tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39183453049471897572024-03-05T13:19:38.043-08:00Hahn Horticulture GardenWelcome to the GLOG - garden blog!Holly S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08346529197906543442noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-82809079226822292852011-03-11T08:54:00.000-08:002011-03-11T10:10:28.482-08:00Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden - A Total Delight!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bxhMpPnhlnHQTzZCv1KBTGvvycBIrqv_Y0r5LyIpprjnr1QPmDAEVepEv9Sg0_OmuiNPQNT3VgCHjfYyEbsXno9j1iPtBSCpbXE5nAP3djWogzRjalTLZTTqKNVyvd4EKivxHtoVMQ4/s1600/P1020698.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bxhMpPnhlnHQTzZCv1KBTGvvycBIrqv_Y0r5LyIpprjnr1QPmDAEVepEv9Sg0_OmuiNPQNT3VgCHjfYyEbsXno9j1iPtBSCpbXE5nAP3djWogzRjalTLZTTqKNVyvd4EKivxHtoVMQ4/s400/P1020698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582853908667140786" border="0" /></a><br />Whimsical, wild, refreshing, creative, innovative, un-expected. All words I would use to describe Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden in Lexington, Va. I was expecting manicured grounds surrounding an old private residence, but what I found was much more interesting. A rambling yet intimate, delightfully <span style="font-style: italic;">un-manicured </span>garden filled with giant-sized furniture, interesting garden art, and other gnarly, wooden garden creations. A garden truly seeming to have been created in the spirit of 'going with the flow' of nature rather than trying to control and manage it. When roaming through this interesting space, with the help of colorful, handmade signage, it felt like I was getting a VIP tour by the garden's creator, showing me all the little particular beauties and secret sweet spots of this little parcel of land.<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> I felt like a kid again. I wanted to build a fort, make some mud pies in an earthen kitchen, and explore all the many secret hideaways behind trees and under bushes. And, this is how I felt traveling through the "adult" section of the garden! The children's garden, The Play Trail, was off -the -chain! Forts galore, a tunnel, a true mud kitchen complete with pots and pans for creating muddy delicacies; it looked so FUN! I think Boxerwood really hit the nail on the head with this children's garden. Kids can really <span style="font-style: italic;">be</span> kids there(...and so can adults;). Check out this video to see some of the Play Trail's visitors in action:<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RvoCV7rmLjM" width="400" frameborder="0" height="255"></iframe>Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-25878010212053874642011-01-27T07:20:00.000-08:002011-01-27T14:05:57.719-08:00Plant SexI began my Dendrology laboratory this past Wednesday and we touched on the concept of monoecious and dioecious. Generally speaking, monoecious plants have unisexual flowers( seperate male and female flowers) that occur on the same plant. Dioecious plants also have unisexual flowers but they occur on separate plants, as in male flowers on one plant and female on another. However, Despite all the different times I have heard this, I still get a little confused. Michael G. Simpson does a nice job of explaining this concept and the different variations that occur on this monoecious-dioecious spectrum in his textbook, <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Plant Taxonomy:<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ08Fvp-S7kkd7qp94dwH6F1V034lAIfVWLyU5azjB4f_U5bsDqGyzaenQruxPfqyr-kIPBNWrpxK-W6XsgmGbkjQuYkGT2R7yENmJQX1IXEvBWi4F2qt0w6NIqhg-Q-x69rIdBO7_4h8/s1600/Flower+Sex.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 468px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ08Fvp-S7kkd7qp94dwH6F1V034lAIfVWLyU5azjB4f_U5bsDqGyzaenQruxPfqyr-kIPBNWrpxK-W6XsgmGbkjQuYkGT2R7yENmJQX1IXEvBWi4F2qt0w6NIqhg-Q-x69rIdBO7_4h8/s400/Flower+Sex.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566983671070948066" border="0" /></a></span><span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click twice on the image to view:)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span>Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-9976799256487259422011-01-18T06:30:00.000-08:002011-01-18T07:49:28.825-08:00Tropical Escape<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpUn8w66UP_HFnkJTJKJkKPILJJ6l-grRso27AMwymb4UoMujkck2-xKw-ZV9EJMUMIJDgjuPBkHJkCZEiiXkXFg0pDmOBf6buTWz36Rntsv4JO9AZCr_a0C46rmXy8how6I45sqyKRo/s1600/Brassavola+%2527Little+Stars%2527.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpUn8w66UP_HFnkJTJKJkKPILJJ6l-grRso27AMwymb4UoMujkck2-xKw-ZV9EJMUMIJDgjuPBkHJkCZEiiXkXFg0pDmOBf6buTWz36Rntsv4JO9AZCr_a0C46rmXy8how6I45sqyKRo/s400/Brassavola+%2527Little+Stars%2527.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563541025483688402" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Brassavola </span>Little Stars</span><br /><br />Despite the fact that there is a bit of snow on the ground here in Blacksburg, Va., we still have a few things blooming around here. There is a <span style="font-style: italic;">Brassavola</span> Little Stars blooming just inside the front doors of the garden pavilion. Come visit it late in the day and you will be able to smell its sweet fragrance. Also, blooming right next to it is <span style="font-style: italic;">Begonia dregei (</span><span>syn. <span style="font-style: italic;">B. richardsiana)</span></span>. Unlike any <span style="font-style: italic;">Begonia </span>I have seen before, it is mini-sized and develops a swollen, bulbous, stem base (caudex) as it matures. Because of its habit and toleration of dry conditions, it apparently lends itself to Bonsai. If you check out the Logee's website, there is a picture of it grown in this way. Very Cool!<br />http://www.logees.com<br /><br />P.S. I am a little bit confused on the nomenclature of this plant. I have seen it listed a bunch of different ways, <span style="font-style: italic;">B. </span>'Richardsiana', et. al., but went with <span style="font-style: italic;">B</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">dregei</span> because the USDA GRIN (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?6645) website lists it as such, with <span style="font-style: italic;">B. richardsiana</span> as a synonym. If you know otherwise, please let me know!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0KY-uRGz-HMfyhaC4LDIkONJfXMgk4yQ6ToQkfU_PkPn1DWYMPSTT7bYFK-jVwF16gfl6x9Hevhu-d2as4oMnFDf9VuZsACCEH1JAhyphenhyphenXsGAQaRsMvm2K8Z9FQKETgjo4rzbUVD7FXrs/s1600/Begonia+caudiform+%2527Richardsiana%2527.