Get the most from those garden shows!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Last week, I gave you some info on some of the garden shows that are gearing up for 2012. This week I want to give you some tips to get the most out of some of those shows you may be going to.
Some shows are on a smaller scale than others and will take up just a small portion of your day. They are still great shows to visit and you are always likely to get some good information from them. But when it comes to the MAJOR garden shows, like the ones held in bigger cities, that have larger venues, marketplaces and gardens to explore, you will probably be spending a good majority of the day there so you will need to adjust your day accordingly to get the most enjoyment from them - and knowing how to navigate them can be a bit daunting at times
After you’ve marked your calendar or journal for the shows you’ll be visiting, the next thing to do is note any particulars of each show. Check the show’s daily operating hours, its location and the cost of admission. Some tickets for the larger garden shows can range from $15 to $30 or more. TIP: If it’s organized by a horticultural society, you may be able to purchase a membership and possibly save on the admission price or get other benefits such as attending at special hours or special parking areas or discounts on certain vendor merchandise or special entry areas that avoid long line-ups.
Most garden shows feature exhibits designed by regional nurseries, landscape designers and florists. In the vendor area, you will find retailers selling a myriad of items - statuaries, patio furniture, accessories, plants, tools and numerous other things. Bring some good strong bags that will protect your purchases from the any unnecessary roughing that may occur as you navigate through the crowds
Research your times on the seminars held there so you can time your lunch or shopping opportunities. Find out where the restaurant areas are to take a deserved break every now and then.
Garden shows are great places to find a landscape designer, nursery or florist to work with and bounce off ideas of what you are looking to do in your garden. Each exhibit usually has pamphlets about their company and is staffed with professionals who can answer your questions. Take some pictures with you of your troubled spots.
When to visit the shows and what to wear is always a concern at the bigger shows. I believe that great times to go are during bad weather, just be careful in getting there. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Bring your camera and journal to document those special displays or jot down notes from the experts.
Taking heed to just a few of these tips will help you soak up all the inspiration you’ll need to get your start on your 2012 garden.
Plant of the Week! I was going through my garden album and came across one of my spring blooming plants and decided to share it with you. It’s an old fashion peony that brings back memories of the farm. My mom had these all around the house and they were so lovely to see on a cool spring day. Sea Shell is a graceful single form peony that features large and lively pink flower petals gently caressing the center core which was composed of delicate yellow stamens. The satiny looking blooms stand tall on very sturdy 3 foot stems and glossy green leaves. I planted my Sea Shell between a stand of beautiful blue and pink columbines and rich maroon Heucheras. What a great statement it makes in my spring garden. So for entertaining my fantasies while I wait for the oncoming spring – The Sea Shell peony is my plant of the week!
That's it for now – enjoy and Happy Gardening!
Terri Dent is home grown from Chatham-Kent. Her roots began on a farm in Raleigh Township. She moved to the big city of Chatham when she married in 1971 but the love of the land and nature has always remained in her blood. Her big push into horticulture started in the 80's. She and husband Ron (with tender persuasion) decided to turn their suburban plot - which their house laid on, into something more than a patch of grass. Through numerous gardening and horticultural courses, Terri harnessed the knowledge to move full steam ahead and hasn't looked back. She has a Diploma in Garden and Landscape Design and believes continuous education is a must in the horticultural world. Terri was instrumental in starting up Garden Tours in Chatham and has won numerous local and regional gardening awards. The Dent's garden has been published in several magazines and is listed as a the number one top area garden in the Ontario's Great Gardens to Visit book authored by a Patricia Singer of Toronto. Terri's past speaking engagements have been to business, church groups, libraries and Horticultural Societies. Terri presently sits on the Board of Directors for the Blenheim-Harwich Horticultural Society.
