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  • From the Archives

  • Today’s Giveaway: Annie’s Annuals

    Back when a few of us were giving away compost tumblers, one of my Twitter pals said something along the lines of “why aren’t plants ever given away in these gardening giveaways?” Very true — what is gardening without all of the plants? And if it’s uncommon, insanely gorgeous plants you want, you can’t do better than Annie’s Annuals.

    With everything from annual flowering plants, veggies and herbs, grasses, shrubs and succulents (and more!) Annie’s is one of those sites I can get happily lost on for a very long time (how many times has my productivity been ground to a halt because Elayne from Annie’s tweeted a link to an absolutely stunning plant on their website? Too many — once I’m on the site, I’m there for a while, dreaming.)

    So I’m really excited that Annie’s has very generously donated a $50 gift certificate to one very lucky ITGO reader!! Huge thanks to Elayne from Annie’s for making this possible — I really appreciate it!

    What do you need to do to win this fabulous prize? Visit the Annie’s Annuals website and tell me what you’d buy (just one item — you don’t need to give me your whole shopping list here :-) ) The winner will be selected by random number tomorrow morning. Only residents of the contiguous 48 states are eligible, and I’ll need your comments by midnight. Good luck!!

    UPDATE: We have a winner! Lucky #4 is Diane from The Garden of Live Flowers! Congrats to Diane, and thanks so much to everyone who commented!

    Thanks again to Annie’s Annuals for their generosity. Be sure to visit them on the web and get happily lost for a while. You can also find Annie’s on Twitter and Facebook.

    64 comments



    64 comments to “Today’s Giveaway: Annie’s Annuals”

    Tom Mann, June 24th, 2010 at 7:46 am:

    • I’d try Anthriscus sylvestris
      ‘Raven’s Wing’

      Looks like it would be a great companion plant to the light green Hosta beds we have.

    Claudia, June 24th, 2010 at 7:56 am:

    • The Drama Queen Poppy. I’ve been wanting to add those to my corner flower bed.

    ~~Anne, June 24th, 2010 at 8:07 am:

    • I would try: Emilia javanica “Lady’s Paintbrush”

    Diane, June 24th, 2010 at 8:35 am:

    • I’ve been dreaming of Verbena bonariensis. What could be better than a self-seeder?

    Kimberly Haskins, June 24th, 2010 at 8:40 am:

    • Pericallis papyracea. Sweet flowers in the shade? Sure!

    Xan, June 24th, 2010 at 8:59 am:

    • Have to go with the Dwarf Mouse-eared Tick-seed. I know just where to put it.

    Jimmy Cracked Corn, June 24th, 2010 at 9:18 am:

    • I would stock up on vegetable seed packets, especially the peppers, herbs and corn.

    kimberly, June 24th, 2010 at 9:23 am:

    • I’d opt for a rare variety like the Eccremocarpus Scaber Tresco Gold vine. My second choice would be the Echeveria Subrigida. NICE!

    Sue, June 24th, 2010 at 9:27 am:

    • Being a tomato lover; I would love to try “Pink Berkeley tie dye”

    Kylee from Our Little Acre, June 24th, 2010 at 10:56 am:

    • Annie’s is AWESOME! One thing I’d get is something I’ve always admired in other people’s gardens – Angelica stricta ‘Purpurea’.

    Roya, June 24th, 2010 at 10:57 am:

    • The Canna “Paprika” reminds me of my mother’s garden.

    Angela Davis, June 24th, 2010 at 10:57 am:

    • I’d order Aeonium hierrense (I’ll probably order it anyway) – love it! Doesn’t everyone need more plants to bring in the house for the winter? I sure do!

    Nancy Whitesell, June 24th, 2010 at 10:59 am:

    • I’d pick Brugmansia (Double White). Beautiful blooms and very fragrant!{=

    Juliet, June 24th, 2010 at 11:02 am:

    • I think I’d have to go with the Nigella hispanica “Curiosity” that has been on my wishlist for a while….

    Rosie, June 24th, 2010 at 11:08 am:

    • I’d pick up a Calceolaria cana . The flower is so beautiful. Being an orchid lover doesn’t help either.

    Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening, June 24th, 2010 at 11:10 am:

    • Gosh, it’s so hard to choose! But I just got done saying on my own blog that I’d like to try Scabiosa ochroleuca again, so I’ll go with that. But if I really won the $50 gift certificate, I’d spend a lot more time making my selections!

