The final three trends for 2009, according to the Garden Media Group, are Global Colors, Worldly, and Bubbling.

The popularity of global colors, I think, is regional.  I think we in this area are still more into the country colors, and if we do color theme our gardens it is more likely to be in the blue/pink/white cottage garden palette.  But be prepared for more bright/deep colors to be available in plants and in garden decor as this trend becomes more mainstream and moves to the midwest.

The wordly trend is just beginning to be seen here in the Ohio Valley.  We’ve had questions about Japanese serenity gardens, as well as labyrinths.  And the garden accents we are seeing from our suppliers have a global flavor– whether in theme or in color and style.  We don’t think the time is right yet for us to jump into this area, but we’ll be watching the market closely.

Bubbling is a trend that we have watched develop for a decade– although the recent economic woes have increased the pace of this one.  Bubbling used to be called “cocooning,” a term coined by Faith Popcorn to describe the pulling back into a safety zone (our homes) as the world becomes too much with us.  This is manifesting itself in the garden industry as an increased interest in creating “garden rooms” for entertaining (in some cases complete with an outdoor kitchen and a pop-up big screen TV) and for decompressing.  The Japanese serenity gardens fit this trend, too.

We don’t carry the outdoor kitchen paraphernalia in stock, but we have several sources for it if you want to go in that direction this year.  Call and talk with Dawn for some ideas.  If an outdoor room is in your plan for this year, our design team can assist you with that– either helping you to Do-It-Yourself or doing it for you.

According to the Garden Media Group, the third trend for 2009 will be “Blended Gardens.” This is a continuation of the GIY– or Grow It Yourself– trend.  It is a method of growing edibles among ornamentals, or edibles as ornamentals.  You could sneak lettuces and herbs among your perennials and annuals.  Or you could grow blueberries as a hedge or ornamental shrub.  There doesn’t need to be a strict line between “the vegetable garden” and “the flower garden.”  Space is space, and plants are plants.  If the combination appeals to you, and the plants grow well together (sun requirements, water needs, pH, etc.) then why not combine them.

Unless you have a group of male children who love to play touch football on the lawn, who needs all that grass?  Put in more gardens, with mulch paths, and edibles in place of, or along with ornamental plants.

Continuing the list of trends identified by the Garden Media Group, the second trend for 2009 is GIY-  Grow It Yourself.  They define this trend as “Gardening for the Greater Good”– for the earth and our wallets.  And, I would add, for our own peace of mind.

In New Zealand, where the seasons are reversed and Spring has just ended, garden centers have seen a 25% increase in the sale of garden seeds, a 100% increase in the sale of seed potatoes, and a 300% increase in the sale of vegetable and herb transplants.  With that in mind, we are increasing the number and variety of plants we’ll be growing for sale in 2009, and making it more convenient for new gardeners to try to “grow it themselves”– with smaller vegetable packs and tomatoes in patio containers with cages attached and in hanging baskets.  And, because we’ve had many requests for them, we’ll also be offering those “topsy turvy” hanging tomato baskets that allow the tomato to grow out the bottom.

We’ve also added some unusual fruits to the product mix.  Doesn’t all that make you wish spring were here already?