CAST 2017: People Watching

Greg Soles - Darwin Product Representative
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
 

This was the first time in my 19 years attending California Spring Trials that I stood in one spot for five days. We had many visitors to our Darwin Perennials venue — thanks for coming!

The Darwin team does many presentations each day. People-watching becomes an art form. Visitors come through and listen to the features and benefits of our new varieties and programs. I like to watch who comes back after the presentations and observe what they photograph in our display.

Armeria Dreameria™
This wins my award as the most photographed 2018 Darwin Perennial introduction. Visitors came back and went immediately to these beauties to capture an image. The two new varieties, Daydream and Sweet Dreams were a hit! The extended flowering period this new breeding offers the consumer will offer them a summer-long enjoyment. A true breakthrough in Armeria breeding!



Dianthus Mountain Frost™ Pink PomPom
It was an even match between Pink PomPom and Salvia Rose Marvel for second place in the most photographed contest! This double flowered landscape Dianthus put on a show. The repeat flowering capability of this cultivar will also provide consumers with summer-long color. We saw strong repeat flowering all summer in our southeast trials. The other five colors in this collection (Pink Carpet, Pink Twinkle, White Twinkle, Silver Streak and Rose Bouquet) stood out as well.

Salvia Rose Marvel
We have seen this new cultivar twice this year in shows. In both cases it has been the most colorful plant in the venue. Rose Marvel will team up with her brother Blue Marvel and provide season-long color for many years in gardens from Zone 4 to 9. The flowers on Rose and Blue Marvel are the largest flowers in Salvia nemorosa on the market today.

 
 
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