Last Saturday the National Arboretum in Washington, DC held their annual Garden Fair. This is always a fun event for anyone even remotely interested in gardening. Needless to say, we were there bright and early.
The entrance to the show. Admittance is free. The volunteers were so helpful and happy to see everyone.
One of the first things we saw as we entered the enormous tent was this display of hanging plants and a "Know Your Zone" map.
Upon close examination, I learned that I am not only in Zone 7, but more specifically in Zone 7(a).
Once inside the tent, you were just overwhelmed with the variety of plants that were for sale.
A table of succulents, including, I believe, portulaca.
And another interesting table with these cleverly marketed Moss Milkshake containers. As it states on the carton, you just add water - and shade - and you have a moss garden. Moss can only be grown in a shady area of the garden. You simply sprinkle the contents over the area you would like to grow moss in and mist it with your garden hose and in no time you will have a moss garden. I will be applying this in my "Garten viele Pflanzen", or "Garden of Many Plants" which is located in the back yard under the soaring Sugar Gum Trees.
As I made my way further through the tent, I found this most unusual plant. What on earth is this?
Well, . . . it is an Agave geminiflora "Rasta Man" Century Plant, of course. I could not resist. This particular agave is not winter hardy in Washington, but no matter. I will plant it is a pot that can be put in the greenhouse for the winter.
Further along, more of these most interesting plants. And this one is?
Agave parryi "Retrochoke" Parry's agave. These are winter hardy in my area but excellent drainage is a must.
My third and final agave purchase was this delightful little plant.
Agave Iophantha "Splendida" Century plant. Again, winter hardy in the Mid-Atlantic but care must be taken to provide excellent drainage.
What I did not know, but learned from a very nice gentleman named Jim at the garden fair, is that adding Poultry Grit or "Chicken Grit" to the soil will take care of the drainage issue with these exotic plants. Thank you, Jim, for your time and instructions on how to care for my new plants.
Once I was finished with my tour through the tented area, I discovered that there was an outdoor area with all kinds of shrubs and trees.
In these last two pictures, the ivy tree in the center was actually "Ivy Man." He would squat down to look like a shrub and then stand up and move from place to place. I tried to get a picture of him "up" but unfortunately that did not happen. All I succeeded in doing was getting a picture of Steven laughing at him.
And so was our visit to the 2013 Garden Fair at the Arboretum. Lots of fun and we got some interesting new plants for the landscape.
The entrance to the show. Admittance is free. The volunteers were so helpful and happy to see everyone.
One of the first things we saw as we entered the enormous tent was this display of hanging plants and a "Know Your Zone" map.
Upon close examination, I learned that I am not only in Zone 7, but more specifically in Zone 7(a).
Once inside the tent, you were just overwhelmed with the variety of plants that were for sale.
A table of succulents, including, I believe, portulaca.
And another interesting table with these cleverly marketed Moss Milkshake containers. As it states on the carton, you just add water - and shade - and you have a moss garden. Moss can only be grown in a shady area of the garden. You simply sprinkle the contents over the area you would like to grow moss in and mist it with your garden hose and in no time you will have a moss garden. I will be applying this in my "Garten viele Pflanzen", or "Garden of Many Plants" which is located in the back yard under the soaring Sugar Gum Trees.
As I made my way further through the tent, I found this most unusual plant. What on earth is this?
Well, . . . it is an Agave geminiflora "Rasta Man" Century Plant, of course. I could not resist. This particular agave is not winter hardy in Washington, but no matter. I will plant it is a pot that can be put in the greenhouse for the winter.
Further along, more of these most interesting plants. And this one is?
Agave parryi "Retrochoke" Parry's agave. These are winter hardy in my area but excellent drainage is a must.
My third and final agave purchase was this delightful little plant.
Agave Iophantha "Splendida" Century plant. Again, winter hardy in the Mid-Atlantic but care must be taken to provide excellent drainage.
What I did not know, but learned from a very nice gentleman named Jim at the garden fair, is that adding Poultry Grit or "Chicken Grit" to the soil will take care of the drainage issue with these exotic plants. Thank you, Jim, for your time and instructions on how to care for my new plants.
Once I was finished with my tour through the tented area, I discovered that there was an outdoor area with all kinds of shrubs and trees.
In these last two pictures, the ivy tree in the center was actually "Ivy Man." He would squat down to look like a shrub and then stand up and move from place to place. I tried to get a picture of him "up" but unfortunately that did not happen. All I succeeded in doing was getting a picture of Steven laughing at him.
And so was our visit to the 2013 Garden Fair at the Arboretum. Lots of fun and we got some interesting new plants for the landscape.