    Natalie, June 24th, 2010 at 11:15 am:

    • Corydalis sempervirens – they’re so cute! And they would be perfect for my shade garden that needs a little more color.

    mr_subjunctive, June 24th, 2010 at 11:36 am:

    • Epiphyllum ‘King Midas.’ Plus a couple other things, if they were available or could become available anytime in the near future. (Puya alpestris, Agave attenuata)

    Monica the Garden Faerie, June 24th, 2010 at 11:42 am:

    • Man, this is the hardest entry yet, trying to pick one fave. I’ll go for Geum coccineum ‘Borisii’ because I love geum and it’s so cute!

    Kristi, June 24th, 2010 at 12:05 pm:

    • Happy Blogversery! Did I mention that you are awesome. :-)
      I have a wish list at Annie’s as long as my arm but I ‘m torn between the Kennedia nigricans “Black Coral Pea” and the Nicotiana ‘Hot Chocolate’

    Megan Lynch, June 24th, 2010 at 12:10 pm:

    • Clarkia unguiculata ‘Salmon Princess’

      It was really hard to pick just one.

    Joel Ignacio, June 24th, 2010 at 12:17 pm:

    • I would get Solanum muricatum “Pepino Dulce”

    Alex, June 24th, 2010 at 12:34 pm:

    • How on earth can I pick? I love the color of Heuchera “Marmalade” – let’s go with that!

    Nancy Dow, June 24th, 2010 at 1:03 pm:

    • I have a huge wish list going at anniesannuals.com. But I’ve been dying to try Mimulus naiandinus ‘Mega’ “Spunky Monkey”.

    Lisa, June 24th, 2010 at 1:18 pm:

    • I’d like the kiwi vine! I’ve always wanted to grow them…I hope I win! :)

    Anne, June 24th, 2010 at 1:37 pm:

    • I would purchase the Coleus blumei ‘Black Dragon’. What a neat color!

    Miss Nessa, June 24th, 2010 at 1:44 pm:

    • Oh there’s so much, but the Impatiens sodenii ‘La Vida Rosa’ caught my eye today :)

    Chris McLaughlin, June 24th, 2010 at 2:01 pm:

    • Cussonia paniculata
      “Mountain Cabbage Tree”

      I’m totally down for Dr. Seuss in my yard…

    Mary Ann Marshall, June 24th, 2010 at 2:10 pm:

    • I would choose Western Giant Hysop. It looks like it would keep the hummingbirds happy.

    Seasonal Wisdom, June 24th, 2010 at 2:25 pm:

    • I love Annie’s Annuals! Here’s my wish plant – Agropyron magellanicum “Blue Wheat Grass,” Don’t you love the color? And hardy too.

    Jeannie Hanson, June 24th, 2010 at 3:01 pm:

    • I’d pick from Annie’s CA natives: on the first page, my choices would be Showy Milkweed, Ceanothus ‘Joyce Coulter’ and Aquilegia formosa, and I’m still in the A’s. So much to choose from!!!

    NJTrees, June 24th, 2010 at 3:14 pm:

    • Oh oh! White current tomato, please!

    Craig @ Ellis Hollow, June 24th, 2010 at 4:46 pm:

    • Alcea ficifolia ‘Black’ “Black Fig-leaved Hollyhock”

    Mary, June 24th, 2010 at 4:52 pm:

    • Mine may be a very basic plant, but I’ve had Asclepias cordifolia “Heart Leaf Milkweed” on my list since I found out about natives! Plus, I need some color to convince the butterflies to stick around. ;)

      I got my only Annie’s plant at the Flower and Garden Show this year. Nicotiana Alata ‘Lime Green’. She’s going to seed and still flowering!

      Thanks for such an awesome chance!

    Jenn, June 24th, 2010 at 4:55 pm:

    • Oo. So many to chose from.

      I’d try this one:
      Watsonia tabularis “Table Mountain Watsonia”
      and see if it can grow in the low desert!

      So beautiful.

    chris wilson, June 24th, 2010 at 5:16 pm:

    • Antirrhinum majus commonly known as‘Chantilly Peach’ would be the one for me!

    Iris, June 24th, 2010 at 5:22 pm:

    • Euphorbia myrsinites “Donkey Tail Spurge” would have to be on the list… thanks…!!

    Silvanie Farmar Bowers, June 24th, 2010 at 5:33 pm:

    • I would get Passiflora sanguinolenta.
      I had this Passion Vine last year, which was a beauty but it got killed off by frost.

    Kelly, June 24th, 2010 at 5:34 pm:

    • Aloe africana!

    Sue Scott, June 24th, 2010 at 5:36 pm:

    • Salvia clevelandii is something I would buy from Annie’s Annuals. It has such a great scent and beautiful delicate flowers!

