closed.  Yeah..say it snob.  Once Kara and Ollie went to Doggy Heaven, Beth and I talked about getting a Cavalier.  Well I think the truth would be that Beth did all the research and I was informed shortly before she left a day or so before New Years Eve to drive to pick up Cooper aka King of New Orleans.  The name is perfect for him, I will say he is a beautiful dog, perfect manners and never an accident.

Just like when you decide to have your second child after the first one if so perfect, A Greater Power teaches you a very good lesson.  So it was time for the perfect Mr. Cooper to have a sibling for companionship, that’s how it was sold to me at least.  Along comes Queen Elizabeth aka Lizzie aka Pants.  Lizzie is the opposite of Cooper, hell raising, peeing LOUD mouth.  Beth’s solution…get her knockup.

You can tell by her attitude she is trouble.Doggie Day Spa every Friday

So then our Super Sara( The Garden Gates General Manager) who is so in love with Mr. Cooper, has the opportunity to get a Cavalier when a breed in our area was looking to find homes from her dogs and Sara was the chosen care giver.  So…this is where all the trouble started.  Mr. Scooter became Ms. Lizzie Pants boy friend and now…we have puppies.

Here is our new Garden Gates Family members.

So I am sure that in the coming months when you stumble into The Garden Gates to come see what has changed( We change every 6 months ) you will see these new babies.

   Send article as PDF   

Perfect Arrangers 

   Send article as PDF   

So years ago when we first bought our Greenhouses, our two boys  Ashton & Aiden were about 2 & 4 yrs old.  They would crawl under the plant benches and pickup all the old dead looking scraps of succulents that had fallen to the floor from the previous owner.  They eagerly planted them and low and behold, they grew into beautiful plants.  The boys then shared their parents entrepreneurial spirit and set up a small table at The Garden Gates with a handmade sign…” Our Plants $10″ in crayons.   Interesting enough, they got every last dollar.

I went outside this afternoon and took some pictures of a few succulents and found some of Aiden & Ashtons originals plants now about 10 years old.

.

Here is some information from Proven Winner website below.

Blue Marlin™ Sun or partial sun 4 – 6 Annual Echeveria hybrid

Blue Marlin™ Genus: Echeveria hybrid Common Name: Echeveria Print this page Features • Adaptable as a Houseplant • Attracts Hummingbirds • Deadheading Not Necessary • Drought Tolerant * • Heat Tolerant • Landscape Plant • Needs Good Drainage • New • Pet Friendly *Even drought tolerant annual and perennial plants will need water for the first few weeks while they get established. Shrubs and trees will need to be watered for the first year after they are planted. After this, little or no supplemental water will be necessary when planted in the ground. No plant is truly drought tolerant in a container; water is necessary for all plants in containers. Ornamental Characteristics Foliage Color Blue Height 4-6″ (Short) Spacing 6-10″ Habit Clump Forming Container Plant Style Filler – Intermingles well with other plants to fill in the middle ground of a combination Patent Information Blue Marlin™ US PPAF Plant Needs Duration Annual Bloom Time Foliage plant Hardiness Zone(s) Annual except in zones 9 – 11 Hardy Temp 25°F (-4�C) Exposure Sun or partial sun Water Needs Dry to Normal Maintenance Easy Uses Landscapes and containers Great in landscapes and containers Growing Tips Succulents are long term plants where temperatures remain warm. Garden height is the final height the plant will reach after several years, not the height the plant will reach in one season. Succulents are generally slow growing plants and will take time to mature.

   Send article as PDF   

Coleus offers great color to a garden or container that requires little care.  The contrast and color of the foliage offers a new look to any area.  Combinations of Coleus with silver falls in large salad bowl style pots give a great presentation.

Print this page

   Send article as PDF   

Here is the information posted on the Endless Summer website.  This plant performers extremely well and will provide and ” Endless” amount of blooms that can be clipped and brought into your home to make a perfect arrangement.

Botanical Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blushing Bride’ (PP17, 169)

Common Name: Endless Summer^® Blushing Bride Hydrangea

Pure white blooms with semi-double florets gradually mature to a sweet, pink blush. The disease and mildew-resistant foliage is an attractive dark green, providing a striking background for Blushing Bride’s mophead blooms. Strong stems and branches keep the plant sturdy and upright in the garden, and make it a perfect flower for cutting.

