Geraniums Star In Many Gardens The many gardeners who feel their gardens are naked without geraniums can rejoice in the ex plosion in variety of color, shapes and sizes which recent years have brought to market. Red geraniums are still the leaders but gardeners can now choose from colors of salmon, pink, rose, white and bicolors as well as double flowers, star-shaped flowers, seed or cutting-grown varieties, ivy geraniums and even aromatic scented geraniums. Diversity in flower color and types, earlier flowering times and compact size have all combined to produce a wide variety of geraniums to suit virtually every gardener’s needs. Seeds geraniums have brought some of the most dramatic ad vances. Since first introduced in the 1960’5, breeders have added varieties with more color, earlier flowering and more compact habit. The ‘Hollywood’ geraniums, new for 1984, show all these features. Available in three varieties, ‘Hollywood Red’, ‘Hollywood Salmon’ and a unique red and white bicolor ‘Hollywood Star’ their compact habit and vivid colors make them a good choice for containers or the garden. The ‘Bollywoods’ perform well in summer and fall while also flowering earlier than other seed geraniums. Look for even more diversity in color in the future. Geraniums with unusual, eye catching flower types are also coining on the scene. ‘Steady Red’ geranium, new for 1985, brings true red, double flowers. It puts on a dramatic show in beds or con tainers where its tightly double florets add an interesting touch grouped alone or couple with plantings of other flowers. (QSJ) quality bins MADE IN U.S.A. ★ FULL LINE PARTS DEPARTMENT ★ WE SELL, SERVICE & INSTALL MIHET3 EQUIPMENT, INC. RD 1, Rt. 272 S., Herrville Rd., Willow Street, PA 17584 Phone 717-464-3321 or Toll Free: 800-732-0053 Serving the Industry^orC^ CONTAINERS. Interested in container gardening? Breeders have also done considerable work developing varieties for containers so that geranium lovers can take part in the exceptional container gardening. ‘Red Fountains’ is a seed geranium bred specially for baskets. It combines the blood of ivy geraniums, Pelargonium peltatum, with the blood of zonal geraniums, P. hortorum, to produce a geranium with a dramatic cascading habit and rugged performance. Its lush foliage is deeply zoned for added appeal. Ivy geraniums, with their stretching, slowly descending steins, are another excellent choice for baskets or the sides of large containers. They contain a number of attractive pastel shades including white, raspberry and lavender as well as dramatic reds and fluorescent pinks. Other compact varieties such as the ‘Bollywoods’ or the ‘Smash Hit’ geraniums also make fine con tainer plants, especially when grouped in tubs or windowboxes with other more dwarf species. There are more and more varieties to choose from for sunny beds as well. The ‘Smash Hit’ series from Denholm Seeds combines excellent garden per formance with compact habit. Red, rose-pink and salmon shades are available. Other varieties to try include the coral ‘Cameo’, one of the most popular non-red geraniums, and ‘Razzmatazz,’ a salmon red and white bicolor. For white colors, try ‘lce Queen’, the top white geranium for the garden. Don’t forget cutting geraniums for a sublety in color unknown in ,_1 "V seed geraniums and for strong early season performance. Plant both cutting and seed geraniums for a full season of color. The popularity of fancy-leafed geraniums whose leaves are strongly patterned with white and other colors is also on the rise. As if this wide variety weren’t enough to choose from, there are the fascinating scented geraniums as well. Rub the leaves together and they put forth intoxicating aromas of rose, coconut, nutmeg, citrus or mint. Foliage is often very finely divided, adding to their beauty. Plant them nearbv a patio or porch to add an intriguing air where visitors gather. This great diversity of color, size and flower types has helped swell the popularity of geraniums, one of the most popular annuals. Geraniums are also easly to grow. Just place them in a sunny spot, give them occasional waterings and feedings and they’ll provide beauty and color all summer long. The past 10 years have brought some very exciting new developments to geraniums and gardeners can look forward to an equally exciting array of new varieties in the years ahead. Newly-crowned PA Swiss Miss Ellen Cole, left, poses with program coordinator Anne Daubert, emcee Dan DeTurk, and first runner-up Cindy Trimble. BY MARTHA GEHRINGER Staff Correspondent DOYLESTOWN Ellen Cole was recently crowned the 1984-85 Pennsylvania Swiss Miss at the annual Pennsylvania Brown Swiss Picnic, held at Delaware Valley College, Doylestown. Cindy Trimble was named first runner up. Ellen Cole, of Columbia Cross Roads, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Cole. Currently a senior at Troy Senior High School, where she is very active in the local 4-H and FFA chapters. Following graduation, Ellen plans to attend a four-year agriculture college. Ellen said she felt very proud of her honor and plans to do all she can to promote Brown Swiss. Cindy Trimble of Peach Bottom is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. * Lancaster Farming, Saturday, tow 30,1984-119 Ellen Cole named Pa. Swiss Miss Donald Trimble. Cindy is entering her senior year at Solanco High School, where she manages the softball team and is active in the local 4-H club. Miss Trimble plans to continue with a Vo-Tech program after graduation and pursue a career either as a nurse or a dental assistant. The Swiss Miss program is in its fifth year. It was started in 1980 to commemorate the centennial year of the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association, when it was down on a national level. Now it is done only at the state level. Anne Daubert, coordinator of the Pennsylvania Swiss Miss Program, said this year’s Swiss Miss will be attending the National Convention in Tennessee. She will then be attending the various fairs this summer to promote the Brown Swiss Breed. % \S i ■ A - COMC ON You e»tIYS . WOVE O VSft/ NEED MORE ROOM? Read The Real Estate Ads In Lancaster Farming'* Classifiad Saction GARDENCARTS With Dump Fronts ” » V UNASSEMBLED... *lO.OO LEsst| Than Sale Prlcai Shown SALE PRICE • Small Cart $ «a% q Regularly $159.00 \mtw • Large Cart % m Regularly $179.00 1 BOWMAN'S STOVE SHOP RO3, Ephrata, PA 17522 Rt. 322,1 Mi. East of Ephrata (717)733-4973 Tues„ Wed 10-6;Thurs., Fri. 10-8; Sat. 10-4 ***■•**, *'
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