Residents will be wowed by gardens by young Royal Horticultural Society award-winning designer Tom Harfleet from London, Australian designers Rick Eckersley, Scott Leung and Myles Broad with their gold award-winning The Last Australian Garden from the 2010 Singapore Garden Festival and four future inner city Christchurch gardens by Ellerslie gold award winners and top New Zealand designers, Aucklanders Xanthe Waite and Tim Feather, Wellington's Ben Hoyle and the Canterbury Horticultural Society.  With more than 40 gardens on display, it has to be one of the best shows to be seen in Christchurch. 

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz

The Go Gardening magazine, available from members stores each spring, summer, autumn and winter is packed with seasonal advice and inspiration.  Look for the sign for inspiration, advice and ideas that get results, provide some fun and you can share it all with family and friends.  So get going, and get some growing at your nearest Go Gardening member store now.

Available now are:

• Mystic Dreamer - candy stripe pink
• Mystic Enchantment - fire engine red
• Mystic Haze - apricot/orange
• Mystic Illusion - vivid yellow
• Mystic Wonder - velvety red
• Dream Catcher - vibrant red and pink
• Dream Seeker - burnt orange and pink

Written by Lynda Hallian, NZ Gardener

With their unique genetic makeup, these plants:

• Grow fast and are easy to care for
• Thrive in either full sun or shade
• Excel in hot and humid conditions
• Tolerate all weather; hold up to wind and rain
• Don't need old flowers removed - new growth covers faded blooms quickly
• Perform three seasons - spring through to late autumn
• Give outstanding colour late in the season when other annuals are past their prime

Look out for these beauties at a good garden centre near you!

Breeding has erase the typically sticky foliage of calibrachoas, meaning when the flowers drop they no longer sitck to the foliage and look unattractive.

Dahlia Dream Seeker - bred by New Zealand's own Dr Keith Hammett, 'Dream Seeker' is one of the very first collerette dahlias that has dark foliage, which gives the plant year-round interest and, when in flower, it sets off the burnt orange and pink blooms.

Dahlia Mystic Enchantment - also from Dr Keith Hammett, Mystic dahlias are single.  'Mystic Enchantment' has that great dark foliage and fire engine red blooms with a dark centre.  With deadheading it'll bloom from spring until autumn.  Bee love it too.

Petunia Blueberry Crush - the latest in the cupake series of petunias (following last year's Raspberry Blast), 'Blueberry Crush' is blue-purple with a violet throat.  This petunia as proved ridiculously vigorous and it's covered in flowers for month on end.

Calipetites - this series of ridiculously dainty new dwarf hybrid calibrachoas (the Calipetite series includes red, blue, yellow, rose and white flower varieties),  These are stunning compact for small spaces and flower prolifically from spring right through to autumn.

SunPatiens - this is new range of hybrid impatiens that you can plant in the sun as well as the shade.  They're covered in large, showy, brilliantly coloured flowers from spring to the first frosts.

Look out for these beauties coming to garden centres near you soon!

Bringing the best characteristics of two fabulous plants together, SuperCal Petchoas are available in seven sumptous colours including: Blue, Neon Rose, Purple, Terracotta, Velvet and two hot new colours for 2011 summer season - luxurious Cherry and dreamy Vanilla Blush.

SuperCal Petchoas offer exceptional vigour with continuous flowering from early spring to late autumn, over lush green foliage.  Plants quickly form a low mound 40 cm high x 80 cm wide.  They perform well in most weather conditions, especially in the cooler weather at both ends of the main flowering season.  Clever breeding has erased the typically sticky foliage of petunias, meaning when the flowers drop , they no longer stick to the foliage and look unattractive, they fall right off the plant!

But SuperCal Petchoas are not only tough and supercalifragelistic, they're versatile too.  Plant them in containers, hanging baskets and window boxes, or use as mass planting and spot colour in garden borders.  You'll be so pleased to make their acquaintance!

Looking after your SuperCal Petchoas:

• Plant in Tui Flower Power or well drained, well composted garden soil, in full sun to part shade.
• Add water crystals and slow release fertiliser to hanging baskets and containers.
• Add slow release fertiliser to garden beds.
• Water weekly with liquid fertiliser over summer.
• Trim lightly in mid-summer to tidy up and promote renewed vigor.

AS SEEN IN GO GARDENING MAGAZINE SPRING 2011

How does it work?

• Peat holds nutrients and moisture in the soil to assist plants with establishment after planting.  It also works to break down compacted clay soils to improve drainage and root growth.
• Controlled release fertiliser provides the nutrients plants need to produce more flowers over a six week period.
• Saturaid granular soil wetter draws water to the root zone where it is needed most.
• Acadian seaweed promotes strong root development and aids in fungal disease prevention.
• Sulphate of potash provides a high level of potassium which is vital for maximum flowering.

Sign up for the Tui Veggie & Garden Club on www.tuigarden.co.nz/tui-veggie-garden-club enter in the keyword 'flower power' and you will be automatically entered to win 1 of 25 prize packs (each worth $25) containing a Tui Flower Power 30L and SuperCal Petchoa plant. 

*Prize drawn and winners notified by November 30th 2011

Tui Flower Power is a 100% weed free, bark and peat based mix with a six month controlled release fertilizer,  The additons of Acadian seaweed, sulphate of potash and Saturaid will ensure your plants reach their maximum flowering potential while developing a strong root system and healthy green foliage.  Use Tui Flower Power when planting into garden beds, pots and containers, or hanging baskets.

Directions for use:

Garden Planting

• At planting time dig a hole approximately twice the depth and width of the plants root ball.
• Half fill the hole with Tui Flower Power.
• Place the plant in the hole and fill with Tui Flower Power.
• Gently pat and water.

Container Planting

• Half fill a suitable container with Tui Flower Power.
• Place the plant in the centre of the container.
• Fill the container with Tui Flower Power.
• Shake the container to settle mix and top up if necessary. (Leave a few centimetres of space from the top of containers to prevent overflow when watering).

For more information and stockists visit www.tuigarden.co.nz

In smaller gardens and courtyards, a single plant is bound to provide a focal point for the eye; where space is a premium containerize it.  For those with a bit more of an expansive garden, plant Nandinas in clusters for effect or hedge them.  Loving full sun/part shade and requiring very little care, both Nandinas will grow to approx 60 cm by 60 cm. 

For a blast of eye catching colour in the winter landscape, Erica Melanthera Improved can be planted to provide a seasonal focal point the the garden, alternatively plant in a pot for instant flower at your front door or courtyard, or bring this one indoors as a cut flower display.

Ericas are generally very hardy and can withstand Canterbury frosts and snow, althought in their first year they can be prone to frost damage on their tips.  Plant in full sun and well drained soil.  Erica Melanthera Improved will grow to approx 1 metre tall.

Your weekend in the Press Gardening has five Erica Melanthera Improved plants to give away.  To enter the draw, write your name and address on the back of an envelope and send it to Erica Melanthera Improved Giveaway, Press Gardening, PO Box 1005, Christchurch 8140 or email gardening@press.co.nz with Erica Melanthera Improved in the subject line to reach us no later than Wednesday 8th June 2011.