Coming up with a list of 2006′s hottest items seems to be the norm for media sources at the moment so to feel like I’m not on the outer I thought I’d come up with my own. The lists I’ve read in the papers are based mainly on Who’s Hot (or Not), which technology is going to be the biggest seller and which religion/ cult is fast becoming the next big thing.
What about “Gardening” people??? Have we side-swiped the obvious ‘mover and shaker’ in the hottest columns this year? Is there nothing new to talk about when it comes to garden-styles, plant choices and new noxious weeds?
Let the world choke on their VoIP, their iPod’s and Nicole Kidman’s new boyfriend. It’s time to make some risky predictions for a year that could be as unsettled as the last…

What’s Hot for 2006.

1. Gardening Blogs. This is obvious as we want to create communities where people can share ideas, trade propagating secrets and generally publish to the world our ‘little worlds’.
2. Xeriscape Gardening. Nothing new here but I predict that with water resources becoming even more limited more people will choose xeriscaping over starting a cottage-style garden.
3. Gourmet Chickens. I’m not talking about the one that may have made it to your Christmas table but the trend in having chickens in your coop that better reflect your personality. The type of chooks you decide to keep will certainly state something about who your are – consider them as the iPod skin for gardeners!
4. Outdoor Lighting. Why would anyone want to create something that can only be seen for half the time? Outdoor lighting is going to be a big consideration for more gardeners in 2006.
5. Flowering plants. We’re over grasses!!!! Foliage plants with strappy leaves can be awesome additions to the garden so long as they don’t become the garden! My prediction for 2006 is that many gardeners who’ve gone berserk with flaxes, mondo grass and dietes will be pulling them up in favour for jacobinias, phlox and daascii. Bring it on I say!!