Hey there, Pansy Boy!" For years, I've had friends and even family members have fun with that nickname (for me) almost from the moment I came to work on GardenLine. But, considering how much I like the pansy, and further considering all the wonderful advancements that have come in the guise of new cultivars, I take it as a total compliment these days.

Speaking of new cultivars in the just the last couple of years, the Ultima Radiance series of pansies tops that list. I'm not even sure I can adequately describe them to you. That means you probably need to see them for yourself. And you can at my GardenLine appearance this weekend at Enchanted Gardens. I'll have much more on that in a moment. But first, I'll give it the old college-try in describing these Ultima Radiance Pansies.

Let's begin with a little history regarding the standard versions of pansies, because they usually had what we referred to as a "face." You would have one color on the outside and another color on the inside, with a dark or white dot in the center. Then, there was the development of the faceless, solid-colored pansies (which at the time were my favorite). The next trend were to blend violas (miniature type pansies) with the softer pastel colors and then you got this new trend towards the Ultima Radiance. The blooms aren't as big as standard pansies, or as small as the violas. They don't get leggy like the standard versions, but will fill out better in a clumping fashion more so than violas. But the colors combinations are the real treat. To me, they are much more beautiful than the standard "face-style" pansies, and because they are bigger in blooms than violas they stand out in a landscape much better. Plus, they make great potted flowers in the winter as well as hanging baskets – which people tend to shy away from of in the winter months.

In an effort to get more Ultima Radiance pansies to more people, our friends at Enchanted Gardens and Enchanted Forest just so happen to have a bunch of them they would like to sell to you at a ridiculously low price this weekend. They are doing this in honor of our final GardenLine appearance, which just so happens to be at Enchanted Gardens. Enchanted Gardens is on FM 359 at FM 723, and we will be there from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., this Saturday November 15th.

Enchanted Gardens/Enchanted Forest is selling the flats of Ultima Radiance series pansies for only 11.99 per flat. Remember what I said in last week's tip sheet about pansy flats regularly selling for 18-19-20 dollars per flat? This is the case for the Ultima Radiance series normally. That means, they are essentially selling them "at cost" just for this weekend's GardenLine appearance.

Of course, we are officially cleaning out the prize closet as well, which means we've got anything and everything that you can come claim for a prize just by showing up between the hours of 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. But as noted above, this is only at the Enchanted Gardens location on FM 359 at FM 723. (Just west of Pecan Grove Plantation and somewhat south of Cinco Ranch area)

We've got Medina Hasta Gro samples, Nelson Color Star bags, Dynamite Plant Food and various other give-aways from our stash that accumulated since last February. When you get there this Saturday, look at the table, and fill a KTRH Cheesy Crap Bag with as many things as you can stuff in there. It won't be a free-for-all, but you will get more than one goody, to be sure.

This is also your last chance to get a signed copy of my book Gulf Coast Gardening with Randy Lemmon. With the holiday just around the corner this makes an excellent gift-giving option. If you already have the book, and you know how helpful it is, get one for a neighbor or family member this holiday season. To help encourage that gift-giving mentality, Enchanted Gardens has agreed to sell it for $14.95 (Regular retail = $19.95) but only on the day of this event. Again, this is the last GardenLine appearance of the year, meaning the last chance to get signed copies until next February.

Finally, tune in to the radio show this Saturday, and if you know you're able to come out to the event, some lucky listeners are going to win a cluster (that would be 2-3) of the fabulous Knock Out Roses that Enchanted Gardens has agreed to give away. You have to tune in to the radio show though, because I have yet to decide how we are giving them away just yet.

GardenLine Listeners and E-mail Tip Subscribers can purchase a copy of my new book at discounted price!
Gulf Coast Gardening with Randy Lemmon
Check it out!
Garden retailers interested in stocking the book, should call the Nitro Phos Warehouse at 713-228-1868 for wholesale ordering information.

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