NEWS RELEASE
Release January 7, 2002
Contact: Randall Schultz (505) 822-8222

Five new plant varieties and five new gardening products have won 2002 MGA Green Thumb Awards presented by the Direct Gardening Association. Bringing home awards in the Plants and Seeds division were Starry Night™ Shrub Rose from Edmunds’ Roses, Delphinium ‘Merel’® from Van Bourgondien, Antirrhinum ‘Debutante’ from White Flower Farm, ‘Cabana’ Hybrid Tea Rose from Jackson & Perkins and Syringa ‘Baildust’ (Fairy Dust™ Lilac) from J.W. Jung Seed Co.

Honored in the Tools, Supplies and Accessories division were Perfect Balance™ Custom Fertilizer from Gardens Alive!, Hot Beds from Gardener’s Supply Co., Greenwell Water Saver from Gardener’s Supply Co., Bulb Boost™ with Rodent Repellant from Jackson & Perkins, and Dixondale Farms Feed and Weed from Dixondale Farms. Winners of the 2002 MGA Green Thumb Awards were selected by an independent panel of garden writers and editors. The winning products were selected based on their uniqueness, technological innovation, ability to solve a gardening problem or provide a gardening opportunity, and potential appeal to gardeners. The MGA Green Thumb Awards recognize outstanding new garden products available by mail. The awards are sponsored by the Direct Gardening Association, the world’s largest nonprofit association of companies that sell garden products directly to consumers. For more information visit the MGA website at www.directgardeningassociation.com.

Starry Night is a new shrub rose that blooms continuously all summer long. The single, five-petal blossoms come on in huge clusters, creating a twinkling display of pure white with showy golden stamens against a backdrop of glossy foliage. Individual florets resemble dogwood flowers. Starry Night is hardy and disease resistant. This terrific plant is also an All America Rose Selection winner for 2002. Available from Edmunds’ Roses, 1-888-481-7673,      www.edmundsroses.com.

Delphinium ‘Merel’ is a beautiful new variety that produces lush double flowers of a rare brilliant blue on strong spikes growing up to 22 inches tall. ‘Merel’ blossoms boast a subtle but pleasing fragrance. The flower spikes are ideal for cut flowers, adding color, height and drama to floral arrangements. Plant patent applied for. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9. Available from Van Bourgondien, 1-800-622-9997, www.dutchbulbs.com.

Hardy perennial snapdragons are rare, but they have all the appeal of their annual cousins: a very long blooming season and the distinctive snapdragon floret shape and flower form. Antirrhinum ‘Debutante’ is a new perennial snapdragon that produces spikes of raspberry-pink flowers, touched with yellow at the throat, from June to September. The richly colored flowers reach 18-24 inches tall, and the plant thrives in USDA zones 5-8. ‘Debutante’ prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Plants can be ordered from White Flower Farm, 1-800-503-9624, www.whiteflowerfarm.com.

‘Cabana’ Hybrid Tea Rose is a new hybrid that offers very novel coloration: the light-yellow buds are edged in rose pink and grow in a long, pointed ovoid form. As the buds open, the flowers turn rose pink with light yellow stripes, lightening slightly as the blooms finish. The fragrance is light and spicy. The darkgreen, semi-glossy foliage is a perfect backdrop for the stunning flowers. ‘Cabana’ Hybrid Tea Rose is available exclusively from Jackson & Perkins, 1-800-292-4769,      www.jacksonandperkins.com.

Syringa ‘Baildust’ (Fairy Dust™ Lilac)
J.W. Jung Seed Co.

Fairy Dust Lilac, the second introduction in the Fairytale™ series of lilacs, expands the palette of colors available in a compact, hardy Dwarf Korean-type lilac. In late spring it produces a profuse display of tawny pink buds that open to a distinctive antique pink. The wonderfully fragrant flowers may rebloom in late summer. Fairy Dust Lilac reaches approximately 5-6 feet in height and spread. It will perform best in sunny conditions with well-drained soil in USDA zones 3-7. Bareroot plants are available from J.W. Jung Seed Co., 1-800-247-5864, www.jungseed.com.

Unlike pre-packaged fertilizers, which assume that every plot of garden soil needs exactly the same nutrients, Perfect Balance Custom Fertilizer provides a site-specific solution for the soil problems in each garden. After the customer’s soil is analyzed, a unique batch of Perfect Balance is custom-blended to balance the nutrients in a specific plot or area according to the needs of the plants to be grown. The result is healthier, more vibrant plants that are less prone to pests and diseases while providing more blooms and bigger harvests. Available exclusively from Gardens Alive!, (812) 537-8650, www.GardensAlive.com.