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0KY-uRGz-HMfyhaC4LDIkONJfXMgk4yQ6ToQkfU_PkPn1DWYMPSTT7bYFK-jVwF16gfl6x9Hevhu-d2as4oMnFDf9VuZsACCEH1JAhyphenhyphenXsGAQaRsMvm2K8Z9FQKETgjo4rzbUVD7FXrs/s400/Begonia+caudiform+%2527Richardsiana%2527.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563546646780182786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Begonia dregei</span></span>Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-3605723771179397082010-12-28T13:00:00.000-08:002010-12-28T13:10:23.270-08:00Winter!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8GcQg0LWHTA0NWvO84Q9vE1R2IucwiosocuEQXkZ4x3Jx2oVcN389gN1NbK-eepPsKJvuguvw9ObvoRQXo7pDvSIvmcQrsbbDcGIPKJtNFVmiztST-X2idJL0QOm8NCKPYqbKvrNxpE/s1600/waterfall+winter2010.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8GcQg0LWHTA0NWvO84Q9vE1R2IucwiosocuEQXkZ4x3Jx2oVcN389gN1NbK-eepPsKJvuguvw9ObvoRQXo7pDvSIvmcQrsbbDcGIPKJtNFVmiztST-X2idJL0QOm8NCKPYqbKvrNxpE/s400/waterfall+winter2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555843325584371362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9k8m6hHreQnC2xnu3tG0pZExq4IPxGi1truWEPXOllYLzN0Sn5XXhGkQuNht9G90GaqmpH3zd3IEYTwCKE6askWhkZGVndwOnTJY-jsMu68gd9IPXZqzx0U8OS8Ivx5tRlCqk9zIjC4/s1600/monarda.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9k8m6hHreQnC2xnu3tG0pZExq4IPxGi1truWEPXOllYLzN0Sn5XXhGkQuNht9G90GaqmpH3zd3IEYTwCKE6askWhkZGVndwOnTJY-jsMu68gd9IPXZqzx0U8OS8Ivx5tRlCqk9zIjC4/s400/monarda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555842782659304610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZPbT-PWHMJmxP_XVmbTA4geKwxdbGV1gMBMVd2nwdnkA-3dO-dy4xQ6tOR5vrgblJm9rglxylWGTYY8ltXS-mDMaupQw83aumctiO8tPmX8R865eGACG9vr-7kukQxP6FRhxqofGGNQ/s1600/Asclepia+tuberosa.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZPbT-PWHMJmxP_XVmbTA4geKwxdbGV1gMBMVd2nwdnkA-3dO-dy4xQ6tOR5vrgblJm9rglxylWGTYY8ltXS-mDMaupQw83aumctiO8tPmX8R865eGACG9vr-7kukQxP6FRhxqofGGNQ/s400/Asclepia+tuberosa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555841926342590210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfhpMRK-1y7rUdQ3lJpwQst8d6KYcyBpho0WtDFPZ-LP-NC-frTcWrD9rghM1ygFQ6erdHhS-BhUY0oEwEFZdTGX0JIMO8Za_LIvxeIJvyR_xZIHgnpSlCas4HSqdnRMGSlUbk_qclI8/s1600/R.+maxima.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfhpMRK-1y7rUdQ3lJpwQst8d6KYcyBpho0WtDFPZ-LP-NC-frTcWrD9rghM1ygFQ6erdHhS-BhUY0oEwEFZdTGX0JIMO8Za_LIvxeIJvyR_xZIHgnpSlCas4HSqdnRMGSlUbk_qclI8/s400/R.+maxima.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555841403184072018" border="0" /></a>Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-72789005166155025972010-11-30T08:16:00.000-08:002010-11-30T11:39:48.276-08:00Fall!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmjPLxu6cLeS5QHLesJepui8nboTuhvoU9SLWYeZcQqn8d97p4aChmJocI8KBuN6XEiGOhvYnKOMPgHHG6nZyP3OIlsrb9IkuiYjshk79CmUo9HwC3h7L5aXssxLUjDIssOfBpffGMf0/s1600/Stewartia-Small+pond+Fall+2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmjPLxu6cLeS5QHLesJepui8nboTuhvoU9SLWYeZcQqn8d97p4aChmJocI8KBuN6XEiGOhvYnKOMPgHHG6nZyP3OIlsrb9IkuiYjshk79CmUo9HwC3h7L5aXssxLUjDIssOfBpffGMf0/s400/Stewartia-Small+pond+Fall+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545429762311339202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPNG319E85_37oiJdInPsELoCGSzlkykP1x1CIAlqiMJ6nN38sGkFEAZlGJeK1hn-BPkyXcTYXMsiZU90Wil-ytS4TerRr0BKXKfETZntYAkNZeM4lDXdKfd-HkK6qBCKpjKeJI0VFsM/s1600/Small+Pond+Fall+2010.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPNG319E85_37oiJdInPsELoCGSzlkykP1x1CIAlqiMJ6nN38sGkFEAZlGJeK1hn-BPkyXcTYXMsiZU90Wil-ytS4TerRr0BKXKfETZntYAkNZeM4lDXdKfd-HkK6qBCKpjKeJI0VFsM/s400/Small+Pond+Fall+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545429461290133874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSu78sppjfUma1SxBiFHMpzWOwcq6duEyCkd_Q1O87NPyoqA40-f2iUVaLqNXKlfKi8dc_INjuZdNvJh3dq8Qv_UTkDJkthPN_2IFuhpM_7LO03Ur2tekNK_3Z80grPVLZM4GqQ8sCPE/s1600/Carex+Fall+2010.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSu78sppjfUma1SxBiFHMpzWOwcq6duEyCkd_Q1O87NPyoqA40-f2iUVaLqNXKlfKi8dc_INjuZdNvJh3dq8Qv_UTkDJkthPN_2IFuhpM_7LO03Ur2tekNK_3Z80grPVLZM4GqQ8sCPE/s400/Carex+Fall+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545428867114229074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtMb0I1aPQhjCEwIVUepST1ju5u9VwtShcgynP7BBr2fOjXgVpz1sum2VE1gOv4gM90GJFXWcxsGxyFG9L9ffhL0sl2JOadSBHihUbO94GjLrxv6AS55kS2Scv8QyOMs56D6MNyj9498/s1600/Lungwort+Fall+2010.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtMb0I1aPQhjCEwIVUepST1ju5u9VwtShcgynP7BBr2fOjXgVpz1sum2VE1gOv4gM90GJFXWcxsGxyFG9L9ffhL0sl2JOadSBHihUbO94GjLrxv6AS55kS2Scv8QyOMs56D6MNyj9498/s400/Lungwort+Fall+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545426543961038930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUaxGLRD9F_2SSyyhLmLzbE74BHq4FewoldDYV2jk5gf-sPFXTD0oEQ0Rk5mC7EPbHKVm_P62TmDn6fGwm8frHm6LCrODN23jepc9V7Hl9eo4KaiMyDkYgC3rYBXnkd_6aODYS0M4nnY/s1600/Stewartia-Small+pond+Fall+2010.jpg"><br /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwLQmAY554u-FvuuvAfcSb9TbPGve28YeLaxVP2-TG8sEmw2zjB7yN6oZ4QuX72VslzKGuc8vJcLHsDZeFJccBtJ8uxBuDvAbwCn3eppFb3jhoq1Utj0RanERQCsL0UqEkFj4KGIYjhU/s1600/Carex+Fall+2010.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBQx0qqnkLr-684IsigFXKT1rqaGLUFquBGwGEG6_lfwnUuQXhb_K0ujHygBkBsP4945CLu8bmuVRJYKVKDj32OwU7E4Qk3iaVQggIzv3HJoUOZ-ANyBnh44Jd7EWmitcINcMTFBftbc/s1600/Meadow+View+Fall+2010.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBQx0qqnkLr-684IsigFXKT1rqaGLUFquBGwGEG6_lfwnUuQXhb_K0ujHygBkBsP4945CLu8bmuVRJYKVKDj32OwU7E4Qk3iaVQggIzv3HJoUOZ-ANyBnh44Jd7EWmitcINcMTFBftbc/s400/Meadow+View+Fall+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545425186573958914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_XVgtfwgJSuPRIo-EmR2MqjrXn_gKQr5mB9rHqSJK8I3vTHX2LeUuSuHA-cpQCysnZJmgHVdHVmVBapdTe6kc2ZIqOlAH9zKSlohb6BmYRJ4DIUv83evEqoOSWIvJN5e8V6Zgq4o3qA/s1600/Maid+in+Mud+View-Fall+2010.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_XVgtfwgJSuPRIo-EmR2MqjrXn_gKQr5mB9rHqSJK8I3vTHX2LeUuSuHA-cpQCysnZJmgHVdHVmVBapdTe6kc2ZIqOlAH9zKSlohb6BmYRJ4DIUv83evEqoOSWIvJN5e8V6Zgq4o3qA/s400/Maid+in+Mud+View-Fall+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545425042501218690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4hSZoSvttmxv14ZvQSSUDph7j3lrFqPWdcxTceq1uZvLwAfYjRDhfARtue24fnwSwLe3qjaUsPnaT3kJibRoPW3nIfdCJNL02JUQyYsHNXMxxKlbxoVG8Pq7O72QyrmAls2-O4nUZY0/s1600/Lamium+Fall+2010.