Growers, landscape contractors and homeowners will want to
plant some of these winners in their gardens in the fall of 2014 from our
2013-2014 Cool Season Trials. These
trials included 66 different varieties of cool season plants. These plants were planted on October 8, 2013
and grown through the fall, winter and early spring of 2014. Additional water was added to these trials a
total of nine times from October 8, 2013 to April 21, 2014. Watering was done when temperatures were
above 40 degrees Fahrenheit and soil was dry.
Our lowest temperature recorded during the period was -15 F. We did have fairly
constant snow cover in January and February 2014. We recorded frost damage, flowering data and
overall appearance on a weekly basis when not covered in snow.
The Annual Trial Garden Committee evaluated these Cool
Season Trials in April 2014 and picked six top performers which are described
below. The six winners include:
Best of Show Pansy: Pansy Inspire R Purple and White
from Benary
Nothing says “best of” like 100% survival through the winter season. This pansy has very bright and high
contrasting purple/blue white flowers.
The flowers seem to have a blue top and a white bottom that make them
very visible from quite the distance.
 |
| Inspire Purple and White pansy |
Blue/Violet Pansy:
Pansy Inspire R True Blue from Benary
This variety
had the largest flower out of any of the Pansies; these large blue flowers made
this plant a standout. In addition to
the large flowers it was also noted that it had the truest blue flower.
 |
| Inspire True Blue pansy |
Best Yellow Pansy: Pansy Cool Wave TM Golden Yellow
from PanAmerican Seed
This pansy had a profusion of large, attractive bright golden yellow flowers. The flowers are a bright golden yellow that
is sure to catch the garden visitor’s eye due to abundance of flowers.
 |
| Cool Wave Golden Yellow pansy |
Best of Show Viola: Viola Sorbet EX Morpho from Pan American Seed
This viola was described as a sturdy, small, uniform plant. The flower color is a very rich combination
of deep blue and canary yellow. This
color combination gave the plant a great contrast, allowing it to become a garden
favorite. This Viola also had a 100%
survival rate during the winter.
 |
| Sorbet EX Morpho viola |
Best Blue/Violet
Viola: Viola Penny Deep Marina from
Goldsmith Seeds
This viola had a unique flower color combination of deep purple, purple and
white. These plants were very uniform in
growth habit and each plant was just blanketed in flowers.
 |
| Penny Deepy Marina viola |
Best Yellow Viola: Viola Popsicles Yellow from Burpee Home
Garden
This viola seemed to have the most intense yellow flower color. The yellow flowers had a golden yellow throat
that made it standout even more. All of
the flowers were displayed perfectly on top of the foliage of the plant. It was also noted that this Viola was a
great, sturdy plant.
 |
| Popsicles Yellow viola |
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