Sunday, March 06, 2011

Building A Flower Show




Sunday, March 6, 2011

40.5° here on the mountain this morning. It has been raining most of the night and as the sun begins to rise with reluctance, it is very apparent how much the snow has shrunk over the night. This in no way hurts my feelings as this has been the winter of snow. Although many remind us of the countdown to Spring, I know that we are in for a number of big storms between now and green grass. Last year on April 28th, 18" of "wet white" fell just days after we had uncovered our potted perennials. On Mothers Day in May, I stood with a group of ladies in a snow squall contemplating spring planting. Vermont is clearly a state of surprises!

Every other year Green Works, The Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association produces a flower show at the Robert Miller Convention Center at the Fairgrounds in Essex. This year the theme is "Sweet Dreams" and on Friday Gail, Alex, and me, and a couple friends made the journey to tour the show. Today (Sunday) is the last day of the show and as rain falls outside spring flowers beckon you within.

Flower shows are a tremendous amount of work. In a very short time Green Works members appear from all corners of the state to work like beavers completing a fine dam before the sun rises. No matter what your impression of any flower show you ever visit, always remember this beaver thing. Flower shows take organization, money, forced flowers, trees and shrubs and volunteers; and when the show is over, everything that was built has to come down and quickly I might add, as there's always another venue waiting in the wings.



I took the wrong camera I guess or perhaps the main show gardens were a little less lit than I expected but I will put an album together today on our Facebook page Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens. The map up top shows the show gardens with a meandering path requiring a walk through a giant birds nest constructed of mature willows, topped with big and colorful birds and offering giant , unhatched eggs. It challenges the gardener out of the nest and into the next turn of excitement. It reminded me of something a favorite sculptor of mine, Andy Goldsworthy could have been involved in.





Anyway, forget the rain, and think flower show. As you tour the show floor, look for my friend Sarah, the owner of Full Circle Gardens in Essex. Tell her George sent you. I'l bet she'll have a big smile for you!

Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where I may, just may, put on the snowshoes later and walk through the fields out back looking for last year's bird nests. Guaranteed they won't be as big as the one at the flower show!


George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
Vermont Flower Farm
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On Facebook as Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens and also as George Africa
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2 comments:

Unknown said...

It sounds like a lot of fun--and just the thing for the dreariness that is Farch, as I not-so-fondly call it. Here's hoping this last day was well attended and brings you customers.

Budy supriyono said...

I like that..
Is very good.