'Sugary' Tomato - All-American Selection Winner 2005.  1" rosy pink
grape-shaped fruit; has a higher sugar content than most tomatoes making
it super sweet.  Semi-indeterminate.

'Fairy Tale' Eggplant - All-American Selection Winner 2005.  Small light purple fruit with white stripes; 4-5" fruits develop early in clusters and are nearly seedless.  Compact plants ideal for small gardens and containers.

'Magellan' Zinnia - A new series of zinnias that have huge 5-6" double flowers with a 15" spread. 'Magellan Coral' won All-American Selection for 2005.  Others colors available; scarlet, yellow, orange, pink, cherry and ivory.

'First Kiss Blueberry' Vinca - 2" blue violet flowers with a 16" spread.
Heat and drought tolerant.  All American Selection Winner 2005.

'Titan' Series Vinca - New series that boasts huge flowers on large, vigorous plants.  Colors: Lavender Halo, Burgundy, Lilac, Polka Dot and Peach.

'Illumina Yellow Mist' Scoparia - New versatile sun loving annual.  Small yellow flowers on fern like foliage have a red licorice fragrance.  Heat tolerant and ideal for combination containers and accents.

'Spirit' Series Cleome - New cleome with dark green foliage and compact plants reaching only 30" tall.  Available in 'Damask' 'Violeta'  and 'Merlot'.

'Sunsatia Lemon' and 'Cranberry' Nemesia - New nemesia that is heat and cold tolerant in new vibrant red and yellow.  Excellent in containers or as accents in gardens.

'Berries and Cream' Nemesia - New bicolor nemesia with purple and white flowers.  Slight fragrance.  Excellent in combinations.

'Goldflake' Mercardonia - New trailing annual with small yellow flowers.  Great for hanging baskets or containers.
'Kong' Series Coleus - This new series has huge leaves on tall 20 inch plants.  Prefers shade.

Lophospermum Vine - Also known as twining snapdragon.  Cascading wine-red trumpet shaped flowers.
 

The 2005 Herb of the Year is Oregano/Marjoram.  We offer many different varieties of oregano, each with their own distinct flavor.  Try Italian, Greek or Hot and Spicy in your favorite Italian dish.  Showy Oregano is an unusual ornamental for your garden.  Marjoram, a close cousin of oregano, is great for meat and poultry dishes.
 

GARDEN MAKE-OVER
Ashcombe and WHP-TV 21 have teamed up for an exciting spring gardening campaign, including a garden make-over giveaway for one local home owner.  Stay tuned to WHP-21 and Tom Russel for your chance to win this exciting garden make-over, courtesy of Ashcombe.
 

ASHCOMBE LOYALTY REWARDS PROGRAM
Ashcombe is introducing a new customer rewards card.  Once you are registered, present your card every time you make a
purchase at Ashcombe to collect rewards points.  You will also receive special mailings, unadvertised offers, coupons and a 1% savings certificate on all your yearly purchases.  Program is scheduled to begin on April 1st
 

ALL WEATHER OUTDOOR WICKER
Ashcombe introduces a new line of wicker furniture.  Available in white, cappuccino, black and green
ï Reinforced tubular aluminium frame with 3-year warranty against defects
ï 3mm HDPE; IV, heat and frost resistant weave with 3-year warranty against damage from sun.
 

GARDEN SEEDS
Ashcombe is a proud retailer of Burpee, P.L. Rohrer and Botanical Interest seeds with one of the largest inventories in the area!  Check out our great selection of annuals, perennials, vegetables and herbs!  We are also introducing the 'Cooks Garden' line of gourmet seeds for those who love to cook or just want to try something different.  Bulk peas, bean and corn are available now with onion sets and seed potatoes arriving soon.

Check out our complete selection of seed starting supplies:  soil, peat pots, plastic containers, plant trays and even some specialty products for the more advanced gardener.

Be sure to shop early -- the early planter gets the seed!

PERSONAL HORTICULTURAL SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE AT ASHCOMBE
Ashcombe has partnered with several professional landscape designers and horticulturists to assist our customers personally.  Our experts will work with you at Ashcombe or at your home for guidance in completing most any garden project.

