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

Passion---this year's theme at the flower show

No, friends, you haven’t stumbled onto the cover of a new romance novel, although the guy in this picture does look a lot like Fabio.  This is a poster on display at the flower show, and as you can see, there’s a cut-out where the woman’s face should be.  It’s there so that you can stand behind the poster and look out, while someone on the other side makes your picture.  Voila—you’re the star of a steamy scene.

And while you’re picturing yourself with this Fabio wanna-be, picture yourself here at the flower show, too.  I’ve been here most of the day, and I’m having a blast.

I’d like to extend sincere thanks to some friends who came by to see me as I signed books today at the Eagle Eye Bookstore inside the show:  Monteen, Cathy, Carolyn, Brenda, and Jeff (it was a pleasure to meet you at last).  How fun to see you all, and to see you all enjoying the fabulous flowers and landscapes.

The Eagle Eye booksellers are outstanding, too.  Whatever you are looking for, whether it’s a glossy coffee table book, an herbal handbook, a field guide for birders, or a reference book, Doug Robinson and his knowledgeable staff can steer you to it.  Don’t forget that many fine authors will be signing at the show on Sunday, so check them out.

Kids will also find plenty to do tomorrow, Feb. 1.  At 12:30 P.M., Louise Estabrook comes onboard to tell them about the wonders of worms–and worms are wonderful, when it comes to improving the soil.

At 1:30 P.M. and again at 2:30, the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeepers will lead an “Enviroscape” activity for the small fry, to show them where water comes from, how it gets to our homes, and where it goes after it leaves our houses.

At 2 P.M., the Imaginators take the stage to perform “Georgia Grown,” a mini-musical.

Don’t miss children’s author Joyce Revoir at 3 P.M., as she spins stories for kids and helps them make a craft.

The show closes at 4 on Sunday.  But don’t worry–you still have an entire day to take it all in.

For today, I’ll leave you with a few more pictures I snapped:

Don't miss the designs created by Dutch floral arranger Els Teunissen

an Eco-Brite display showing how to collect rainwater run-off from your roof in a storage barrel

hydrangeas in a landscape setting

More to come!  Check back here on Sunday!

Lynn

clematis in the rain

Maybe you’ve never heard of NOAA, so let me introduce you.  NOAA is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, pronounced like No-ah, or Noah, the guy who built that big ark when it rained.

NOAA is part of the U.S. government’s department of commerce (commerce? Yep.  Apparently its mission to protect lives and property and to help support our nation’s economy).  Because it’s packed with all kinds of weather information, including forecasts, NOAA is a great resource for gardeners.   Wondering what kind of weather we’ll have this spring?  Click NOAA’s link to the National Weather Service and you’ll find forecasts listed by state (or territory, if you happen to live in Puerto Rico). NOAA also lets you access detailed records about major climate changes and events like hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, and so on.

NOAA came to mind today because it’s raining here in Atlanta.  The drought we’ve suffered over the past two years has really hurt our yards and gardens, so rain is very welcome, and to celebrate, I’m posting a picture of a clematis covered in raindrops.

Don’t forget to visit the flower show when it opens on Jan. 28.   There will be plenty to see and do, come rain or shine!

cheers,

Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com