|
March, for me, is off to a good start. I went to the Vermont Flower Show March 1 and 2, and reveled in the scents and colors of spring: yellow daffodils, red tulips, flowering pink azaleas and fuzzy white fothergilla. And much more. On the other hand, as of the 4th of March, I haven't seen the sun yet this month and the Burlington Three Tomatoes is still closed for renovations (more on that soon. I toured the renovations, and it is going to be great!). My dirt road is posted and mud is stuck to my boots. Thank goodness that I live near the Lebanon Three Tomatoes Trattoria. I believe in pampering myself and getting out to have fun during mud season.
Let's talk about the flower shows - there are still some good ones coming up. I'm a serious gardener, so I go for several reasons: first, I love to see the hundreds - nay, thousands -of flowers that are on display. All shows have plenty of displays that show off trees, shrubs and blooming flowers. They all sell cut flowers and potted flowers at reasonable prices. There are seed packets available for almost anything you might want to grow. And there are flower arrangements of all sorts.
There are also tools for sale at the flower shows, including new and interesting things. I am always looking for ways to save labor or get my garden spiffy. At the Lee Valley Tool display (at the Vermont Show) I saw a nifty little wire brush designed for cleaning out between bricks or pavers. They had a dozen or more sizes of hand pruners there so you could feel them and pick just the right one for your hand. They were actually just taking orders, but waived the shipping fees and promised to get our orders right out.
All the flower shows have educational lectures. Even though I was lecturing at the Vermont Show, I found time to attend others. I always bring a notebook so I can remember the names of new varieties of plants that I want to add to my gardener. At the Vermont Show the keynote speaker was Stephanie Cohen, a well known author and lecturer, who spoke about native flowers with "bling". A few of the flowers I'll be looking for, having seen them in her PowerPoint, include these: a clumping form of obedient plant (Physotegia virginiana) that looks great but won't spread sideways and take over my flower bed. She said to look for those in the 'Manners' series. Another she showed and that I want is a short form of Joe Pye Weed, one that won't dominate my garden, but does well in wet places.
So now that I've convinced you that you want to see a spring flower show, which ones are still up-coming? Boston, Philadelphia, Portland, Maine and Durham, NH.
The Philadelphia Show is the opposite of the Vermont Show: big, busy, and brassy. It has been in existence since 1829, and hosts over 250,00 visitors each year-and the site encompasses something like 7 acres of display area. It will be held March 2-10 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Tickets are (ouch!) $27 - but worth it. If you're a serious gardener, you must go at least once in your life! Info: The Flower Show. I recommend going during the week if you can - weekends can be pretty crowded.
The Portland, Maine Flower Show is March 7 -10 at the Portland Company Complex on Fore St, downtown. Tickets cost $13. Info: Portland Company Complex.
 Boston is another big show with lots to offer. Held each year at the Seaport World Trade Center, it is March 13-17 this year. Lots of displays, lots of speakers. Reading the list of talks, I loved this one: "Jaw-Dropping, Traffic-Stopping, Get-Your-Neighbors-Talking Container Gardens"by Deborah Trickett. That alone is almost enough to get me there! There are lectures by plenty of well known garden experts to choose from. The displays created for the competition really are wonderful. Tickets are $20. Info: Boston Flower Show
After Boston comes The Seacoast Home and Garden Show in Durham, NH on March 23-24. I remember it as a nice small show, but have to admit that I have not been for several years. I may go this year. Tickets are only $8. Info New England Expos.
But if you don't feel like traveling, just go to your local florist and buy a potted orchid or some tulips. And then go out to dinner at your neighborhood Three Tomatoes Trattoria. Go to the web site, and look at the special events at your local trattoria.
Whether it is Pizza Night in Rutland (all pizza just $9 on Sunday nights) or the pasta special dinners in Williston (dinner for two, $25 including Caesar salad on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) or Fishmonger night on Fridays in Lebanon, there is always something good going on. So have fun in March. Don't let Mud Season get you down. Spring is just around the corner.
Henry Homeyer's web site is www.Gardening-Guy.com. His new children's book is Wobar and the Quest for the Magic Calumet.
Henry lives in Cornish Flat, NH and can be reached at henry.homeyer@comcast.net.
|