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4hSZoSvttmxv14ZvQSSUDph7j3lrFqPWdcxTceq1uZvLwAfYjRDhfARtue24fnwSwLe3qjaUsPnaT3kJibRoPW3nIfdCJNL02JUQyYsHNXMxxKlbxoVG8Pq7O72QyrmAls2-O4nUZY0/s400/Lamium+Fall+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545424812185496594" border="0" /></a>Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-4635048737430092092010-07-19T07:45:00.000-07:002010-07-28T14:34:18.495-07:00Permeable PaversHowdy folks! If you've visited the garden lately or read the summer edition of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Garden Leaflet</span>, you know that, with the help of a lot of talented folks, the garden now features a fabulous new hardscape constructed out of permeable pavers, more specificallyTecho-Bloc's "Permea" permeable concrete paving system. For many reasons, we are so excited about this new space. For one, it creates a larger, more welcoming entrance to the garden that more in scale with the rest of the garden. The old one was too tiny...the garden outgrew it. This larger space is also more handicap-friendly and connects the parking lot with the path system throughout the rest of the garden. Additionally, the permeable pavers are ADA compliant. Finally, because we intend to use some of the patio space for containers, the permeable pavers will allow for container run-off(water and minimal fertilizer) to percolate back through the patio and into the earth. Though our patio is a relatively small application of this type of paving material, it is suitable for large-scale projects like parking lots, driveways, boat ramps, and areas that get light residential traffic. Another added benefit, permeable concrete pavers are eligible for LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits through both the U.S. and Canadian Green Building Councils' specifications.<br /><br />So, you may be asking yourself, what makes a paver permeable? Well, it's all about the joints and the base, baby. First of all, the pavers have lugs on all sides that interlock with the lugs of neighboring pavers, creating approximately a 7/8" space inbetween all the pavers. This joint is then filled in with a small gravel, #8 aggregate to be specific. This gravel-filled joint space is part of the reason why water permeates so easily through this surface. The second reason why this system is so permeable is because of the base construction. It is excavated by at least 12". That is what we did. For larger scale projects, a deeper base might be spec'd. Then we covered the bottom of the hole with a geo-textile fabric. This keeps the soil and patio fill from settling and seeping into one another. Next, approximately 7" of 57 stone, a coarse gravel, was added on top of the geo-textile (compacted in a series of level lifts). Then, another layer of geo-textile was added. Then came 2" of the #8's to serve as a setting bed for the pavers. The pavers were set in and their joints filled with the #8's. Finally, the whole patio was compacted with a vibratory plate compactor. Voila! There you have it, a permeable patio.<br /><br />So, that's the quick and dirty of it all. Techo-Bloc provided us with some nice technical materials that I referenced in writing this little tid-bit. See picture below, from said materials, which gives a nice cross-section of a standard permeable patio. Also, check out the link below for some pictures of the kiosk patio being built.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3r-subGQ61SOxsEXqc7G_ntX7UJekfdxkzm1dEmvIAQ4I0OuVhHc_pX5fVLG_uGXxEKrhvWI1m6fGBU3BitZVnsvJL3T52KHUR4VB4OfES4LCGtWqcf1FHyugAEWGdOCREScohmrObFs/s1600/resized+techobloc+image.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3r-subGQ61SOxsEXqc7G_ntX7UJekfdxkzm1dEmvIAQ4I0OuVhHc_pX5fVLG_uGXxEKrhvWI1m6fGBU3BitZVnsvJL3T52KHUR4VB4OfES4LCGtWqcf1FHyugAEWGdOCREScohmrObFs/s400/resized+techobloc+image.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499071185746638658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One more thing...if you would like to check out the materials we used for yourself, you can go by Chandler Concrete of Virginia, Inc., located in Christiansburg. They carry the Techo-Bloc pavers as well as the Grotto Hardscapes weathered parapet blocks used for the wall.<br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote>Copy and paste into brower, then click 'Play Slideshow'<br />http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2328013020/a=1591487020_1591487020/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-81064985349208276492010-01-14T06:42:00.001-08:002010-01-14T07:46:20.911-08:00January BeautiesIt has been bloody cold this January in Blacksburg, Virginia. However, even with the unforgiving weather, there are still some plants that look wonderful this time of year. So, there is no excuse for not visiting Hahn Horticulture Garden when it is cold, or any public garden for that matter, because you will always see something shining:)<br /><br />Probably my favorite plant doin' its thang<br />right <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOZcGjOTOijrIcMLtM23jRLPUMxIHWMsIfJ5Iqi4t4riIAWQ9owjOwZHVjaUrwcoQNRY2mlYr0gR7bL8MBE1g7TOybmez3-z2pl5_0ZkBkgSUuV7LXF2P5qW_UpOR_5BtVx40AZPus_o/s1600-h/Mahonia+aquifolium-+Blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOZcGjOTOijrIcMLtM23jRLPUMxIHWMsIfJ5Iqi4t4riIAWQ9owjOwZHVjaUrwcoQNRY2mlYr0gR7bL8MBE1g7TOybmez3-z2pl5_0ZkBkgSUuV7LXF2P5qW_UpOR_5BtVx40AZPus_o/s320/Mahonia+aquifolium-+Blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426608043103809666" border="0" /></a>now is <span style="font-style: italic;">Mahonia aquifolium, </span>Oregon grape-holly. Its lustrous leaves turn a beautiful burgundy about this time of year and it is stunning! A very underrated plant in my opinion.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBKyY8H6Rcrvj5IF2_1Xuyjxk0dx5bp038mZsoPJkujOfS8ErtzEry8_dLeD1ezzE2yK5cwxsrOz-h_KN6H7y3PbuePR1nmutaPtvnE3uxxLgN-nkOsuIdfXIS19zKQynf0nU28YXBgQ/s1600-h/Platycladus+orientalis+%27Aurea+Nana%27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBKyY8H6Rcrvj5IF2_1Xuyjxk0dx5bp038mZsoPJkujOfS8ErtzEry8_dLeD1ezzE2yK5cwxsrOz-h_KN6H7y3PbuePR1nmutaPtvnE3uxxLgN-nkOsuIdfXIS19zKQynf0nU28YXBgQ/s320/Platycladus+orientalis+%27Aurea+Nana%27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426609625687183858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Most evergreens look nice this time of year anyways but <span style="font-style: italic;">Platycladus (Thuja) orientalis </span>'Aurea Nana' is looking especially nice, taking on a beautiful burnt orange color. A nice winter surprise!