2013 Southeastern Flower Show

meditating frog in the It's Zen Y'all garden

Today I attended the 2013 Southeastern Flower Show in Atlanta presented by the Southeastern Horticultural Society.  This year is their 25th anniversary show and features several landscaped gardens, many expert speakers, activities for the kiddies, and oodles of vendors.  It's at the Cobb Galleria Centre through tomorrow.

The juried gardens are very creative this year, with interesting themes and names like "Fifty Shades of Green" by King Landscaping and "It's Zen Y'all" by Surrounding Landscapes.  Some of my favorite gardens are not juried ones, though; "Ida's Cultivated Earth" by Hills & Dales Estate is especially lovely with a miniature representation of the historic 1916 home and garden of Fuller and Ida Callaway in LaGrange, Georgia.

Looking over the picket fence at Miss Ida's garden

Miss Ida's kitchen garden, where veggies co-exist peacefully with iris and other perennials

The Inspired Garden created a cute juried garden titled "An Old-Fashioned Tea Party" with natural materials such as logs and stumps for the furniture, and vines tied around the napkins.  These vignettes seem perfect for a tea party for elves.  Or Little Red Riding Hood, whose cape has been left behind at the table below (I told her having the wolf to tea was not such a good idea).

Perfect for a spot of tea in the forest

I was able to get some ideas today for my own garden this year.  I really like the veggies planted in half-barrels in the Georgia Perennial Plant Association's display "Edibles in the Ornamental Garden."

Corn in a barrel. Who knew?

They also have some handsome lettuces growing in a half-barrel.  This seems like a good alternative to raised beds if you don't have the space or finances to devote to such a project.

A more traditional example of a raised bed for veggies

Despite all the beautiful gardens and displays, for me the most exciting thing today at the Flower Show was the lecture "A Rich Spot of Earth" by Peter Hatch.  He talked about his book of the same name which showcases Thomas Jefferson's revolutionary garden at Monticello.  I'm always fascinated by garden history and the book by Mr. Hatch, who has been the Director of Gardens and Grounds at Monticello since 1977, is full of wonderful bits of information and gorgeous photos.  It was nice to learn that Jefferson was an ehthusiastic gardener who seeded his own gardens by hand and kept highly-detailed garden records, even of his many plant failures.

The Southeastern Horticultural Society's logo recreated in a wall of Scotch moss

There were lots of interesting vendors at the show, but I only bought a copy of Mr. Hatch's book and a metal sign to put in my garden.

This sign is going in the herb bed.  I've had a problem in the past with my naughty poodle who doesn't understand where to go potty (or, more importantly, where not to go potty).  Surely this will clear things up for her.

Wishing you happiness in spades,

M.R.S.