2009 MGA Green Thumb Award Winners
Plants, Bulbs and Seeds

Rudbeckia x hirta ‘Cherry Brandy’
Thompson & Morgan

‘Cherry Brandy’ is the world’s first red-flowered Rudbeckia from seed. Rudbeckia ‘Cherry Brandy’ produces robust, bushy plants that will create dramatic impact in the border, in large containers or as a cut flower with its rich 3-4 inch cherry-red blooms. This outstanding garden performer will produce a mass of stems, each enhanced by a single stunning blossom. ‘Cherry Brandy’ will reach 24 inches tall by 12 inches wide. A packet of 50 seeds sells for $3.50 exclusively from Thompson & Morgan, (800) 274-7333, www.tmseeds.com.

Rudbeckia x hirta ‘Cherry Brandy’

‘Scentsation Mixed’ is the world’s first scented begonia from seed.A sowing of seed from January to March in warm, bright conditions will produce loads of exquisite double to semi-double pastel blooms from summer to the first frosts of autumn. The long blooming season allows gardeners plenty of time to enjoy the delicious medley of fragrances that range from fresh citrus-lemon to indulgent soft rose. Plants reach 20 inches tall and 11-15 inches wide. A packet of 50 seeds sells for $4.50 exclusively from Thompson & Morgan, (800) 274-7333, www.tmseeds.com.

Begonia x tuberhybrida ‘Scentsation Mixed’ F1 Hybrid
Thompson & Morgan

Bonbini is the first Oriental Trumpet Lily to have a candle flame in the center of the flower. Bonbini Lily produces large soft yellow fragrant flowers in mid-summer that measure up to 8 inches across. The center of each petal contains a red candle flame that is a deeper golden yellow color in the center. This outstanding garden performer reaches 4 feet in height and grows stronger and more productive each year. Bonbini is cold hardy in USDA zones 4-9. Bulbs are 3 for $12.95 or 6 for $24.96 from Dutch Gardens, (800) 944-2250, www.dutchgardens.com.

Brugmansia ‘Angel’s Summer Dream’ is a new hybrid that blooms at only 12 inches tall. This compact dwarf variety created by horticulturist Byron Martin boasts blooms that are fragrant, prolific and year-round. Orange-yellow flowers show a hint of deep orange at maturity. The lateral branching habit makes ‘Angel’s Summer Dream’ perfect for containers or hanging baskets. One plant in a 4-inch pot sells for $29.95 exclusively from Logee’s Tropical Plants, (888) 330-8038, www.logees.com.

Honey Bear is a single-serving sized acorn squash (less than one pound) that is perfect for today’s on-the-go families. Its sweet, unsurpassed taste will be welcome at any dinner table, and it will even have kids eating their vegetables. The compact bush plant takes up no more room in the garden than a zucchini plant, and it has a high level of resistance to powdery mildew. This innovative new winter squash was bred by Dr. Brent Loy at the University of New Hampshire. A packet of seeds sells for $2.95 exclusively from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, (877) 564-6697, www.johnnyseeds.com.

Honey Bear Winter Squash
Johnny’s Selected Seeds

Prairie Blush is a new early mid-season golden-fleshed potato variety with exceptional flavor and texture. Prairie Blush is a “one in a million” chance discovery of a clonal variant found in a single hill of Yukon Gold potatoes on Maine’s organic Wood Prairie Farm in 2001. Seven years of field growing under certified organic conditions have revealed that Prairie Blush plants are robust, vigorous, upright and fast growing. The plants sport light purple blossoms and the potatoes are bright, smooth and delicious. A 2.5 pound bag of certified organic seed potatoes sells for $11.95 exclusively from Wood Prairie Farm, (800) 829-9765, www.woodprairie.com.

2009 MGA Green Thumb Award Winners
Tools, Supplies and Accessories

Liquid Net® for Pets is a safe and effective way to protect dogs, cats, puppies and kittens from fleas and ticks without exposing them to dangerous chemicals. Made with oils of botanicals, Liquid Net for Pets is guaranteed to repel ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, gnats, blackflies and other biting insects. Liquid Net for Pets has a gentle, pleasantly scented formula that’s non-greasy and won’t dry out pets’ coats. The MSRP for the 16-ounce orbital sprayer (that even sprays upside down) is $12.99 from The Liquid Fence Company, (800) 923-3623, www.liquidfence.com.

Liquid Net® for Pets
The Liquid Fence Company

The story of the amazing discovery of the Stark® Golden Delicious Apple in 1914 has been turned into a delightful new book for children. Sure to become a childhood classic, Golden Delicious: A Cinderella Apple Story entertains as well as educates young people on the basics of discovering new fruit varieties, grafting and propagation. The Golden Delicious Apple Collection for Children includes the book plus one bareroot Stark Golden Delicious Dwarf Apple Tree, a planting guide, a Children’s Tree Care Kit and an embroidered Stark Bro’s Kids’ Club patch to sew on a backpack or jacket. There is even a special website for children at www.starkbros.com/myfirstappletree. The Golden Delicious Apple Collection for Children sells for $41.97 exclusively from Stark Bro’s. (800) 325-4180, www.starkbros.com.

The Plant Cottage is a new way to keep houseplants happy. The Cottage is housed in a pine cabinet with an energy-saving T-5 fluorescent bulb that lasts up to 30,000 hours. T-5 fluorescent lights are ideal for indoor plants because there is no flickering and the color temperature is perfect for plants. The Plant Cottage has a rust resistant metal liner inside and on the bottom shelf, and handy drawers for markers, scissors and more. The greenhouse-style top opens wide for easy access, and the gable ends are open for ventilation. The Plant Cottage sells for $399.00 from Gardener’s Supply, 1-800-955-3370, www.gardeners.com.

With a new Optimum Deep Plug Starter Kit, it is easy to maintain the perfect balance of 1/3 soil, 1/3 water and 1/3 air to promote vigorous seedling root growth. Optimum Grow Plugs are made from decomposed bark and peat moss—an ideal feeding ground for beneficial mycorrhizae that help a plant increase nutrient uptake. The 2 and 1/2 inch-deep grow plugs give seedling roots a better chance to establish than in normal shallow starter cells. Complete kit includes a watering tray, deep 72-cell grow tray with Optimum Grow Plugs and a clear dome. The kit sells for $29.95 from Charley’s Greenhouse & Garden, (800) 322-4707, www.charleysgreenhouse.com.

Designed to repel moles from lawns, landscaped garden areas and flowerbeds, Liquid Fence® Mole Repellent Worms are made out of real food and impregnated with lab-tested and proven-effective Liquid Fence® Mole Repellent. Because they imitate a natural food source, Mole Worms are an irresistible taste treat for moles. Once ingested, the ingredients will disrupt a mole’s normal digestive functions, forcing them to look elsewhere for food. The MSRP for a pack of 10 Liquid Fence Mole Repellent Worms is $19.99 from The Liquid Fence Company, (800) 923-3623, www.liquidfence.com.