 | Don & Kathi
Don and Kathi Wheeler are the amiable D&K behind D&K Flowers Etc. The couple have managed to gain a reputation for selling a good basic stock of garden plants, plus many unique new plant varieties--for which Don seems to give Kathi all the credit.
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 | Judy
Judy Patterson, who's filling in on this particular day, flashes a cheery smile--and means it.
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 | Magellan Mix Zinnias
Magellan Mix Zinnias (Zinnia elegans Magellan Mix) are for those who love bright, vibrant color in their gardens. Many gardeners and growers consider them the best dwarf zinnias ever produced. They grow to 12-14 inches tall and as wide and all season long bear a profusion of blossoms in seven colors--ivory, pink, orange, cherry, yellow, scarlet, and coral. Note: The coral-color Magellan zinnia was an All-America Selection in 2005.
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 | Cleome
Cleome (Cleome hassleriana), or Spider Flower, is one of the most engaging annuals gardeners can grow. Reaching 4 feet high and 2-3 feet wide, it bears medium-large flower clusters in white, pink, or purple from midsummer to late fall. An ideal background plant in the garden, Cleome, with its long stems and spirally-arranged leaves also a uniquely different textural contrast.
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 | Orange Plume Celosia
Orange Plume Celosia (Celosia argentea var. plumosa) is stunning in the garden. Growing to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide, from June till frost it bears soft, upright, feathery plumes in brilliant orange. The Plumosa Group of Celosia also come with yellow, apricot, pink, purple, and red blooms. Easy to grow, they like full sun and rich, moist, well-drained soil, but will tolerate poor, dry soils as well. Note: Plume Celosias are also outstanding cut flowers, with a vase life of 10 days, and make aexcellent dried flowers, too. Another common name: Plume Coxcomb.
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 | Susan
Susan Cargill, who evidently was born with a hose in her hand (we've never seen her when she wasn't watering), is a big contributor to D&K's reputation for keeping plants in superb condition and giving good customer service. We don't think she'd mind if we also mentioned she has a great sense of humor. But maybe she would. We'd better ask her.
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 | 'Fairytales Cinderella' Purslane
'Fairytales Cinderella' Purslane (Portulaca oleracea 'Fairytales Cinderella') features small, jewel-like flowers with flat yellow petals and pink-to-orange-pink centers. The plant grows to about 8 inches high with a 24-inch spread. Purslanes are succulents and need well-drained soil and light watering and should be let dry between waterings. They like full sun for best bloom and will take high summer heat. These plants are perfect for edging borders, hanging baskets, spot plantings, and containers. Note: The yellow flowers in the photo belong to 'Rio Yellow' Purslane, which has similar features.
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 | 'Fairytales Sleeping Beauty' Purslane
Yet another in the Fairytales series of Portulaca hybrids developed by the Ball Horticultural Company, 'Fairytales Sleeping Beauty' features double yellow flowers.
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 | Rio Scarlet Purslane
The Rio series of Portulaca hybrids (Portulaca grandiflora species), also developed by the Ball Horticultural Company, features larger, more tropical-looking flowers for a Purslane. They can grow to 8 inches tall and 16 inches wide. 'Rio Scarlet' is obvious in the photo; the yellow variety is 'Rio Yellow.'
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 | Rio Apricot Purslane
We're not sure why they call this pinkish Purslane 'Rio Apricot,' but they do. In any event, it's lovely and has all the virtues of the other Rio hybrids.
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 | Rio Orange Purslane
The Rio Orange Purslane flower is especially engaging, we think, with its orange petals and glowing yellow centers.
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 | Orange Verdolaga Purslane
"Verdolaga" is Spanish for the Portulaca, or Purslane, commonly used as a vegetable in many Latin American countries. Also used as a salad green in France and other European countries, it's said to resemble watercress in flavor and consistencys. The species, Portulaca oleracea, is also a common weed in the U.S. This beautiful hybrid should be given full sun..
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 | Gerbera Daisies
Gerbera Daisies (Gerbera Jamesonii), also known as African Daisies, Transvaal Daisies, and Barberton Daisies, are almost stunningly vivid in color. They do beautifully in Ozarks gardens if given full sun and rich, well-drained soil. To avoid rot, they must be planted with crowns planted above the soil and never watered from overhead. They grow 10-18 inches tall. The flowers make superb cut flowers and lat up to two weeks in water.
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 | Pink Versicolor Hibiscus
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 | Sunny Wind Hibiscus
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 | 'Mauve Delight' Brachycome
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 | Magilla Perilla
Magilla Perilla may look like a coleus, but it's actually a colorful member of the mint family. A hybrid of the species Perilla frutescens, it grows quickly and vigorously in full sun or light shade. It can take our Ozarks summer heat and will grow 12-18 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide. A great choice for adding spot color to the garden and containers, too.
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 | Aurora Raspberry Coleus
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 | Kong Mosaic Coleus
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 | Kong Red Coleus
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 | Lava Trailing Coleus
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 | Amaranthus
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 | 'Burgundy Wine' Euphorbia
'Burgundy Wine' Euphorbia (Euphorbia cotinifolia 'Burgundy Wine') can be a real highlight in the garden, thanks to its rich burgundy foliage. An annual in the Ozarks, this plant likes partial sun to full sun. It grows slowly to a height of 2-5 feet and in summer bears very small, dainty yellow blossoms that contrast nicely wtth the foliage.
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 | So Sweet Hosta
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 | Starlight Impatiens
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 | Non Stop Orange Begonia
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 | Non Stop Yellow Begonia
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 | Sweet Caroline Potato Vine
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 | Cornstalks Galore
Lots of Ozarks folk love decorating for the harvest time holidays, and dried cornstalks are a favorite especially for Thanksgiving. This year's crop ran came a bit taller than usual--as tall as 10 feet--and complete with plenty of dried ears of corn. Here Kathi arranges them into a neat row.
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 | More October Fun
Kathi, who apprently loves decorating for fall, worked up this whimsical display with custom-tailored scarecrows and a world of pumpkins, squash, gourds, and mums..
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 | Plumpkins
Don and Kathi's pumpkins for fall 2007 struck us as plumper--and maybe prettier--than any we'd ever encountered. Notice how beautifully symmetrical they are, too.
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 | 'Bold Gretchen' Mum
Noted for its exceptionally rich, deep-orange color, 'Bold Gretchen' is a standout mum that really grabs the eye in containers or in the garden. A bonus: the plant's tight, beautifully mounded habit.
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 | 'Delicious' Mum?
Kathi's not sure, but she thinks 'Pink Delicious' may be the varietal name of this mum. It was one of several that came from one supplier without plant labels. Whatever the name, the flowers uniquely contain many shades of rose and pink.
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 | 'Golden Andrea' Mum
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 | 'Key Lime Pie' Coral Bells
We hate to state the obvious, but 'Key Lime Pie' Coral Bells (Heuchera 'Dolce Key Lime Pie') is so the color of key lime pie that it looks good enough to eat. Another of the newer Coral Bell hybrids, it's a perennial perfect for shady gardens. It grows in a clump 10-14 inches wide and the foliage looks good all year-round. The plant will take some sun, but in the Ozarks should be protected from our full-out hot afternoon summer sun.
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