Sunday, March 24, 2013

Bonsais featured at our next club meeting



The March 25th speaker for Crossroads Garden Club will be Marianne Thomasson. Her topic is Bonsai gardening. Our meetings are at 3072 Highway 154, Newnan, Ga and begin at 7:00 pm sharp.

We have open meetings. Everyone is invited.

Thomasson is an owner of our local Newnan Times-Herald. She is also an avid bonsai gardener and I have seen some of her amazing creations. She will be there to help us learn how to get started in this form of gardening that is also an oriental art form.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

More about the Flower Show


There are always things that you really like that don't neccessarily appeal to anyone else. I imagine that I'm not the only one who likes them but I think what I like is not everyone's cup of tea.

Above, a display of Mr. Cason's Garden (from Callaway Gardens): I love animals made from shrubs, vines and flowers. It reminds me of Disney World. I don't think I would have one in my yard but a cute bunny pushing a wheel barrow a la Peter Rabbit always makes me smile.


Calla lilies: In all colors--in all varieties, they are always beautiful to me.


This little girl is adorable. She looks too little to be able to read but her parents have sure instilled a love of books in her. Now really, isn't that a cute picture?


I have some bamboo drying out, just to make this sort of thing. This is a bamboo teepee/garden arbor/kids hideaway. I love, love love it.


My sister and I spied this compost bin at the same time. She said, "This might be better than our round, plastic one we have at home."

She is probably right. This would hold a great deal of compost and I love that it is low-tech.


I really need a cold frame. This is another low-tech thing that will never go out of style.


Elvis: One of our garden club members said she would be happy to pose beside him anytime.


Ferns: I have too much shade in my yard and I need to learn to love ferns more. They are pretty and add variety and best of all, green.


The pseudo-cemetery: I really loved the serenity of this exhibit. I think cemeteries should be garden spots and they have done a very good job here.


I really loved the lenten roses, helleborus. They add to the serenity and are evergreens.


And this was the "eat your fruit and veggies display. It has everything including mushrooms. A photo doesn't do it justice but this was one of my favorite things.


I really loved the way the fruits and veggies added to the pretty flowers in this exhibit. I didn't really get it because it is very odd. Hate the fireplace and ashes--love the arrangement. I guess this could be, "I am intensely ardent, passionate or flaming for fruits and veggies."


I know that May Day is said to be a pagan celebration, but we always had a Maypole at my elementary school and I will always love them. It was amazing how the participants wove a colorful pattern on the pole. I can't help it, it was pretty and fun. This exhibit made me think of school days and maypoles. It was nostalgic.


And because everyone who goes to a Flower show where one of the speakers is Vince Dooley, legendary football coach turned master gardener and author, would have to like this one. This is for you.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Southeastern Flower Show: A visual tour


On Friday, I made the short journey to the Southeastern Flower Show with some of my fellow Crossroads Garden Club members and we were just in heaven. There were beautiful things to see in every direction.

In fact when we arrived, I wanted to take a photo of everyone in front of the pretty Southern Horticultural Society living logo and ... they all disappeared. Obviously, they couldn't hear me when I said "Group shot, everybody."


There were pretty weeping trees of all kinds, ...


and no shortage of encore azaleas.


There were some very pretty azaleas of different colors.



The knockout roses weren't all red. I loved these pale pink ones.


And beautiful bouquets of a variety of flowers in similar colors.


I immediately saw seedums growing on a post. That was unusual. I asked how they were watered and apparently it is with an irrigation system embedded in the post. Who knew that was possible?


And the white column of sheer restful pleasure--so pretty.


Who wouldn't be inspired by a greenhouse made of windows.


 I stopped to chat with a lady manning the Home Depot exhibit and found that she was a member of the oldest garden club in the country. I loved the vegetable garden on one side and the flowers on the other. The feed sacks and gourd birdhouses along with old cans and containers were great. I don't think I would have thought of the gourds and burlap bags on a rope but it was the perfect touch.


I must say there were vegetables everywhere. Corn was growing in large containers with flowers all around and herbs and vegetables in every conceivable container and space.


 The first unusual plant we saw was this caramel coral bell surrounded by greenery.



 Koi, anyone? I think I wouldn't mind having a koi pond.


I hadn't seen Callaway Gardens making a showing the last couple years at this show but they had a real show stopper--along with all kinds of architectural objects.


This support makes a beautiful statement.



And if you have ever been to Callaway Gardens, you will know this exhibit represents the country charm of their beautiful gardens.


It was very interesting to me that one of the exhibits was basically a graveyard with an obelisk in the center and stone benches and pseudo headstones around. I thought it was really beautiful and thought about all the homecoming days at churches where they have a grounds keeping day. Kind of old-fashioned, but nice and pretty.


This angel statue surrounded by herbs and shrubs was nice, too.



This exhibit featured a children's garden. I love the shrubs in burlap bags.


I am sure I would have benefited from hearing more of the speakers but when I passed by this stage, the topic was Hills and Dales estates and garden in LaGrange. I wanted to raise my hand and say, "Excuse me, I have been there and it is lovely. "

I restrained myself but the speaker was saying, "In the beginning, God ..." and if you had ever been there, you would know what he means.








 There were plenty of juried exhibits. Above begonias in a dish garden.


This one are the prize-winning group of camellias.


A beautiful pale peach day lily.



One of the winning entries for "Eat Your Fruits and Veggies," began with this cute school desk.


A group of flowered hats. The winner is above.


The moss on this one looks like real hair.


This hat is totally made from moss and the "feathers" are made from basil, I think.


When I took one look at this one and I thought--Gone With the Wind.


 The orchids were so beautiful, too.


 And I loved this exhibit that was kind of like a 3-D shadowbox.


There there were the table settings. They were so quaint.


An upside down trash can could make a good seat.


On the plate--I think was "An apple of the day."


An whole bunch of apples make up this table setting, along with apple dishes.


I think this was my favorite--pot pillows and a table on spades.

The last thing for today, a beautiful teacup arrangement.

I will continue tomorrow. It may take all week to show you everything.