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The always lovely<span style="font-style: italic;"> Nandina domestica</span> is in its full-berry glory right now. Even with all the new, fun stuff on the market, don't forget about the classics!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JdAqh7SrLY_FbbcEx7gt5FvmgjpSyx0KOhptSSRcVotMxYCQLFRUxJTj4g9NDzPEc64WJeZ7xrgaY1Ayc6JZaOaQt7-8cvFu4no7SHHzDm9HqkM58a1iMNiQB9XTtrAPyfhcJHOkUCY/s1600-h/Nandina+domestica.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JdAqh7SrLY_FbbcEx7gt5FvmgjpSyx0KOhptSSRcVotMxYCQLFRUxJTj4g9NDzPEc64WJeZ7xrgaY1Ayc6JZaOaQt7-8cvFu4no7SHHzDm9HqkM58a1iMNiQB9XTtrAPyfhcJHOkUCY/s320/Nandina+domestica.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426622121694972818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And, keep your eyes out for grasses this time of year. Many retain their vertical form throughout the winter and take on lovely, wheat-y colors. Check out the photos of <span style="font-style: italic;">Panicum virgatum </span>'Nortwind' and <span style="font-style: italic;">Schizachyrium scoparium </span>'The Blues' below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWhlHRKSsCO3Wm1ZEReIue46pC8O9xUFSoOxxste51zcQ1dTsNIWLRIFOMvtVqRUQJ0wptf0SVcGS6t6H4iJG6pBSwne1ZEuTwKkSAVrtwN_UOCUY2gh7Meu2Rq-zoKZUhtA4_FLZDrI/s1600-h/Panicum+virgatum+%27Northwind%27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWhlHRKSsCO3Wm1ZEReIue46pC8O9xUFSoOxxste51zcQ1dTsNIWLRIFOMvtVqRUQJ0wptf0SVcGS6t6H4iJG6pBSwne1ZEuTwKkSAVrtwN_UOCUY2gh7Meu2Rq-zoKZUhtA4_FLZDrI/s320/Panicum+virgatum+%27Northwind%27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426613923902418722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujXdm602kA4Vi1XYXNJbg8AyrPPGlDkO7VllaDw-CR7qItVWOnYweNGPANNs0YqZAKVPmBN_sm232kP38ipUc5nde9V8adKDOj7kV3KOqNyDyu1MwJBvjDatGqOcMdwe2oAIGsR35Vm0/s1600-h/Schizachyrium+scoparium%27The+Blues%27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujXdm602kA4Vi1XYXNJbg8AyrPPGlDkO7VllaDw-CR7qItVWOnYweNGPANNs0YqZAKVPmBN_sm232kP38ipUc5nde9V8adKDOj7kV3KOqNyDyu1MwJBvjDatGqOcMdwe2oAIGsR35Vm0/s320/Schizachyrium+scoparium%27The+Blues%27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426613994957534914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></span><br />And one more thing, don't forget to appreciate the structure and bark of many wonderful deciduous plants. And, as our woody plants curator, Dr. Alex Niemiera, would suggest, don't be afraid to stroke the bark of any sexy tree you see!<br /><br />Enjoy the winter people. There is beauty in every season.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span>Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-12710216828369636002009-12-29T07:55:00.000-08:002009-12-29T12:31:53.065-08:00Waiting for my orchid to bloom is like......being a kid again, waiting for Christmas morning to arrive. It takes FOREVER! Finally, it happened. I returned home to Blacksburg to find my <span style="font-style: italic;">Brassavola</span> x 'Little Stars' at full tilt boogie. The past few years, I wasn't giving it enough sunlight, so no blooms. However, I happen to have some sunnier windows in my current apartment and, TADA, three flower stalks this year! It is so exciting! And, the the blooms are night fragrant so in the evening when I get home from work I am greeted by a sweet, sweet smell.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg-HlUYpD2Y8JOavtoVZ3vCt3SFOSsn-2olU_aRKdKKHuOnpxnxcdZ5QVNSyVQAx_7VZSiGVcY4ikTj7bDTYfQSYk6jseuBF6eENAn3GzjC3_vxkolKKpAmcSqLkGtF4TtRrDyvOMVew/s1600-h/P1010997.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg-HlUYpD2Y8JOavtoVZ3vCt3SFOSsn-2olU_aRKdKKHuOnpxnxcdZ5QVNSyVQAx_7VZSiGVcY4ikTj7bDTYfQSYk6jseuBF6eENAn3GzjC3_vxkolKKpAmcSqLkGtF4TtRrDyvOMVew/s320/P1010997.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420690909327327634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately, one of the three flower stalks up and died on me, but hey, I'll take what I can get. After a few years of no blooms, this is great. If anyone knows why this happens, please share!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcdl7d_2lE_c51kDc16EihvRIgSPe2S2f_MPJiMCKf2lsu_N7bVviFEvs0e61tdlYrJVKe9-2ixv3R5zikngkfEXx3nLsf8lN4XgMaGEmVLrQO-NMIhaKfVDHASSyT7HUNVxTgOQ72d8/s1600-h/P1010992.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcdl7d_2lE_c51kDc16EihvRIgSPe2S2f_MPJiMCKf2lsu_N7bVviFEvs0e61tdlYrJVKe9-2ixv3R5zikngkfEXx3nLsf8lN4XgMaGEmVLrQO-NMIhaKfVDHASSyT7HUNVxTgOQ72d8/s320/P1010992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420691769679816466" border="0" /></a><br />P.S This is where I got this little guy: http://www.floradise.com/<br />P.P.S. For all you geeks out there, I believe this is a hybrid of <span style="font-style: italic;">B. nodosa, </span>a Central and South American native<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">B. cordata</span>, a Jamaican native.Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-32654542970042420802009-11-23T14:33:00.000-08:002009-11-24T05:44:18.701-08:00More ID!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPKCldKRyCS0InWGnaUVQ6QPNparycGdAH_4gNnEzuhu0Oc_ztbEV10R4e5mvG-l9PKlKbO0wr6Tkp-uPwOQRmXwfFSowsDytFqs3N3F9asEOBdlFKXHIWgmrkiD0f5INUo4UZ_znSp90/s1600/Chimaphila+maculata-spotted+pipsissewa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPKCldKRyCS0InWGnaUVQ6QPNparycGdAH_4gNnEzuhu0Oc_ztbEV10R4e5mvG-l9PKlKbO0wr6Tkp-uPwOQRmXwfFSowsDytFqs3N3F9asEOBdlFKXHIWgmrkiD0f5INUo4UZ_znSp90/s320/Chimaphila+maculata-spotted+pipsissewa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407418753533582274" border="0" /></a><br />Well, I still haven't identified the plants from the previous post but was able to identify some others from the vault:<br /><br />This one on the left is <span style="font-style: italic;">Chimaphila maculata</span>, spotted 0r striped pipsissewa. According to Alan Armitage, the leaves are quite refreshing when chewed! Interesting. That is probably why it has another common name of striped wintergreen (not to be confused with the other wintergreen, <span style="font-style: italic;">Gaultheria procumbens).