National Garden Bureau seeks therapeutic gardens

The National Garden Bureau is accepting applications through July 31 for its Therapeutic Garden grants.

For communities interested, NGB's Therapeutic Garden Program looks for gardens that "promote the health and healing powers of human interaction with plants," according to a news release.

In its third year, the program supports rehabilitating people in “difficult situations," said Heather Kibble, NGB president.

2016 is Year of the Carrot

Since 2016 is the “Year of the Carrot,” a designation the root from the National Garden Bureau, growers will find more old-fashioned carrots of different colors.

Two heirlooms added to the 2016 line up, such as the Purple Dragon and the Red Beauty.

Purple Sun carrot from Renee’s Garden.com.

Buy summer flower bulbs

Snowflakes hardly seem inspiration enough for flower garden planning, but now's a good time to order bulbs and seed for summer blooming plants.

A number of seed and bulb companies have announced availability of their stock.

Zinnias make colorful borders.

AAS adds six winners

All-America Selections, the North American independent plant testing organization, has added six new varieties for the upcoming gardening season.

These winners, trialed in AAS gardens during 2015.

Pumpkin Pepitas F1 (Photo: All-America Selections).