Developed in England and offered exclusively by Gardener’s Supply, Hot Beds are raised planters designed to encourage plant growth by keeping soil warm. They are perfect for soiltemperature sensitive crops such as peppers and melons. Each 9-square-foot raised bed sets up in minutes, and the sectional bed system can be moved and stored simply by pulling the pins that hold the sides together. A larger bed can be formed by joining the sections together. The ribbed sections, made from recycled plastic, will last virtually forever. Available from Gardener’s Supply Co., 1-800-955-3370, www.gardeners.com.

Greenwell Water Saver
Gardener’s Supply Co.

Greenwell Water Savers conserve water by concentrating mulch, fertilizer and water at a plant’s root zone. Just un-zip the ends, place the plastic collar around the plant and re-zip. Depending upon the depth in the soil at which a Greenwell Water Saver is placed, the well can hold up to 6.8 gallons of water. The Greenwell Water Saver conserves water by eliminating run-off, and it’s perfect for trees, tomatoes or any plants that require deep or regular watering. Available from Gardener’s Supply Co., 1-800-955-3370, www.gardeners.com.

Bulb Boost with Rodent Repellant contains everything bulbs need to keep them healthy and blooming for years. Bulb Boost is a 100% organic fertilizer that contains mycorrhiza– the beneficial microbes that improve nutrient and water intake by bulbs. Bulb Boost with Rodent Repellent uses 100% organic capsicum to keep pesky rodents from eating planted bulbs. Available exclusively from Jackson & Perkins, 1-800- 292-4769, www.jacksonandperkins.com.

Weed control and proper fertilizing have always been major concerns for vegetable gardeners. Dixondale Farms Feed and Weed combines a powerful 10-20-10 fertilizer (originally designed for onions) to promote plant growth with organic Weed-Ban, which contains corn gluten to provide natural preemergent weed control. This product can be used with any type of transplants, but it is not recommended for direct-seeded crops. Available from Dixondale Farms, 1-877-367-1015, www.dixondalefarms.com. The Direct Gardening Association, the world’s largest nonprofit association of companies that sell garden products directly to consumers, sponsors the MGA Green Thumb Awards each year. For more information about the Direct Gardening Association, contact Camille Cimino at (410) 730-9713, or visit the MGA Website at www.directgardeningassociation.com.

NOTE: Color transparencies and electronic images are available upon request.

Winners — Division One (Seeds, Bulbs and Plants)

• Edmunds’ Roses 1-888-481-7673; www.edmundsroses.com
Green Thumb Award: Starry Night™ Shrub Rose
6235 SW Kahle Road
Wilsonville, OR 97070
Media Contact: Philip Edmunds, President (503) 682-1476

• J.W. Jung Seed Co. 1-800-247-5864; www.jungseed.com
Green Thumb Award: Syringa ‘Baildust,’ Fairy Dust™ Lilac
335 S. High St.
Randolph, WI 53957
Media Contact: Dotti Schultz, Catalog Manager (920) 326-3121

• Jackson and Perkins 1-800-292-4769; www.jacksonandperkins.com
Green Thumb Award: ‘Cabana’ Hybrid Tea Rose
2518 South Pacific Highway
Medford, OR 97501
Media Contact: Nan Pritchard, Sr. Buyer (541) 864-2152

• Van Bourgondien; 1-800-622-9997; www.dutchbulbs.com
Green Thumb Award: Delphinium ‘Merel’®
245 Route 109, P.O. Box 1000
Babylon, NY 11702-9004
Media Contact: Nancy Rosati, Graphics Department Manager, (631) 669-3500, x224

• White Flower Farm 1-800-503-9624; www.whiteflowerfarm.com
Green Thumb Award: Antirrhinum ‘Debutante’
P.O. Box 50
Litchfield, CT 06759-0500
Media Contact: Renee Beaulieu, P.R. Coordinator, (860) 496-9624, x6361

• Dixondale Farms, Inc. 1-877-367-1015; www.dixondalefarms.com
Green Thumb Award: Dixondale Farms Feed and Weed
PO Box 129
Carrizo Springs, TX 78834
Media Contact: Bruce Frasier, President (830) 876-9640

• Gardens Alive! (812) 537-8650; www.GardensAlive.com
Green Thumb Award: Perfect Balance™ Customer Fertilizer
5100 Schenley Place
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
Media Contact: Randall Schultz, Schultz Communications, (505) 822-8222.

• Gardener’s Supply Co. 1-800-955-3370; www.gardeners.com
Green Thumb Award: Hot Beds and Greenwell Water Saver
128 Intervale Road
Burlington, VT 05401
Media Contact: Maree Gaetani, P.R. Director (802) 660-3500

• Jackson and Perkins 1-800-292-4769; www.jacksonandperkins.com
Green Thumb Award: Bulb Boost With Rodent Repellant
2518 South Pacific Highway
Medford, OR 97501
Media Contact: Nan Pritchard, Sr. Buyer (541) 864-2152