Proven Beauty. . . is Green!

Many of us garden because of the joy of creating beauty and having an artistic outlet. Proven Winners plants are key in that experience because the unusual varieties and long-lasting color make it easy to express our vision. As we garden, the very act of being outdoors and connecting with the life around us brings another facet to our joy. After a few years, I think most of us develop a real appreciation of the birds, butterflies and bees, and even the earthworms and soil microbes, which work underground to help our plants thrive.

That’s why I’m so glad to see the ways Proven Beauty, the Proven Winners magazine, is sharing ways of being more sustainable in our gardens. This digital magazine is “printed” online. It comes in an easy format that can be read on a computer screen or downloaded to an iPad. You can get great gardening inspiration while feeling good that no trees were cut down.

Many of the articles focus on topics surrounding sustainability, even if they’re not labeled as such. Choosing the right plant for the right spot, for example, is one of the foundations of gardening in an earth-friendly way. And, every issue of Proven Beauty gives guidance about how to select low-care plants that will perform well in the garden without pesticides. Tough garden bloomers like Oso Easy^® Mango Salsa or Home Run^® roses bring a long-lasting splash of color to the landscape and need none of the coddling of traditional rose varieties.

The most recent issue, Early Spring 2012, goes a step further and features an interview with landscape designer and author Jessi Bloom. She is known for designing lush gardens that welcome wildlife and have many layers of interest. In the interview, Bloom shares her perspective that you don’t have to give up beauty to enjoy all of the benefits of a sustainable garden. By selecting plants which naturally attract birds or beneficial insects such as Veronica ‘Hocus Pocus’, you can enjoy a garden that needs less care yet is vibrant and full of seasonal variations.

I’d urge you to download your copy of Proven Beauty today, and get inspired to plan and begin your own spring garden displays!

^© Proven Winners, LLC.