North Carolina Day 2
Due to Internet connection issues, I wasn’t able to finish my reports from the Garden Writers Association last week. I’ll post them now along with my follow-up thoughts and comments. I hope you enjoy!
<<Clearly, I missed blogging yesterday. Our haul back to Raleigh from Asheville began early with a morning-long stop at the famed Biltmore Estate. Our private tour with head gardener Parker Andes was a treat. He kindly guided us around the fog-draped estate pointing out time period restorations that will greatly add to the historic feeling of the property. We examined hand drawings made by landscape architects from F.L. Olmsted’s design firm. Despite the numerous notable landscapes in his portfolio, Olmsted regarded Biltmore as his crowning achievement. It’s in that spirit of excellence and pride that Parker and crew continue to this day.
Our next stop, after a FABULOUS lunch respite at Posana in downtown Asheville, found us in Hickory, NC at Hawksride Farm Nursery. I could go on for hours about the plants we discussed and talked about with Rick Crowder, general manager. Rick’s extensive travels in Japan have netted a fine collection of nerdy collector plants and choice landscape selections with distinctive and unique appeal. Take a look at some of the wicked-looking plants we saw (listed in order of appearance, variegated Hydrangea serrata, Yucca aloifolia ‘Purpurea’, variegated Quercus, Cercis canadensis ‘Rising Sun’ [leaves emerge bronze then fade to lemon]):
I haven’t the attention span left tonight to share with you my six hours of adventures today (Day 3) at Plant Delights Nursery. Wow! Tony and the PDN dream team have created the prix d’elegance of the plant world, a truly jaw-dropping and mind-numbing collection of plants that range from budding mainstream commodities to esoteric BIO (botanical interest only) plants. I’ll try to post a photo blog of that visit tomorrow.
Admittedly it’s hard to collect my thoughts. My mind whirls in conversations with, handshakes from, and hugs by colleagues that I only get to see a few times each year. What wonderful people! Gardeners and those who write about such passionate work embody the best of humanity. I’ll try to keep up tomorrow. Some of us plan to play a little hookie and skip out to Sanford, NC to visit renowned NC garden center Big Bloomers. Fun plants are in store!
 | Published on October 4th, 2009 | Posted by kdnblog |