</span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfcx25geibXOkeOz7PU_uUYlBEdtazTRvZ-AcXKFPRpioSuuEH7nMYnI8p1TOh2AbPsqqqgg-boiefvKSNREC6s9T9fcnVI3IDsX2sFop8eHoT4T5Wnr8M_hrLBbuw3_a4N9QUDRgK8pw/s1600/Goodyera+pubescens-+downy+rattlesnake-plantain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfcx25geibXOkeOz7PU_uUYlBEdtazTRvZ-AcXKFPRpioSuuEH7nMYnI8p1TOh2AbPsqqqgg-boiefvKSNREC6s9T9fcnVI3IDsX2sFop8eHoT4T5Wnr8M_hrLBbuw3_a4N9QUDRgK8pw/s320/Goodyera+pubescens-+downy+rattlesnake-plantain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407429067638267874" border="0" /></a><br />The other photo is of a terrestrial orchid, <span style="font-style: italic;">Goodyera pubescens</span> or downy rattlesnake-plantain. Some folks thought the beautiful white venation on its leaves was reminiscent of markings on rattlesnake skin and the persistent flower structure reminiscent of a rattler's tail. There is evidence indicating its past use as a remedy for snakebites yet my cursory research suggests <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />G. pubescens</span> was most likely given this indication based on its appearance solely.<br /><br />For more info on these plants, check out the links below:<br />http://www.biol.vt.edu/digital_atlas/index.php?do=plant&plant=2620&search=Chimaphila<br />http://www.biol.vt.edu/digital_atlas/index.php?do=plant&plant=131&search=goodyera<br />http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GOPU<br />http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CHMA3<br />http://www.cnr.vt.edu/Dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=426Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-52636540681271252032009-11-11T06:15:00.000-08:002009-11-11T07:01:48.419-08:00A Walk in the Woods<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolSpgPV07wzIWxXaGzlW5ya-SFLSKoWoK_NTFPbwL8zQeSXdBUQ7Nu3Sky7VfppnJ3pVYeb0_DsYdLrBroI67_6rLVa9yghkseF0kDw8bvIfzYjBM4O6J6Fp0yKGfEY7R8OBMmdeE5mI/s1600-h/Saxifrage%231.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolSpgPV07wzIWxXaGzlW5ya-SFLSKoWoK_NTFPbwL8zQeSXdBUQ7Nu3Sky7VfppnJ3pVYeb0_DsYdLrBroI67_6rLVa9yghkseF0kDw8bvIfzYjBM4O6J6Fp0yKGfEY7R8OBMmdeE5mI/s320/Saxifrage%231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402859632826167922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzP_oEKl8cbqIr3QsToirJjVx7K-wmKat-MJjT-1_aGn2Da0De3S21dagmASlVhsWPV9U4SV_F-6XMwBw-C3iZXqCCQp7FdrKuz634LNxAEtmf8x38P7josL-IPbPbXT9nDfdjdZOG6k/s1600-h/unk.+woodland+gc%231.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzP_oEKl8cbqIr3QsToirJjVx7K-wmKat-MJjT-1_aGn2Da0De3S21dagmASlVhsWPV9U4SV_F-6XMwBw-C3iZXqCCQp7FdrKuz634LNxAEtmf8x38P7josL-IPbPbXT9nDfdjdZOG6k/s320/unk.+woodland+gc%231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402859181581880386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Every time I go hiking in the woods, I realize just how much I don't know. My camera is loaded with pictures of plants I cannot identify. So, maybe you readers out there can help me. I am going to start posting more images of mystery pants and if you know what they are, feel free to share. <br /><br />Let's start with these two images. They must be fairly common as I have encountered them almost every time I have ventured into the woods. Looking forward to getting to know them! Happy Hunting!Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-25559453696058823602009-10-21T05:33:00.000-07:002009-10-23T07:36:01.015-07:00aaaa....aaaaa....ACHOOOO!!!So, as it turns out, the mystery plant previously posted is <span style="font-style: italic;">Ambrosia trifida</span>, giant ragweed. Many thanks to Tom Wieboldt, Curator at Virginia Tech's Massey Herbarium, for help on the ID! To all of you allergy and hay fever sufferers out there, this plant is your worst nightmare!<br /><br />Check out the links below for some additional infomation:<br /><br />http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=AMTR<br />http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/giant_ragweed.htm<br />http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=amtr<br />http://www.biol.vt.edu/digital_atlas/index.php?do=plant&plant=530&search=+trifidaDabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-9599832468313989382009-10-08T05:21:00.000-07:002009-10-15T09:19:27.324-07:00Name that Plant!Anyone? I am stumped.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS44H4MDeo-h_AtZbAXmK1ueHdb9l-8JWqtWSVHcmsI5O2cobzdHJi0MtRw-KUJRwu1fuxcUhOc0tLJJfdewFA6YBtMOvdrZnvVwqBXEs9Sef1YmE3UcdAjlCrLku5pk2aSaYbChq9zM0/s1600-h/blog+%233.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS44H4MDeo-h_AtZbAXmK1ueHdb9l-8JWqtWSVHcmsI5O2cobzdHJi0MtRw-KUJRwu1fuxcUhOc0tLJJfdewFA6YBtMOvdrZnvVwqBXEs9Sef1YmE3UcdAjlCrLku5pk2aSaYbChq9zM0/s320/blog+%233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390209149702706930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqEU1lsLBtDGnaZ7yN62WoV6OwJrG0cpftNLjzJfjEoY_1OQ7A4QiJu4E0OYLGoI4aSL9HiQs7dh-fZajekXqUbQkgMXheENn-ptbU_8l8wxUjeC_3A0u_x3r70Bv2koKoBoT0GrGSo0/s1600-h/blog+%234.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqEU1lsLBtDGnaZ7yN62WoV6OwJrG0cpftNLjzJfjEoY_1OQ7A4QiJu4E0OYLGoI4aSL9HiQs7dh-fZajekXqUbQkgMXheENn-ptbU_8l8wxUjeC_3A0u_x3r70Bv2koKoBoT0GrGSo0/s320/blog+%234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390210144723040290" border="0" /></a>Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-9218986396770991642009-07-23T13:45:00.000-07:002009-07-23T14:02:08.370-07:00Holy Smokes!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cIZ9GQowKfolvs18h6AMKoiIQt_QpU8uW3N4IvmalFtu02o_uWXY4Fd6YslBEqnEOeH13x2QKXoqJUYA-Hhtk1b-rKQWG8yHqGkpXwuVLpHTtIBx5Ip1vbV6YB4AKIwL2nyq_Y3TNUs/s1600-h/Music+in+the+Garden+%234.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cIZ9GQowKfolvs18h6AMKoiIQt_QpU8uW3N4IvmalFtu02o_uWXY4Fd6YslBEqnEOeH13x2QKXoqJUYA-Hhtk1b-rKQWG8yHqGkpXwuVLpHTtIBx5Ip1vbV6YB4AKIwL2nyq_Y3TNUs/s400/Music+in+the+Garden+%234.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361760107251864882" border="0" /></a><br />Check out the double rainbow that appeared through the clouds at the garden's first "Music in the Garden" concert. A spectacular event made truly unforgettable. Thanks Mother Nature.<br /><br />P.S. After this photo was taken, the crowd quickly dispersed to find the <span style="font-style: italic;">four</span> pots of gold at the ends of the rainbows.<br /><br />P.P.S. No word on the booty.Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-1332224283659336152009-07-23T13:29:00.000-07:002009-07-23T13:44:36.109-07:00Garden Thievery<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaKJUNGLbi6LIAhBqLkG-rOhtSTGaBqCC6lmxgqrIHaxm3yUbYp9LHw2RNkCtOfeXsXNvKukvH6sFth7DFG5_MYe_UCikkeWtIBvcnzdkDVw45gAEtIUvg3W61n_WPGwhgn8RCwCLkA4/s1600-h/P1010292.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaKJUNGLbi6LIAhBqLkG-rOhtSTGaBqCC6lmxgqrIHaxm3yUbYp9LHw2RNkCtOfeXsXNvKukvH6sFth7DFG5_MYe_UCikkeWtIBvcnzdkDVw45gAEtIUvg3W61n_WPGwhgn8RCwCLkA4/s320/P1010292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361758644989915218" border="0" /></a><br />To my horror, I discovered that someone lifted some <span style="font-style: italic;">Sempervivum</span> out of one of the garden's hypertufa planters. Two different kinds are missing; I am particularly sad about the disappearance of a 'Cobweb' -y looking cultivar called 'Forest Frost'. Shame on you, thief.