Middle South
May, 2004
Regional Report
Favorite or New Plant
Gazania
A native of South Africa, sometimes called treasure plant or rainbow daisy, gazania is one of my favorite clock plants. The colorful petals close up at night and reopen the next morning, and each blossom lasts for several days. Gazania tolerates heat and drought beautifully, and since it sulks in wet soil, I grow the plants in oblong planters on my deck. Their low stature makes them ideal for viewing from above. New varieties like the 'Kiss' series, which earned high ratings at the University of Georgia's field trials last year, have big, 4-inch-wide flowers on sturdy, uniform plants. These guys aren't quitters! When brought indoors in late fall, the plants continue to bloom for several weeks.
Web Finds
Seedy Side of Plants
I'd rather garden than watch TV, but I come in early on Sundays to watch Nature on PBS. A few weeks ago, the "Seedy Side of Plants" episode left me in awe. What incredible photography! Be sure to catch it when it airs again, and meanwhile check out the neat Nature Web page that summarizes the high points of this exceptional program.
