what are they doing where the old trial gardens were?

I know that I saw some of the new BLACK petunias on the list. I don't think they have the entire line but they had two of the best in my view. My mind just goes crazy with Halloween ideas when I see these guys. A lot of new Million Bells and what appear to be hybrids between regular petunias and calibrachoa (Million Bells).

Black petunias sound so goth. Are they fragrant? We have 'white' gardens, maybe we could make 'black and white' gardens now. I'm intrigued by that.

I got some purple with green edges petunias (i think they were called picasso) from a freind. Wild color combo, and a small size for a petunia, large for million bells, so they may well be a cross. Cute as a button! Black 'tunias sound way cool!

Aren't most black flowers actually dark maroon or dark purple? Depending on which shade they are sometimes they have a weird "vibrancy" or "iridescence" when the sun hits them.

These are b-l-a-c-k, a rich velvety black with maybe a hint of maroon when the sun shines through them. One is solid black, one is black with white streaks sort of making a pinwheel (thin stripes from center to edge, where the petals would be if the floral tube was divided into petals), one with red streaks and I believe one with a cream edge. They were featured in this springs pak trials out in California and are planned for release next year I believe. My only complaint would be that as a landscape plant the blackness would be lost. They would work best where they are seen up close like in a hanging basket or window box.

As I understand it the bedding trial beds out at the Arb are a small money maker for the school. Companies pay money to have their plants trialed here. They are given nothing but basic care and if they fail, they fail. It is to see what cultivars do best here in the Piedmont and for us to see if they live up to the sales hype. My complaint is that plenty of way-cool plants show up in the trial but never show up in the garden centers, ever.

One new plant I was reading about lately that is supposed to be a very hot seller is trailing pansies.
I'd love to have those for planters.

Ralph, do you know where Intrigue is avaialable?

Tamelask - My garden club has a huge plant sale Sat. and we had the 'Much about Pissaco' petunias in hanging baskets. I bought one and took the plants out (three to a pot) for planting in the ground. I still have 3 hanging baskets if you want one. $12. I just trimmed the plants back today to make them a lot thicker. They still look good and full but will stay full in the long run with the haircut.

Brenda, Lysimachia congestiflora 'Intrigue' was supplied by Proven Winners. I have not tried to locate it on PV's website, but if it is on the market, they should be promoting it. On the other hand, it may still be under evaluation and might never make it to market.
Tammy, the area where the Trial Gardens were previously will become a large. open grassy space for weddings and other group uses. I liked having the Trial Gardens in the middle of the arb where everyone was sure to see them. Now that they are in a more remote area, a lot of people will never see them, I am afraid.

Picasso is in the Supertunia series. I know that at least one Supertunia variety trialed at JCRA with much success--I think it was the major drought summer and still they prevailed (I think it was Vista Bubblegum Pink--Ralph, you prob know more about this). I cannot say emphatically enough that for me, Supertunias are the gold standard. I think Proven Winners should have a rooftop shot of me shouting the virtues of the Super T. Just profuse, profuse, profuse blossoms, huge spread, no deadheading, no flopping after rain, super drought-tolerant, blooming into winter almost. I will never grow another type of petunia. I should say, however, that I tried one double last year that didn't perform well at all, so I'm sticking to the singles from here on out.

Ok, I looked up those Picasso petunias. I must have them. Where can I get some?

Are you in Raleigh? I got one for my mom at LTC. Also saw a hanging basket of them at the state farmer's market.

Thanks!

appreciate the offer, ncgardener, but i got some from my friend who had some big pot fulls. But bring it with you to the swap if you're coming and i'm sure you'll get a taker!