By Norman Winter, Horticulturist, Author, and Speaker | Facebook @NormanWinterTheGarden Guy

Viva Magenta is the hot new color for 2023 according to Pantone, the gurus of all things color. Specifically, it is Pantone 18-1750. In the garden world, flowers will never be able to be bred so specific as to reach a Pantone number. We as gardeners, horticulturists, landscape and container designers, however, want to participate. We love this time of the year, thus Viva Magenta becomes somewhat subjective. That being said I first nominate Superbena Royale Plum Wine verbena.

Before I decided to go out on this limb so to speak, I asked Google, is plum a color of magenta? They said absolutely that it was considered the darkest shade of magenta. Bob Villa has a post on Viva Magenta too. He shows paint chip cards showing the various shades. There at the bottom of both, were colors that matched Superbena Royale Plum Wine to perfection. Of course, Bob doesn’t say that, he just shows that on the card.

To read more, pick up a copy of the March/April issue of LiveIt Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

By Norman Winter, Horticulturist, Author, and Speaker | Facebook @NormanWinterTheGarden Guy

Next year will be a horticultural occurrence or phenomenon that I don’t ever remember happening. It is going to be like the Gold Rush, except this time to get an award-winning plant. We can credit Brent Horvath, owner of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, with this invention that has everyone excited. It is known has American Gold Rush rudbeckia.

Growers and industry alike are celebrating the first rudbeckia resistant to Septoria leaf spot. You may not have ever paid attention to the leaves of your Rudbeckia fulgida selections or hybrids but the nursery industry has and they are helping drive this hybrid to the top of the recommended list.

This is where the chain of events has mesmerized me as being most rare. First, American Gold Rush was awarded the All-American Selections Perennial Plant of the Year in 2020. Many of us were unaware of a cooperative venture with the Perennial Plant Association.

To read more, pick up a copy of the January /February issue of LiveIt Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

By Kassie Pounds | Instagram @victorycottage

After the holiday season, sometimes it’s nice to put everything away and start fresh. For me, the Christmas decor can start to feel cluttered when it’s out too long, but where do you go from there? No one wants a house that feels stark and cold in the winter months. The key to avoiding that, is to make your house cozy:

1.Keep soft or furry throws draped on chairs and sofas, or in baskets so they can easily be grabbed for warmth.

To read more, pick up a copy of the January/February issue of LiveItMagazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.