And the serpent said to Eve, free apples after the garden tour, my dear.......

I'm convinced. Anybody else going?

I think the weather is going to be fairly decent. I am hoping to attend. Do you think the sale will be a mob scene? I've never been there during a sale. Any tips?

Thank you Ralph- you made my DH's Valentine's Day gift to me much easier. He is giving me the Sunday to do as I please! Shannon/Dirtrx

I've been never to one of the plant sales- what should I know? Should I bring a wagon, what kind of payment do they take- do they barter?-I have a very energetic 8 yr old. Are these plants that they have grown? What is the average cost and size? Will they have the plants they feature in the lecture. Is the plant list up yet? I'm really excited! Not much happens in my yard in the winter. Thanks, Shannon/Dirtrx

Shannon, this isn't the usual PAX sale, but I expect they'll be selling plants with winter interest like hellebores and cyclamen. I plan on attending the lecture first so I may or may not bring a flat to carry plants in, but in my opinion a wagon is never a bad idea. They are usually set up to take cash or checks, don't know about credit/debit cards. I've never tried to barter at a plant sale, though I must admit I've done so many places, including Sears.

If you don't have much happening in your yard in winter, I hope you're going to the lecture. I love my garden in winter and don't think of it as 'down time' at all. The arboretum gardens are a great inspiration, and this is one of my favorite times to visit.

I am planning on going to the lecture. I also like to just wander around the Arboretum in winter on warm days and get ideas. (John and Brenda have me hooked on Neomondes so now there is double the excuse.) And to make matters worse I am planning on going to PDN the next weekend for the open house. But I am more excited about the lecture and learning what I can do in my own yard. I am hoping to get some ideas for small yards with shade. I see these lovely winter interest trees but my yard can't handle it. A medium shrub is about all it can handle. I might try to attend the next lecture. Do you think I will be able to join the Arboretum on Sunday if I get there a little early? Has the list been posted yet? Thanks, Shannon

I believe this is a first for the Arb. All other plant sales have been the PAX sales run by the Hort student fraternity (PAX). Lately they have been having a few plants for sale at any of the Thursday night lectures (they also do free plants as door prizes!).

Plant Delights and Pine Knot Farms (on the Virginia border) both have some fantastic new double hellebores, and both places are having their open houses the same weekends. Hellebores can be pricey but they thrive in those hard-to-garden places and deer don't nibble them (usually).

I'm not sure if I'll make the lecture though I am interested in the Daniel Stowe Bot Garden a public garden I have never visited. I plan on wandering around the gardens and buying stuff at the sale - and most importantly, eating lunch at Neo Monde down the street!!

I'm goin' too. Anybody up for Neo at noon? I think this sale is a first too, but my experience with ANY sale at Arboretum is mob scene. Shannon, they usually do new memberships and renewals at the door - no worry. I did Pine Knot last year too, John, what a great place. They also had Dr. Parks' primroses that don't melt in our heat. I scored some hellebores, but the crocus in their garden inspired me to go home and order bulk bulbs that I am enjoying for the last 2 weeks - tiny yellow jewels, especially on our one snowy day.
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Neo Monde @ noon, lecture @ 1, plant sale @ 2 and then a waltz through the garden- does it get any better?!!!!!Shannon

AAAAGH! I am supposed to work at BB tomorrow, but man, this sounds worth playing hookie for! Dang it! Any thoughts? Bad influences welcome!

Apparently, there is not going to be a posting of the plants for sale tomorrow, but I did speak to Tim Addison who is the person that will be selling plants after the lecture. He has 2-gallon potted plants of Cornus mas 'Spring Glow', Edgeworthia, Prunus mas (Flowering Apricot) 'Peggy Clark' and 'Kobai' (sp?) plus various stuff in small pots. Because the selection is limited, I would expect there to be enough to go around, but would still get there as soon after the lecture as possible. (The plant trailer will be in the parking lot and will open around 2pm.)

Amyflora- as a horticutural expert shouldn't you be on top of the latest trends in gardening. Wouldn't this count as extra credit. I mean you will be learning more and that will only benefit your customers. Shannon

Oh Shannon, you are so wise! I may just see you tomorrow at Neomonde! Thank you.

