Garden product stars for 2008

Gone are the days when gardening in colder climates meant using only boxwoods, hostas and cold-hardy perennials. Thanks to advances in breeding, tropical beauties like the Bahama Bay hibiscus collection can be successfully grown in gardens situated well above the Mason-Dixon Line.

Nearly two dozen hibiscuses with enormous bicolored and tricolored blooms accented with lush, dark green foliage are in the collection. With names like 'Goin Steady,' 'Heartbeat' and 'Big Bird,' the plants have personalities all their own and are a perfect fit for gardeners who have caught on to the tropical explosion. Gardeners in tropical climates, zones 7 to 9, can enjoy the hibiscus' massive, multicolored blooms almost year-round. For those gardening in cooler climates, Bahama Bay will bloom abundantly during the summer months when grown in a container. For more information, visit the Bahama Bay Web site, www.bahamabay-hibiscus.com.

A touch of class for any garden can be found in the new Williamsburg Collection from Campania International (www.campaniainternational.com). The collection features an extensive range of garden containers, including cast-stone replicas of urns in the Governor's Palace gardens, part of Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area. Birdbaths, an elegant windowbox and a stepping stone round out the product line. This historical collection features the rich designs of Colonial Williamsburg, offering today's gardener an exceptional array of historical American garden accents. Try one of these elegant accents inside or outside your home to achieve the latest "designer" look from Campania.

This season, Messina Wildlife Management offers Deer Stopper, a 100-percent organic repellent that smells like a day at the spa. But don't be fooled by the sweet, minty aroma; deer don't like the smell or the taste. This all-natural, biodegradable liquid repellent stops deer from feeding on your prized gardens, shrubs and trees for 30 days per application. The product dries clear, won't burn your plants and is listed for use by organic growers, so it is safe to use on any vegetation, including edibles. Deer Stopper is available nationwide at lawn and garden retailers and hardware stores. For more information on Deer Stopper, retail store locations and repellents for other garden pests like rabbits, groundhogs and squirrels, visit www.messinawildlife.com.

Start your container garden off right this season with high-quality planting soil that feeds the plants and keeps the soil moist longer. The new organic potting soil, called Organic Mechanics (www.organicmechanicsoil.com), is an all-purpose, peat-free potting soil that is 100 percent organic and promises to improve plant performance. Gardeners can pick up Organic Mechanics potting soil at Whole Foods, Wegmans and Wild Oats or the new 1.5-cubic-foot bag at fine garden centers.

Courtesy of ARAcontent