Calling all green thumbs!!! I need help! PLEASE!

[gerberdaisy1234]

Ok, I don't know about you but I see MICKEY!

I have searched seeds and plants, nurseries and online. I can not find pansies that look like these that we saw at Hershey Park.

I REALLY, REALLY want some.

Are there different names for pansy designs? Do you know where I could find some seeds for this kind?

PLEASE HELP!!!

Thank you!

 

[kayla87]

Those look more like Johnny Jump Ups to me, which are basically a smaller pansy. Don't know if this helps too much, but since no one else has replied yet, maybe it will send you in the right direction.

 

[agnes!]

I think this might put you out of your misery...

found here...
http://www.lucasgreenhouses.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=533

Looks like your "mickey-face" flowers are the 'Delta yellow with Purple Wing' or a variant.

And if you really want the *exact* Hersheypark flower, contact Hershey directly. I'm sure they probably have a horticultural or landscaping department.

agnes!

 

[agnes!]

Hersheypark's public relations manager is Kathy Burrows. Burrows was interviewed in the Baltimore Sun (http://www.baltimoresun.com/travel/bal-ae.li.travel02apr02,0,1884427.story) and certainly is aware of the flower plantings in the park since she says

"It's a beautiful time of year to visit. We have 65,000 pansies planted throughout the park; we have pansies blooming everywhere."

If you really want the specifics I would start with her office, it looks like they could be contacted through this page on the Hersheypark website: http://www.hersheypa.com/press_room/

You could also e-mail Hersheypark directly at their general info e-mail address: info@hersheypa.com

agnes!

 

[agnes!]

These two articles have "Hershey Nursery" as the flower & garden arm of Hersheypark.

From 2009...

Today, we caught up with a crew from the Hershey Nursery planting thousands of yellow pansies...

http://civellophoto.typepad.com/hersheyinsider/2009/03/index.html


from 2007...

The maestros behind this botanical-garden-in-disguise are the folks at Hershey Nursery, the plant arm of the Hershey empire that Milton himself founded about a century ago. That's also when Hershey opened the original Hershey Park.

Like the park, Hershey Nursery is a division of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co. Some 20 nursery staffers plan, plant and care for the park landscape as well as other company properties, such as Hotel Hershey, Chocolate World and Giant Center.

"Before the park opens in the spring, we sometimes have 40 to 50 people in here working 10- to 12-hour days," says Bob Aquila, Hershey Nursery's assistant operations manager. "We're putting down mulch (1,200 cubic yards every year), doing a lot of pruning and planting pansies."

http://blog.pennlive.com/go/2007/08/hersheys_secret_gardens.html

Here is the Contact Info:
Hershey Nursery Landscape & Maintenance
25 Northeast Drive
Hershey, PA 17033

HersheyNursery@HersheyPA.com
717-534-3060

Hope this all helps,
agnes!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

OK, pansy planting time is over, just so you know.

You can look for similiar pansies with a "mickey face" for fall planting and then in very early spring. They can survive "frost" but obviously not a deep freeze. Once it hits the 90's in temp, the pansies are done. Although I have had some luck with growing them in TX in the shade believe it or not. They did eventually poop out once it was too hot for too long.

I am in MO and varieties like this are quite common. Not sure about your selections in Maryland but I am sure once you look this fall you may see them available in your local nurseries.

As someone else mentioned Johnny Jump Ups are a smaller looking viola.