Highlights from the Philadelphia Flower Show 2013--Part II

In addition to the themed displays at the Philadelphia Flower Show, there are rows and rows of specimen plants, that are judged and on display.

This is one of my favorite parts of the flower show, where you can see what makes the perfect begonia, poinsetta, and even snake plant.  It is a place to see every variety of cactus imaginable, countless orchids, flowering bulbs, rock gardens, and terrariums.  I love to see what I have grown and also get ideas.  Here are some of my favorites this year.

I could have spent hours and hours inspecting each and every plant.  But alas...after a little shopping....it was time for dinner.

We ventured over to Talula's Garden at 210 W. Washington Square to try out their fresh, seasonal, farm to table selections.  They had an amazingly diverse menu, yummy cheese plate, old fashioned drinks, and heavenly deserts.  I look forward to going back in a few months to sample their spring and summer menu.  There is a great outdoor patio area too!

Talula's was the perfect place to end our Flower show day!  Fresh ingredients, botanicals, terrariums, long wooden country style tables, tulips, and garden lights.

Here are some of the dishes that we sampled...

Carrot Soup, Spicy Cucumber Radish "Pickles," Torn Mint and Yogurt

 Pear Salad, Red Watercress, Endive, Walnuts, Port Pears, Blue Cheese, Poppy Seed Dressing

 Seared Gulf Snapper, Kumquat Vinaigrette, Chervil, Mint, Sunchokes, Radicchio, and Creamy Cauliflower Puree--Yum!

and for dessert....

Crisp Creme Brulee Napoleon--Vanilla Bean Creme, Pistachio Tuiles, Blood Orange Sorbet

Oh....and don't forget the Maple Glazed Brussles Sprouts with Alpine Cheese, Cider and Leeks
and the Creamed Kale with Fontina and toasted pistachios.

And their coffee and espresso is really good too!

And so ends the Flower Show 2013 adventure.  Can't wait until next year!

Highlights from the Philadelphia Flower Show 2013--Part I

Last week I ventured out to the 2013 Philadelphia Flower show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  The theme was Brilliant!--focusing on London and the garden design of Great Britain.

Each year the flower show showcases landscape designers' interpretations of a central theme, elaborate flower arrangement displays, botanical specimens and booths full of plants, garden ornaments and products available for purchase.  Here are some highlights.

As I walked around the main displays, I was amazed by the dramatic contrast and creative arrangements of various plant varieties, colors, and textures.  Sedums, paired with moss and roses--bell jars filled with fiddlehead ferns and cyclamen--elaborate table displays with queen anne's lace, clematis, and winding branches.  Each display was unbelievably unique, filled with so many components to look at, learn from, and inspire.

The delphinium is one of my favorite flowers.  It adds height and vibrant color to the perennial garden and is gorgeous in bouquets and arrangements.  Some of the displays did a wonderful job of showcasing this magnificent flower. 

  

The clematis were abundant this year too.  One display had at least 10 different varieties to look at.  It made me want to try new varieties in my garden.

But...the all time favorite display was definitely the Alice in Wonderland display with bronze statues, a croquet court, and elaborate banquet table.

 To top it off, a wall of kale and greens, and a beautiful queen anne's lace, and cosmos display.

And...a sheep....

...(it's not real)

To be continued.....

Moss and Stone Photography by Robin J. Koss

If you are interested in some of the photographs that you see here, please visit Moss and Stone Photography.  My photographs are available for purchase, are signed and dated, and can be printed in a variety of sizes.  Please check them out!

Winter Go Away...It's Seed Time!

I have officially reached my seasonal point in the year where I am ready for winter to end.  While wintertime offers a cozy time to eat homemade soup and sip spicy cups of hot chocolate, bhile burrowed beneath a favorite blanket, the barren monochromatic color palette day after day wears on this gardener's spirit.

In the midst of February, I begin to pull out my seed catalogs, dreaming of what I will plant and grow in my garden next season.  I often have to remind myself of the green that will soon replace the gray vacant spaces that surround me.

I love to search though varieties of catalogs, some offering mostly seeds, heirloom varieties of vegetables, and fruit trees.  Some companies have that rare kind of eggplant that I look for, while others have fun things like romanesco broccoli and purple cauliflower seeds.

This year,  I added a Lattarula Fig to my collection of potted figs trees, along with a Blood Orange tree, a wild blueberry plant, and a pine berry plant (a white strawberry with red seeds and a pineapple flavor).

I like to experiment with seeds and plants to see what works and what doesn't.  Some years certain things are successful and other years they don't even make an appearance.  The experimentation feeds my sense of discovery and wonder.

And there is nothing more exciting than receiving that box in the mail one day in march that says "Time sensitive--Plant Materials."

Some of my favorite mail order nurseries are:

Raintree Nursery- www.raintreenursery.com
Burpee Seeds and Plants-  www.burpee.com
Jung Seeds- www.jungseed.com
R.H. Shumway's-www.rhshumway.com
John Scheepers- www.johnscheepers.com
Cooks Garden-www.cooksgarden.com

Happy Hunting!