<br /><br />We don't really have a big problem with disappearing plants. The last plant I can remember disappearing was a <span style="font-style: italic;">Brunnera macrophylla </span>'Jack Frost', back when it had just come out on the market. Hopefully, we won't have any more sticky fingers in the garden for a long while!Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-25123107446683437492009-07-23T11:06:00.000-07:002009-07-23T13:12:37.849-07:00Stroke That Plant, Part Deux ... Finally!If you are <span style="font-style: italic;">still</span> wondering about those stroke-able leaves and did not check out the "comment" section where Dan Benarcik, horticulturist/plantsman extraordinaire at Chanticleer garden in Wayne, PA, solved the mystery, those leaves belong to (drum roll please.............)<span style="font-style: italic;"> Veratrum viride</span>!<br /><br />Totally strokeable leaves, but will most likely make you vomit (or worse!) Check out this abstract from the FDA 's Poisonous Plant Database:<br /><br /><strong>AUTHOR(S)</strong>: Crummett, D.; Bronstein, D.; Weaver, Z. III<br /><strong>TITLE</strong>: Accidental Veratrum viride poisoning in three "ramp" foragers.<br /><strong>YEAR</strong>: 1985 <strong>CITATION</strong>: N C Med J, 46(9), 469-471 [English]<br /><strong>FDA</strong> #: F05735 <br /><strong>ABSTRACT</strong>: Conclusion and Summary: As with all foraged foods, ramps must be carefully identified, preferably by an experienced person, prior to ingestion. Identification will be aided by the strong odor of leeks. Mistaken ingestion of Veratrum viride can have serious conmplications including first and second degree atrioventricular block, significant hypotension, respiratory depression and even death. With "ramps" gaining increasing popularity, western North Carolina physicians should be suspicious of accidental Veratrum viride poisoning in patients appearing toxic after the ingestion of "ramps". <strong>GRIN</strong> #: <a href="http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?41142" target="new">41142</a> <a href="http://www.fda.gov/exitdisclaimer.html"><img src="http://www.fda.gov/graphics/exitdisc.jpg" alt="Exit Disclaimer" width="87" border="0" height="15" /></a><br /><strong>COMMON NAME</strong>: <br /> <strong>STANDARD COMMON NAME</strong>: American hellebore<br /><strong>FAMILY</strong>: <i>Melanthiaceae</i><br /><strong>LATIN NAME</strong>: <i>Veratrum viride</i><br /><strong>STANDARD PLANT NAME</strong>: <i>Veratrum viride Aiton</i><br /><br />Don't think I'll nibble on this!<br /><br />Some more links:<br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veratrum_viride<br />http://www.delawarewildflowers.org/bucktoe.php (scroll down to see another image)<br />http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=VEVI<br />http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/Plantox/Detail.CFM?ID=6385Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-61868295472457451412009-05-20T18:16:00.000-07:002009-05-20T18:40:47.662-07:00Stroke That Plant! Part OneWhile taking the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway home to Richmond a few weekends ago, I stopped along the side of the road to check out this little woodland wetland. <span style="font-style: italic;">This</span> is what I saw...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhsy7T8H2XAiIopJZ0IJzKftwOVj2HjRV5kNUvL145S8KNCfkYQUaQWaqSc9Q1s8ffho6BhZQwUZXPgr6VodwV4qTBbnOX2kMu94ip3g9m7Dy2VQeaQ6A9dgDEfZrWV6QDigNzBQiXSE/s1600-h/P1010063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhsy7T8H2XAiIopJZ0IJzKftwOVj2HjRV5kNUvL145S8KNCfkYQUaQWaqSc9Q1s8ffho6BhZQwUZXPgr6VodwV4qTBbnOX2kMu94ip3g9m7Dy2VQeaQ6A9dgDEfZrWV6QDigNzBQiXSE/s320/P1010063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338083735861376050" border="0" /></a> Wowsers! I only wish I could identify this for you right now. Alas, it is past 9:30 p.m. I am tired and do not want to go digging for the answer this very moment. Tune in later for the scoop on this sexy plant.Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-1703232696910363252009-04-22T09:23:00.001-07:002009-04-22T09:24:26.146-07:00Mr. Frost Nailed ItIn honor of springtime in Blacksburg...sleet, temperatures in low 40s, winds at 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph... but we'll all forget how miserable it was today as we frolic in the sun on Saturday...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">“The sun was warm but the wind was chill.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You know how it is with an April day.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When the sun is out and the wind is still,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You're one month on in the middle of May.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">But if you so much as dare to speak,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">a cloud comes over the sunlit arch,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And wind comes off a frozen peak,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And you're two months back in the middle of March.”</span><br /><br />- Robert Frost<br />Excerpt from “Two Tramps in Mudtime"Holly S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08346529197906543442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-2453258388609829072009-04-14T14:04:00.000-07:002009-04-14T14:21:55.979-07:00Muscari latifolium - no fuss, no muss.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGhA41JmPubrZUtFKcjMn_syVgRB4UKRVCyfNGvPZK6QWz9ZFzTxd-9xb63yCv0KPOSA4mN2XaDCWETqkyz5ojuRXVaU97ro45B_KguF-dG40eCt9vzWO3l38DIrc6vnNgtNxed6al0A/s1600-h/muscaribiflorum.