    Alexis Clark, June 24th, 2010 at 5:48 pm:

    • If must pick only one, the Mina lobata
      “Exotic Love Vine” ~ I’ve never seen anything like it!

    meemsnyc, June 24th, 2010 at 5:50 pm:

    • What a cool giveaway! I would get a Papaver glaucum “Tulip Poppy”. It’s really pretty.

    Connie Duncan, June 24th, 2010 at 5:51 pm:

    • Glaucium grandiflora!

    Sue Haas, June 24th, 2010 at 6:10 pm:

    • I would get Salvia ‘Jean’s Purple Passion’, cause I’m nuts about the sage plants.

    Sandra Whisler, June 24th, 2010 at 6:11 pm:

    • Cuphea oreophila would go so well with all my other cupheas. Please choose me.
      THanks, Sandra Whisler

    Jacqueline, June 24th, 2010 at 6:17 pm:

    • …insanely gorgeous plants is right! I would love a Calandrinia spectabillis for starters. I am reclaiming a barren yard from the deer and gophers. So far, so good. I love seeing the bees and hummers visit!

    Terri Elliott, Oakland CA, June 24th, 2010 at 6:18 pm:

    • If I won an Annie’s Gift Certificate, the first plant that I would get is, Verbascum bombyciferum ‘Artic Summer’. It has velvety grey/white foliage with a spike of bright yellow flowers. Truely a show stopper in my neighborhood.

    Dan, June 24th, 2010 at 6:24 pm:

    • I’d buy Rhodochiton atrosanguineum because it’s truly gorgeous and I haven’t grown it in many years.

    Kenneth Moore, June 24th, 2010 at 6:31 pm:

    • Kiwi! Totally!

    Charmain Giuliani, June 24th, 2010 at 6:41 pm:

    • Calceolaria mexicana is the plant for me!

    Kristin Gayaldo, June 24th, 2010 at 7:20 pm:

    • I would buy Ceanothus “Joyce Coulter” Love the color.

    Lori Kotsonas, June 24th, 2010 at 7:23 pm:

    • I’d love a couple of those drought tolerant CA native shrubs that Annie’s posted on Facebook the other day: Encelia Farinosa “Inciencio”! Fingers and toes crossed and thanks:)

    Rochelle Doss, June 24th, 2010 at 7:26 pm:

    • If I could only buy one (which I never do) I would buy Papaver ‘Flemish Antique’…Love,Love, Love, Annie’s!

    gina, June 24th, 2010 at 10:18 pm:

    • Coral Bells! Annie’s has so many pretty ones!

    Dena White, June 24th, 2010 at 10:45 pm:

    • Leonotis menthifolia would be my pick, it would look great in my Fairy Garden!

    Lydia Davis, June 24th, 2010 at 11:58 pm:

    • I would definitely get the grape scented sage. After smelling it at annie jesen’s open house I was soled.

    Vickie, June 25th, 2010 at 12:22 am:

    • pipevine – Aristolochia elegans
      “Calico Flower”
      I need it to feed my pipevine swallowtail caterpillars!

    Joni, June 25th, 2010 at 12:38 am:

    • This is my heart felt choice, Callirhoe digitata
      “Standing Winecup”.

    Anna, June 25th, 2010 at 1:16 am:

    • I love Annie’s!

      I’d buy a few of the Red California Poppies!

    Regina, June 25th, 2010 at 2:16 am:

    • I like Liparia splendens “Mountain Dahlia”. It’s been on my Annie’s wishlist for awhile.

    Jorge Jimenez, June 25th, 2010 at 2:30 am:

    • I’d love to buy one of those western clematis…beautiful plant!

    Diane McCarthy, June 25th, 2010 at 10:14 am:

    • !!!! I am so excited!! Thanks, Colleen and Annie’s Annuals! You’re the best!

    Annie's Annuals and Perennials, June 25th, 2010 at 11:46 am:

    • congratulations diane (@bintie!) – have fun shopping! thank you so much colleen for letting us play and happy, happy blogiversary to you. :)

    Mark, June 25th, 2010 at 12:18 pm:

    • Well, I’m too late to enter but not too late to suggest what you buy. If you like a lot of orange, you can’t beat Marmalade Bush, aka Streptosolen jamesonii. Here in the bay area it blooms nearly all year in a big way. Here is what it looked like for me in its second season: http://www.flickr.com/photos/serialplantfetishist/2519451039/

      and here is what it looked like last year:
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/serialplantfetishist/3552647487/in/set-72157621905093604/

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