Late July 2022 – Plants of distinction

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In late July, our campus is quiet. Athens families are at the beach or in the mountains. If you come to visit early in the morning while the air is cool, you may catch a rainbow as the sprinklers create a soft mist over the flower beds. The garden is bursting with wildlife – chipmunks playing hide and seek, hummingbirds guarding their turf and millions of bees buzzing around the coral vine. As the sun reaches high in the sky, everything dries out again. Our volunteers and staff are wise to finish up their weeding and pruning before lunchtime. Sometimes we get lucky and a stray storm will pass through and bring a heavy rain shower to our gardens and lawns and we smile because we know our plants are happy.

We love seeing visitors during the summer when Athens is quiet but there is always something special in bloom at the Trial Gardens! If you know of anyone interested in working as an intern with the gardens, please share this video with them!

Grow your career as an intern with the internationally recognized Trial Gardens. Please contact trial-gardens@uga.edu for more information or for permission to register for HORT 3930 for credit.

Agastache MEANT TO BEE™ ‘Queen Nectarine’ by Walter's Gardens

Massively tall spikes of pastel peach and pink provide a colorful backdrop in combination with other soft colors. This native hybrid will fit well into any perennial or prairie landscape.

Caladium ‘Ballet Slippers’ by Classic Caladiums

It was love at first sight – the ‘Ballet Slippers’ are the largest caladiums we have ever seen! A delicate dance of pinks and light green fills our shaded garden with wonder and delight.

Calibrachoa Cha-Cha™ ‘Red Kiss’ by Ball FloraPlant

Our garden is a haven for all kinds of pollinators- butterflies, hummingbirds, and honeybees! This ‘Red Kiss’ calibrachoa is also one of the best ways for us to show our UGA spirit as we welcome back our students for fall!

Coleus ‘Peach Frizzle’ by Ball FloraPlant

We are always on the hunt for a new coleus pattern to dazzle our eyes. ‘Peach Frizzle’ is a rainbow of colors that stay bright without fading under the afternoon sun.

Echinacea DARK SHADOWS™ ‘Mystic’ by TerraNova

Echinacea hybrids are getting bigger and better every year. The striking contrast between the dark eye and rosy petals is lovely. Healthy, robust plants with about 20 blooms apiece!

New Guinea Impatiens ColorPower™ ‘Orange 23’ by Selecta One

Deep in the shade of our woodland garden, a burst of neon light shines out! Wow! Gigantic orange flowers and lush green foliage form the perfect color combo.

Petunia Supertunia Mini Vista® ‘Midnight’ by Proven Winners

The Supertunia series brings outstanding quality and superior flower power to the southern garden. Easy to grow and hard not to love this flowing deep purple miniature variety.

Dianthus Sunflor ‘Harper’ by DummenOrange

A beloved plant typically grown for early spring blooms, this cutie has been filled with summer flowers. Uniquely frilled petals with a deep colorful pattern. We are looking forward to all that the seasons bring!

Portulaca Mojave® ‘Yellow 2023’ by Proven Winners

The entire collection of portulaca is eye-popping this year! Mojave® ‘Yellow 2023’ has long-lasting sturdy flowers and a unique open branching shape.

Veronica longifolia Skyward™ ‘Blue’ by Darwin Perennials

These tall, vigorous veronica are truly sky-high! Blooms have continued from early spring through summer. A great perennial for a cut-flower garden.