It’s hard to say good-bye now that the 2009 Southeastern Flower Show has closed, and all the terrific exhibits and demonstrations are being packed away and removed.  But the flower show will be back, bigger and better than ever before, in 2010, so mark your calendar now (I’m serious–go grab that calendar right now, before you forget, so you’ll save the date.  Once you’ve made a gardening friend, you should keep him, and we want to see you again.)

I’ve had so much fun blogging for you about the show.  I hope you’ve enjoyed the pictures and news I’ve shared.  I’d love to see any pictures you made of the show, too, so please feel free to leave a comment here, or email me at inkycreek@gmail.com.  Let us know what you liked, and what you’d like to see in 2010.  With your permission, I’ll forward your suggestions and remarks to the good folks who direct the show.

I’ll say good-bye for now, and I’m sending my best wishes that you will have a wonderful, successful garden throughout the year.

Green blessings to you and yours!

Happy gardening,

Lynn

www.LynnCoulter.com

author, Gardening with Heirloom Seeds

It would take a poet to describe exactly how beautiful the flowers are at this year’s garden show.  It’s like that old saying, “you had to be there.”  You have to be here, at the show, to truly appreciate the colors and fragrance of the blossoms, the abundance of environmentally-friendly ideas and products, and the fun and entertainment of walking around in what is actually a huge garden inside the Cobb Galleria.

The 2009 show ends today, Feb. 1, at 4 P.M., but you still have time to come and spend the afternoon.  For directions, ticket prices, or other info, click on www.flowershow.org.

Hope to see you here!

Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com

this is what you get when you muck around in the mud: beautiful flowers

My garden boots sure don’t look like this–do yours?  Probably not, because real gardeners come in from the flower bed or veggie patch covered in mud, but then again, this is just another fabulous entry at this year’s flower show.  Created by Diane Festa and Barbara Slick of the Peachtree Garden Club, this entry in the “Weekend Passion” category won lots of ribbons and a silvery trophy.  Be sure to look for it when you come by–it’s whimsical and fun and absolutely gorgeous, all at the same time.

Here’s another snapshot I made of a floral tableau.  The designer really captured the beautiful colors of the fabric in his or her choice of flowers:

the designer echoed the bold fabric colors in the choice of flowes

I love stargazer lilies, so I was delighted to find this display:

stunning floral displays await around every corner of the show

The show ends at four today, so hurry over to the Cobb Galleria.  You still have time to see it all!

cheers,

Lynn

Or maybe this post should be titled, “Make Something Quick,” because that’s what your kids can do today at the show.

The good folks from The Home Depot are coming at 11:30 this morning and again at 1 P.M. to lead a kids’ potting and building workshop.  You do need to sign up ahead of time, so hurry over to their booth as soon as you arrive–space is limited!  The activity takes about 30 minutes.  But even if the workshop is full when you get there, don’t despair.   Local Home Depot stores offer even more kids’ workshops, and they’d be glad to give you details.  While your kids learn how to use tools safely, they make fun, practical things like bird feeders, tool boxes, and bug houses (okay–maybe a bug house falls more under the fun than practical category).  Just click here for more information, or ask at your local Home Depot store: Home Depot Kids Workshops.

Look for this friendly lion at the flower show today, too.

roar----this lion marks the entrance to the kids' play area

He’s guarding the entrance to a kids’ play and exploration area.  Don’t you love his fuzzy green collar?

Okay for now….check back with me later.  We’ll have more to tell you before the show closes for 2009 at 4 o’clock today!

cheers,

Lynn