The Carnation "Can Can Scarlet" is another fragrant dianthus to add to the cottage garden repertoire, this time scenting the air with its lovely double but yet still old-fashioned style blooms. Spice and clove are heady scents to mingle with the other, sweeter scents we more often find in the garden. The healthy and humidity tolerant blue-gray foliage provides additional textural interest in the garden as well. In contrast, the Dianthus "Corona Cherry Magic" is a bit of an eye popper, maybe too much the obvious modern hybrid for those cottage gardeners who prefer the old fashioned flowers -- these are three inches across and to my eye, garish as all get out. On the other hand, if you like the look, go for it! Eustoma "Forever White" is a lovely romantic-looking thing with hybrid-derived bigger flower size; and eustoma makes a good cut flower as well. However, unless your growing season is long and hot it may not do all that well in your garden so be advised. Another heat and sun lover with excellent drought tolerance is Gaillardia "Sundance Bicolor." This one is an annual version of the perennial we know and love for hot sunny well drained sites. Sundance Bicolor is fully double with that darker mahogany red and yellow combination, a somewhat difficult coloring to blend into a pastel-based planting but great for those of us who do the kaleidoscope thing. Vinca "Jaio Dark Red" may or may not be "the best red yet in Vinca" as reportedly described by one of the AAS judges, but the two inch blooms have a cheerful white eye in the center and a new vinca is always a great addition to our repertoire for container plantings. It too is a heat and sun lover, so keep that in mind when selecting its location.
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