A. Garden Shopper - for those who need uninterrupted, personal advice and consultation when shopping at Ashcombe.

B. Garden Coach - At your home or at Ashcombe, one of our horticulture specialists will teach you how to properly and efficiently perform any basic garden activity.

C. Landscape Design - A designer will visit your home for a design consultation or to prepare a design plan.

Services are by appointment only.  Fees are based on an individual basis relative to the service(s) required.
Call (717)766-7611 for more information.
 

COME SEE US EARLY & OFTEN
Ashcombe Perennials 2005
Helleborus Orientalis, commonly known as the Lenten Rose, is the Perennial Plant of the Year for 2005.  These hardy beauties provide the garden with color in late winter and early spring.  Many new varieties are now available, such as Red Lady, Blue Lady and Spotted Lady.  We will have these available beginning in early March.

Other exciting new plants will be available throughout the season.  New varieties of echinaceas (coneflowers) will include Mango Meadowbrite, Orange Meadowbrite, Double Decker, Fragrant Angel and Big Sky Sunrise, offering bright yellows and oranges to go with the traditional purple and white.  We will also have some of the great new introductions in heucheras such as Dolce Creme Brulee, Dolce Key Lime Pie, Dolce Peach Melba and Lime Rickey.  The new gaillardias (Arizona Sun, Summer's Kiss) will add long-blooming color to accompany the new, shorter varieties of garden phlox (Junior Bouquet, Junior Dance).

For the first time, we are offering Louisiana Iris.  These moisture loving natives of southern U.S. have been found to be hardy as far north as South Dakota.  The colors range from deep purple, almost black, through red, yellow and white.

As always, we will have a broad range of daylilies and hostas to make your garden colorful all summer long.

We look forward to showing you these new plants and discussing your garden needs.
 

NEW IN OUR NURSERY!
Look for this rainbow of new plant varieties in the nursery this season -- we have colors and selections for your every landscape need!

PURPLE
Rhododendron 'Jonathan Shaw' Purple, wavy-edged flowers; grows 4' tall and blooms mid-late spring.

BLUE
Hypericum 'Blue Velvet' St. John's Wort with yellow, mid-summer flowers; blue foliage;grows 2-3' tall; sun or shade.

Hydrangea 'Big Daddy' In acidic soil - grows to 5' tall with 12" sky blue flowers!

GREEN
Buxus 'Handwonthiensis' This narrow, columnar boxwood grows 21/2' wide and 5' tall.

YELLOW
Cotinus 'Golden Spirit' 8-10' tall Smokebush with yellow foliage that doesn't scorch in hot sun.  Purple-pink smoky
mid-summer flowers.

ORANGE
Hamamelis 'Orange Peel'  Our favorite new Witchhazel; blooms early February with orange-gold flowers; for sun or shade.

RED
Corylus 'Red Majestic' New cousin of Harry Louders Walking Stick.  Twisted stems and leaves with fantastic red summer foliage; 6-8' tall; for sun or light shade.

Ilex 'Red Beauty'  This pyramidal holly grows 5-8' tall and 3' wide; produces red berries (if pollinated); grow in
 sun or shade.

If you want to reserve any of these beauties - call us at 766-7611 and ask for the Nursery or leave a message at
extension #290!

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Spring of 2005, our 43rd season, is fast approaching.  At Ashcombe, we are anxious to see the tables fill with annuals, perennials and nursery stock -- since that is what we are noted for -- quality plants in a wide selection not found in many other garden centers.  We will offer ideas on how to use plants with several model gardens throughout the complex.  I was talking with our nursery manager, Kathy the other day, and she is excited about all the new and interesting shrubs and trees she has selected for 2005.  She will have a nursery list available soon.  Fred, our Perennial Manager, has been busy seeking the best in perennials this year as well. Our Garden Splendor program will assure you perennials and shrubs at the peak time and with the best color.  Be sure to visit gardensplendor.com and enter your zip code to see what will be available.  Check out our own website as well and click on 'Helpful Perennial Information' to browse 10 articles on growing perennials.  The key to a successful garden is to be prepared with the proper information, and we are committed to giving it.  Happy Spring!