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGhA41JmPubrZUtFKcjMn_syVgRB4UKRVCyfNGvPZK6QWz9ZFzTxd-9xb63yCv0KPOSA4mN2XaDCWETqkyz5ojuRXVaU97ro45B_KguF-dG40eCt9vzWO3l38DIrc6vnNgtNxed6al0A/s320/muscaribiflorum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324658291984531314" border="0" /></a><br />The more common <span style="font-style: italic;">Muscari armeniacum</span> (Grape Hyacinth) has delightful wee grape-cluster flowers, but all that FOLIAGE...it's like a green mop (physiologically speaking, that's an awful lot of leaves to produce such a little flower). <br /><br />May I introduce you to <span style="font-style: italic;">Muscari latifolium</span> - cute two-tone flower, and just one leaf per flower stem. Now that's efficient. You can get 500 of them for $140 at <a href="http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com">Brent and Becky's Bulbs</a>. Or 10 for $4.30. Eh, go for the 500.Holly S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08346529197906543442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-48463152245634719862009-04-14T13:43:00.000-07:002009-04-15T05:48:22.029-07:00Stephanie at work helping get kid's butts off the sofaBadly worded title, but you get my drift. By working with teachers-to-be through the national <a href="http://www.plt.org/">Project Learning Tree</a> program, she's influencing future educators, who will in turn make a difference in how a child perceives and interacts with the environment.<br />Program's motto "Helps you learn how to think, not what to think, about the environment."<br />Good stuff.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w4bJlpIPfTkE55hTHofwVTS7gDGqjXYQDRMFDkWJZEOkhl34tm90EL-Ic5qafuv5yL4qb-4scZuW-38Vj_u1-8cumgbJh_n-2kZ_0vHTkjP0m4G44_xffZ7MN9FWgp9RqnJ9kbiQC3I/s1600-h/stephanieprojectlearningtree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w4bJlpIPfTkE55hTHofwVTS7gDGqjXYQDRMFDkWJZEOkhl34tm90EL-Ic5qafuv5yL4qb-4scZuW-38Vj_u1-8cumgbJh_n-2kZ_0vHTkjP0m4G44_xffZ7MN9FWgp9RqnJ9kbiQC3I/s320/stephanieprojectlearningtree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324653025681796546" border="0" /></a>Holly S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08346529197906543442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-35424815270454840662009-04-14T13:40:00.000-07:002009-04-14T13:43:14.593-07:00Long time no post!Our posting drought endeth NOW. Sorry for interruption. Spring's been a bit busy around here, but we don't want to lose our loyal blog readers (all five of them!)Holly S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08346529197906543442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-32629767121705391292009-02-10T05:21:00.001-08:002009-02-10T06:10:58.683-08:00Spring is coming, dang it!Just a quick post to let you know what's blooming in the Garden:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDYPfrUE5UR5LStRdNXpculiEsfPXzwvm6SohXqQOJpN4GHo0MZFcy0o5S1JBY5b7FIuTjpDe2R8mdMNeCMr-CHTFZzh_ZedU9O4kHJqOsrZfYN77Ts5YPOP7oVJlhPC-7ZuQuIEJAMU/s1600-h/P1000797.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDYPfrUE5UR5LStRdNXpculiEsfPXzwvm6SohXqQOJpN4GHo0MZFcy0o5S1JBY5b7FIuTjpDe2R8mdMNeCMr-CHTFZzh_ZedU9O4kHJqOsrZfYN77Ts5YPOP7oVJlhPC-7ZuQuIEJAMU/s320/P1000797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301159352686454754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Some <span style="font-style: italic;">Helleborus foetidus</span> located along the Trident Maple Allee...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOd-iVgzgwWWAfKgF2YxP0SOQvpwSJBQyBNEhuo07LNvF1GxcOe7ltFYJ3Axxu9jEBP9M7UpP7nx6hzDmvDTVf6XHTieEYE8BemTxcdC3_jw-UxhXggqby1ukhsxCf_o3yTrC-EpUVarE/s1600-h/P1000898.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOd-iVgzgwWWAfKgF2YxP0SOQvpwSJBQyBNEhuo07LNvF1GxcOe7ltFYJ3Axxu9jEBP9M7UpP7nx6hzDmvDTVf6XHTieEYE8BemTxcdC3_jw-UxhXggqby1ukhsxCf_o3yTrC-EpUVarE/s320/P1000898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301166826094367186" border="0" /></a><br /><span><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> Hamamelis</span> x <span style="font-style: italic;">intermedia </span>'Diane'<br /> located near the small pond...<br /></span><br /><span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ21DXT6_Z-InVEdw3Ld3iwJ94frp1vnmeTe7-yH2iNQKS4TR8_RJqZzxKbyjWVM8rQ7RXKdVQmks9uJpha4qrZi7X3NmyJHtTiIvjXdVRIkPqhchKANQBoUVSymWhLI-Pw0UTST6j9g0/s1600-h/P1000890.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ21DXT6_Z-InVEdw3Ld3iwJ94frp1vnmeTe7-yH2iNQKS4TR8_RJqZzxKbyjWVM8rQ7RXKdVQmks9uJpha4qrZi7X3NmyJHtTiIvjXdVRIkPqhchKANQBoUVSymWhLI-Pw0UTST6j9g0/s320/P1000890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301168542696454850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />and some more Witchhazel, located under the pines in the Meadow Garden.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Check back for more soon!<br /><span><span><br /></span></span>Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-69390896047616111172009-02-02T05:24:00.000-08:002009-04-14T14:14:42.038-07:00Ripley Garden at Smithsonian Sustains Damage from Inauguration CrowdsSome unfortunate news from the good folks at Garden Rant regarding the Ripley Garden in D.C. - the lovely domain of upcoming Hahn Horticulture Garden Winter Seminar speaker Janet Draper (Feb. 26).<br /><a href="http://www.gardenrant.com/my_weblog/2009/01/postinaugural-fallout-in-the-garden-ripleys-on-the-mall.html">Follow this link to the Garden Rant blog.</a><br /><br />Below:<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span>spiny</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Solanum quitoense</span> at the Ripley, one of Janet's favorite "annuals from seed". <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />photo h. scoggins<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1thE7DcvH68gZcWghm7K0vlT6AQlT3bF8chSP0TbjVpnbCdUs5icoXm3U6Mq4YfNyPPsLpHnvZhal48E4GYlcbOUdzvH1EVRjfOxkPqcbtLiKm7SqkkajLk4hDB5ojc9ai7icx0MpqcA/s1600-h/solanumquitoense.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1thE7DcvH68gZcWghm7K0vlT6AQlT3bF8chSP0TbjVpnbCdUs5icoXm3U6Mq4YfNyPPsLpHnvZhal48E4GYlcbOUdzvH1EVRjfOxkPqcbtLiKm7SqkkajLk4hDB5ojc9ai7icx0MpqcA/s320/solanumquitoense.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298193959393314242" border="0" /></a>Holly S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08346529197906543442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-41667821693055179922009-01-19T08:33:00.000-08:002009-01-19T16:00:56.979-08:00The Myriad Benefits of GardeningA cross-post from my favorite gardening blog "<a href="http://www.gardenrant.com/my_weblog/">Garden Rant</a>"...<br />They came across an article in the U.K. Telegraph referencing a study that found <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/4247464/Gardening-boosts-mens-sex-lives-claims-study.html">"Gardening Boosts Men's Sex Lives..."</a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzJTc7ltHdHDjF5XDzv44qe2kwTrTQiDAvepypTuPNq3HNYmD4hTZ75UHxtJ-FcCAGa1Ldm6xJIGb0R-K34MpTDGYP1lfORRlRy02ipgJQ2p7Bo0byRAmhExNhK_ezvuXnWOvfxrIA_I/s1600-h/Yay.