Bred by renowned Hydrangea expert Dr. Michael Dirr, Blushing Bride boasts pure white mopheads of showy, semi-double florets that gradually mature to a sweet, subtle blush of pink. Foliage is deep, dark green. Strong stems and branches keep the plant sturdy and upright in the garden, and make the flowers perfect for cutting. And with its ability to rebloom all summer long, Blushing Bride is sure to become a favorite.

To encourage rebloom, remove spent flowers. Because Endless Summer Blushing Bride blooms on new growth, you don’t have to wait until the next season to see baskets full of new blooms.

   Send article as PDF   

Torenia Summer Wave is just beautiful.  It is cascading summer plant the simply works.  Does very well in morning sun to light afternoon sun.  I do not recommend to use it in the 3-5pm sun as it will bronze the foliage.  It can be planted in a raised bed and with Dolce Creme Brulee.

Below is the Proven Winner website information.

Summer Wave®Blue Plant in partial shade or shade 2 – 6 Annual Torenia hybrid

Summer Wave® Blue Genus: Torenia hybrid Common Name: Wishbone Flower Print this page Torenia are somewhat of a legacy in the Proven Winners spring collection. This year, one of Proven Winners most popular varieties is joined by Large Violet, a larger version of ‘Blue (Violet)’. This filtered-sun lover provides superb color throughout even the hottest months of the year and does well in pots and window boxes. Like all the rest of the Summer Waves, this plant thrives in high humidity. Plant it alone, or combine it with Sutera cordata (Bacopa) or Supertunias®. Features Blue flowers all season; excellent heat tolerance; loves the shade; low maintenance • Attracts Hummingbirds • Best Seller • Deadheading Not Necessary • Deer Resistant • Heat Tolerant • Landscape Plant • Pet Friendly Ornamental Characteristics Flower Color Blue-True Foliage Color Green Height 2-6″ (Short) Spacing 10-12″ Habit Trailing Container Plant Style Spiller – Trails over the side of a container Patent Information Summer Wave® Blue’SUNrenilabu’ US PP10,843; Can. PBR 1066 Plant Needs Duration Annual Bloom Time Planting to Frost Hardiness Zone(s) Annual except in zones 10 – 11 Hardy Temp 35°F (2�C) Exposure Plant in partial shade or shade Water Needs Normal Maintenance Easy Uses Landscapes and containers Use in hanging baskets, window boxes, landscaping and combination planters Growing Tips Self-cleaning, no deadheading necessary.

   Send article as PDF   

Here is another great texture plant.  We started growing this a few years ago when I saw it at another growers greenhouses.  I was amazed at the foliage color and usual flower.  It does great in hanging baskets and loves the sun.  Below is the information from Proven Winners website.  

‘Amazon Sunset’ Sun or partial sun 6 – 8 Annual Lotus hybrid      ‘Amazon Sunset’ Genus: Lotus hybrid    Common Name:  Parrot’s Beak Print this page Most Lotus need 40° F nights to induce bloom, but not this vibrant-hued variety. Night temperatures can be as high as 55 – 60° F. Features Vibrant red flowers bloom over silvery foliage from spring to summer when night temperatures are below 60^F • Best Seller  • Deadheading Not Necessary  Ornamental Characteristics Flower Color Orange Foliage Color Silver Height 6-8″ (Short)  Spacing 8-10″ Habit Spreading Container Plant Style Spiller – Trails over the side of a container Patent Information ‘Amazon Sunset’ US PP10,864 Plant Needs Duration Annual Bloom Time Spring to early summer Hardiness Zone(s) Annual except in zones 9 – 11  Hardy Temp 28°F (-2�C) Exposure Sun or partial sun Water Needs Normal Maintenance Easy Uses Containers Use in hanging baskets, containers and window boxes Growing Tips Parrot’s Beak or Lotus Vine is a great plant that fills the needs for a silver, soft-foliaged plant, as well as a trailing silver plant that flowers. However, the flowering part is short lived, based upon where you live and how fast the temperature rises in the spring. Parrot’s Beak needs cool temperatures in order to initiate flowers, and will start and continue to bloom only if the spring temperatures do not climb too fast or spike (when there really is no spring and you fast forward to summer.) If you have warm night temperatures the plant will quickly go out of flower.

I have purchased your plants for years and do look for them in the nurseries. Today I found your website and am exploring the site for 1st time…. what a wealth of fabulous info… A big thank..Now tagged as a favorite under gardening for me…. no question! Paula, BC.

   Send article as PDF