I resolutely resolved as this growing season came to a close for me, that I'd definitely be scaling back my garden plans. Limiting seed starting. Sticking to tried and true varieties. Not doing (what I refer to as) the "scortched earth" method of gardening: Plants everywhere, no earth to be seen between them. Just a sea of color.

Not to mention I planned to rely mostly on seeds I'd be saving this year, in order to limit expenditures for new seed.

So, what happens? The All American Selection's folks who list the best new varieties for the coming season and name the "Plant of the Year". (You know, those little garden gnomes that hide in some secret bunker-style greenhouse and slip these little edicts under the door at the end of each gardening season to taunt the ever-curious and experimental gardeners out there.) :_| Uh...not that I'm one of those, you understand! Hah!;\

For those of you who just can resist trying something new each year, here's some info on their latest selections for 2004. They should all be available in the various 2004 garden catalogs that are probably already starting to fill your collective mailboxes!
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/chicago/garden/
http://www.redding.com/currents/home_garden/stories/20030906handg079.shtml

And for you Rose enthusiasts...they don't leave you out, you know: http://www.regannursery.com/getting_started/2004_aars_winners.htm

BTW: If you're interested in visiting some of the trial gardens that test all the new varieties each season for the AAS, where you can see just how they'll look and their growth habits, here's something to check also:
# http://www.all-americaselections.org/display_gardens/aas_display_gardens.pdf

Time to rethink those garden plans, eh?

gardenz

Aw, geez, Gardenz... not only is *your* resolution foiled, but you must ruin it for the rest of us, too?!
Some friend you are...

Yes, I admit it, one of my secret joys is poring over all the new catalogs by the fireside for hours, stopping only to scratch under a kitty-chin now and then, happily turning down page-corners of all the things I'd love to order... someday...

After I plant all the bulbs that I order in the spring (when I am feeling itchy to dig up the place), I hang up the trowel...don't care a bit about gardening;too tired of it...until the new catalogs come in december...and all the snow is here until april....
Soo, now you tempt me with internet stuff? I'm supposed to be tired of gardening now. I'm supposed to not care. Wonder what is new for 2004???

*Scuffing her foot in the dirt:
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa:_| I'm a baaaaaaaaad girl!"

Or maybe I should just take the Emily LaTella route:
"Never Mind!"

gardenz
(aka: "The Plant Tease")

Well, I will be hunting down that new winter squash,Sunshine, and those Limbo Violet petunias, that is for sure!!!!
Thanks for the Trial garden list. I actually have a friend who just moved to Missouri and I will send her the gardens in St. Loius...she will like that.
And NEXT year, I will make sure to stop by the places in NH,especially the seacoast areas.
And when I am in NJ, it will be Ringwood and Mohonk Mnt House in NY....oh,boy,I can see the gray hair increasing on the old DH's head.....

Lisaann- you lucky, lucky person!

Gardenz, you put temptation right in front of us!!! Shame on you. I won't look, I won't, I won't!

Must be something in the air, lisaann. When I was clearing my garden this past weekend my hubby came out and offered to till up the garden for me (I'd left some areas fallow this year and the tiller was beating the crap out of me when I went to till them up). He did the whole garden for me. Shocked the heck out of me - he usually steers clear of my garden as I can be a bit territorial at times. Gotta love the DH's when they do things right!

OH YEA..........GardenZ

Like picking what to plant ain't hard enough? Misery loves company, huh?

Yeah, they do know how to surprise, at times.

Like this Wednesday, I get to go to my community garden wrap-up party, but it's a late-night thing, and it's not kid-friendly. Wednesday nights are SACRED to DH, as he has a standing date with his fencing team, or his softball team, through work.

I mentioned the wrap-up party to him, just to warn him not to expect me to be there with the kids that night, but someone else who was being paid to make sure the kids don't burn down the house -- and he said he'd skip fencing! Cool!

Okay you got me is DH someone's initials or some term for a certain gender. And never never never post another site with new choices again, i cna't stand it and like some others I won't look, I wont.
Earthy

Hi, Earthy

When feeling loving, "DH" can mean: Dear Husband (Hubby), Darling Husband (Hubby).

Conversely, I have known "DH" to imply a somewhat less complimentary description when describing certain males of questionable intelligence:
(in deference to the "family-oriented" atmosphere of OG, I'll have to alter this slightly)...

"RICHARD " HEAD! :O

gardenz

Or Darn Husband, or Da*n Husband. Similarly, DD refers to one's daughter, DS is one's son, and, if you are of the male persuasion, DW is the Darlin' Wifey (or whatever other adjecttive begining with D that your mood prompts you to use)