'Art in the Garden' at North Creek

Yesterday I attended North Creek's Open House. This year's theme was 'Art in the Garden.'  Needless to say it was gorgeous! Everywhere you turned there was a beautiful piece of artwork or an amazing plant that I had to immediately own. (OH...and a surprise SCARECROW at the end of the post...can you guess who it is?)

This is one time when words just will not do the event justice...so I went prepared to take pictures. Take a look for yourself. I've listed the artists below that displayed their incredible talent. Check out their websites...you won't be disappointed.

• Dan Benarcik, Susan Benarcik, Bill Johnson, Rhoda Kahler, Jan Kirsh, Stan Smokler, Marcia Tate, Harriet Wentz and Lenny Wilson.

I came across this Scarecrow...and then I took a closer look!!!! WHO IS THAT???

WOW....it is Steve Castorani's face on that Scarecrow!

-Karen
GMG

Happy Summer Solstice

Hello summer and the longest day of the year! I still can't believe that summer is finally upon us. Now it's time to sit back and enjoy my garden. I'm all about low-maintenance gardening, so I thought I would share some of my favorite plants that are blooming right now in my city garden.

First up, the ever-blooming Endless Summer mophead hydrangea. I've had this one for at least three years now and it's quite spectacular in full bloom! I love the fact that I if I cut off the blue blooms, this encourages the plant to grow more. Plus these blooms look amazing as cut flowers in vases.

Next up, coreopsis 'Sunshine Superman' from Northcreek Nurseries. I was luckily enough to pick this up last year at the GWA Symposium in Dallas. What a beauty this turned out to be! It's golden yellow flowers, which are low-spreading, will bloom now until October. It's an easy native that can survive in sun or part shade. I think it looks right at home with my Sapphire Indigo (TM) clematis.

And finally, the extraordinary lacecap hydrangea called 'Veitchii,' which is just starting to bloom now. During the summer it will produce these showy lacecap clusters of flowers that range from pink to blue to white depending on your soil PH. Mine grows happily in full sun, but it also does well in partial shade.

I'd love to hear which plants are blooming in your garden!

-Stacey

GMG

Rare Plant Auction is the Event of the Year for Plant Geeks

This Saturday I am honored to be the emcee at the 31st Annual Rare Plant Auction® being held at Longwood Gardens.

It's the who's who of plants and the people who love them and are looking for unusual, newly-introduced or difficult to propagate specimens - like Itoh peonies and a brand new never before released Clivia.

Hundreds of plant lovers from across the nation plan their calendars around this annual event.

This year's celebrated plant expert is Gordon Collier, a plantsman extraordinaire from New Zealand.

On display and up for auction will be more than 400 carefully researched rare plants contributed by plant connoisseurs from around the country. Donors include such names as Dan Hinkley, Dan Benarcik, and David Culp along with nurseries like North Creek and Peace Tree Farm.

This gala evening at Longwood Gardens raises more than $100,000 each year. All proceeds benefit Delaware Center for Horticulture’s Community Greening Program, which uses horticulture to beautify Delaware and to improve the quality of life for residents in urban neighborhoods.

Anyone can attend. Tickets range from $100 for a first timer to $500 to be in the Clivia Club for a special preview reception. Email Joe Matassino for details jmatassino@thedch.org.

Suzi, Garden Media Group

North Creek Lives Eco-Scaping

More than 300 toured new plants being trialed, enjoyed fresh and local produce from North Creek's CSA and laughed with host Steve Castaroni and the team at North Creek Nurseries at the 23 Annual Open House this past Thursday.

New North Creek introductions were previewed - including Solar Cascade a great new solidago goldenrod. Steve and I were talking that solidago needs a new common name. Acchhoo! What do you think?

The yummiest surprise was the North Creek's fresh produced being cooked up by local chefs. Chef Yvonne Post from Cookingforreal.com demonstrated how to cook from garden to table and the hot new restuarant Twelves in West Grove catered.

North Creek produces a bushel a week of fresh produce in season for its team

All the who's who in horticulture were there.It was a gorgeous day and everyone had a blast.

Suzi

Garden Media Group

North Creek Holding Open House

Garden writers and landscape designers, want to see some groovy new plants? North Creek Nurseries is holding an Open House at its Landenberg, Pa., farm from 10 am to 4 pm this Thursday, September 3. Interested garden writers and landscpae designers are invited to attend.

North Creek is a wholesale nursery with a special emphasis on native plants -- you may have seen them at GWA symposiums -- and they'll be offering tours, presentations on new introductions, rain gardens, green roof garden, a native landscape plug meadow, lunch etc. You can look up the details at here.

The farm is at 388 North Creek Road in Landenberg, and directions are on the web site. For planning purposes, they'd appreciate an email if you plan to attend: info@northcreeknurseries.com