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzJTc7ltHdHDjF5XDzv44qe2kwTrTQiDAvepypTuPNq3HNYmD4hTZ75UHxtJ-FcCAGa1Ldm6xJIGb0R-K34MpTDGYP1lfORRlRy02ipgJQ2p7Bo0byRAmhExNhK_ezvuXnWOvfxrIA_I/s320/Yay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293049071676219618" border="0" /></a><br />Well, duh! Here's Joel helping me build YET ANOTHER bed at our place (note his golf clubs leaned optimistically against the truck). I am, of course, very grateful for his assistance. <span style="font-style: italic;">V</span><em>oilà</em>!<span> </span><br /><br />The article further states "Some people have become so obsessed about their garden that there are worries that people are getting addicted to the pursuit just like they would to gambling or drugs." Yes, but the outcome is soooo much better, don't you think?Holly S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08346529197906543442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-31685142695602471082009-01-15T10:21:00.000-08:002009-04-14T14:14:42.038-07:00Trade Show TidbitsGreen industry trade shows feature acres of hot new plants and products from all around the world. This is a B2B environment - wholesalers selling to retailers, landscapers, garden centers, etc. Lots of orders are placed; much wining and dining occurs between client and vendor. Many gardeners would give their eye teeth to walk the floor of these behemoths to see the latest and greatest; it's actually not that hard to get in - I've given tips on this before in various seminars and talks. The bummer is you can't "shop" the show <span style="font-style: italic;">per se</span>; nothing can leave the floor until the trade show closes. But if you're willing to hang around, you can buy an entire booth of product at wholesale prices - trees, shrubs, perennial plugs, etc., because the vendor's really not interested in lugging it back to wherever.<br /><br />Here's a few cool things I saw last week at MANTS - the Mid Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, held in the Baltimore convention center (not to be confused with PANTS - the Pennsylvania show). Virginia Tech always has a great presence there - tons of our alumni exhibit at the show, and we always represent with some faculty and staff from Horticulture and CALS.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqxo9IGImyMhku6onGiPNlBvMuS7mL_F9bTinnHiVVkGiQ_YBDV8gUlh1zkd_4GQEPEpQHtZTKGlLQm2dCOdFlPZ9btIK08F9tY0EVmYseUs66sThXsyOhlEly-N_IOK-a0DoYJ9Awv0/s1600-h/aloeMANTS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqxo9IGImyMhku6onGiPNlBvMuS7mL_F9bTinnHiVVkGiQ_YBDV8gUlh1zkd_4GQEPEpQHtZTKGlLQm2dCOdFlPZ9btIK08F9tY0EVmYseUs66sThXsyOhlEly-N_IOK-a0DoYJ9Awv0/s320/aloeMANTS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291590636175379858" border="0" /></a><br />A flock of Aloe, all in perfectly synchronized bloom just for the tradeshow. From the fabulous Carolina Nurseries, way down near Charleston.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A whacky little thing called <span style="font-style: italic;">Synogonanthus chrysanthus</span> 'Mikado'. Cute but apparently fussy - moderate temperatures, lots of moisture but not water-logged = certain death on my windowsill.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuB03643gRQEVl1fiTQ_71LUIyDCAvoNQnBh3cxZgRSXwBn7qdTQddeAXvFyVMu0M9hxtovHCK0IrGnSkzKqbHSH9PitOZKXKKaZgge7ZXxost1Wv1pf9vWXuQw5c7ggYFWnTn9-eK3c/s1600-h/Syngonanthus+chrysanthus+Mikado.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuB03643gRQEVl1fiTQ_71LUIyDCAvoNQnBh3cxZgRSXwBn7qdTQddeAXvFyVMu0M9hxtovHCK0IrGnSkzKqbHSH9PitOZKXKKaZgge7ZXxost1Wv1pf9vWXuQw5c7ggYFWnTn9-eK3c/s320/Syngonanthus+chrysanthus+Mikado.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291596079846296610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A gorgeous new coleus from the Ball Seed empire - this one's 'Henna'. The darned sales guy would not move away from it long enough for me to brush up against it and...well, never mind. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuToRHNqtI-8rUH3Qj3vT4H1_fTr-sjTreygFW8abQxKvgoTFHsiEsfRcfhTmPzijEvZLoG_URgwE5ngjJE3PSVl0CFSmVGx5Pk4dcnw7cWrQQSCyTOcuJddDTRixKm9ZPhIVJZEdPs8/s1600-h/coleusHennaMANTS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuToRHNqtI-8rUH3Qj3vT4H1_fTr-sjTreygFW8abQxKvgoTFHsiEsfRcfhTmPzijEvZLoG_URgwE5ngjJE3PSVl0CFSmVGx5Pk4dcnw7cWrQQSCyTOcuJddDTRixKm9ZPhIVJZEdPs8/s320/coleusHennaMANTS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291592230786845970" border="0" /></a>Holly S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08346529197906543442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3918345304947189757.post-20451125426115597532009-01-02T11:25:00.000-08:002009-01-02T11:59:18.559-08:00TIMBER!This past Tuesday night, a powerful windstorm swept through Blacksburg and wreaked a bit of havoc in the garden. Two trees went down: our <span style="font-style: italic;">Picea glauca</span> in the front corner of the garden and some kind of fir ( I think!) bordering the food science parking lot, which took out the tree-form <span style="font-style: italic;">Euonymous </span>directly in front of it...so I guess that makes three down!<br /><br />Check out some pictures of the carnage...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXciUageiU24mV9uvB4axvXMHbjiftvMMPkCY75I-BKKsvWUiVisJdG09XUK3LLRJP2F_gpdOqPnt0wQYqB2tqWUzW79a23E610FB5mO35tb-0mF020bss5KWSeQNRvGwG37SeDypAHE/s1600-h/Abies+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXciUageiU24mV9uvB4axvXMHbjiftvMMPkCY75I-BKKsvWUiVisJdG09XUK3LLRJP2F_gpdOqPnt0wQYqB2tqWUzW79a23E610FB5mO35tb-0mF020bss5KWSeQNRvGwG37SeDypAHE/s400/Abies+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286787592469518082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EJxyhd3oeEK5G0KXhTRSjQ7G6giYy2LBTjV_Bmh4IjMqQGgw7H7o5bWVpZAYdYYUZ-1u0Mby5korNL6Xxk56LSHaXcM9WfBzry5qqUfQY0BOriyT6_sDh4DOqvvDuZbl_GXSDLwhZzw/s1600-h/Abies+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EJxyhd3oeEK5G0KXhTRSjQ7G6giYy2LBTjV_Bmh4IjMqQGgw7H7o5bWVpZAYdYYUZ-1u0Mby5korNL6Xxk56LSHaXcM9WfBzry5qqUfQY0BOriyT6_sDh4DOqvvDuZbl_GXSDLwhZzw/s400/Abies+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286786604592634962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4Znxiavo62dpe2bbe-VL_R4iL67arHsqiAXBzCRDzg1thc-RjPQSqmQMo-lYAOUIUzyTSc17VasDj_TYAyhB64ZWrVBhxHLEhWsrXK7IrvRX_eOkrjfLEn-w-bk0UbjSUvdcqCD7POU/s1600-h/Blog+Photo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4Znxiavo62dpe2bbe-VL_R4iL67arHsqiAXBzCRDzg1thc-RjPQSqmQMo-lYAOUIUzyTSc17VasDj_TYAyhB64ZWrVBhxHLEhWsrXK7IrvRX_eOkrjfLEn-w-bk0UbjSUvdcqCD7POU/s400/Blog+Photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286786592609071410" border="0" /></a>Dabneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04043724607418575291noreply@blogger.com0