So how was the lecture and the plant sale? I wasn't able to go (trying to get off a beta-blocker and not wanting to venture too far).

My crocus are blooming! :-) The weather's turning warm!

I had a great time. I learned alot and gathered some good ideas. I saw a picture of a new hellebore that I'd love to have in my garden along with a few other plants I am going to make an effort to locate over the summer. I also picked up a rice paper bush and two shrubs for my mom's birthday. The rice paper bush smells incrdible. I can't wait to get it into the ground tomorrow.

Thnak you Ralph for giving us the heads up!! I enjoyed the lecture. I am now an official member of the arboretum. I can't wait for Tony's lecture on March 1st. Shannon/Dirtrx

Neomonde was YUM, and seeing you guys was great. I don't think we had a chance to get all your news, John. Maybe we should meet at Neo again on 1st? Shannon, the free plant grab (October?) and discounts are great reasons to join Ralston too - 10% at Fairview, 12% at Garden Supply in Cary, 10% at Neomonde, and 10% at Smith&Hawken.

I would love to go to the lecture on March 1- wish I was closer to Raleigh and didn't work until 6. The trees and shrubs at Juniper Level are always what fascinates me the most when I visit and they aren't marked as well as the shifting perennials- or if they are it's hard to see the markers for the plants surrounding them. I buy at least one woody a year there because selection is not great at nurseries close by here.

How late do you think the lecture will run? If I can't do Neo's before perhaps coffee afterwards? Do I need to register for this lecture? Shannon

Shannon - nope. You might have to show your membership card but they also have a list at the front desk. Don't forget to get your door prize ticket. They usually start at 7:30 and last at least an hour. With the door prize and wrap-up taking another 30 minutes or so. I seem to always be heading home after 9pm. I've heard that this one is a biggy (well attended). I should be there, I leave the next day for Atlanta.

I'm going tonight and my schedule does allow for dinner at Neomondes- any one else? Shannon

I'll check my schedule and have my people get ahold of your people....

Tis been a busy week and I am heading outta town this weekend (thank gawd) so I could use some Neo food to counteract all the road junk I intend to consume.

stay tuned

Are we talking Neo before or after?

I think I would have to go before. I get off work at 6, but can probably sneak out early, go home and chase the dog around the yard a few laps and then head over to Neo Monde for a bite (6:45ish), then off to the lecture. I'm hoping to get the names of all the fancy bushes he has. I get so drawn to the perennials I forget to write down the bushes and trees. If "after" is more in line with everyone's schedule then I will eat something while I chase the dawg and then do dessert at Neo.

I am good with before if yal' are. Save me a seat, at Neo cuz I figure I'l have to leave here about 5:30 to do the 35 minute drive during RTP I-40 rushhour.

I'm up for before. I can be there anytime after 6. I'll probably bring a book or magazine to read if I get there first. I can also do coffee afterwards if any one is up for it. I'm really looking forward to this since I didn't have a chance to go to PDN last week. But my pocketbook is glad. Shannon

I bought enough for both of us Shannon. And he is open again this weekend. hee hee hee (call me an enabler!)

I really wanted to go! Hope y'all are having a good time and share your notes. I hope to go on Saturday but won't have alot of time to wander around:(

Hey Brenda, John, I saw you guys across the room tonight. They called every number bracketing mine (not just one, but two on each side) for door prizes. If I had only been a little pushier in the line coming in, or a just little more considerate, I could have scored a Buxus.

I can't wait to go to PDN so I can see the trees and shrubs I saw last night. I know most of them won't be in bloom but I'd love to see how he has them placed.

I think the next lecture I will be able to make is April 5 "A New Flora for the Southeastern United States".

I have to say I think the Arboretum is a wonderful place. I feel so lucky to have it literally in my backyard. I'm just sorry I didn't know it was there before. Shannon

One of my favorite things about the place is the new plant trials they do each year out in the center of the place. Some of the real standouts never get to the local garden centers which is just plain wrong - but otherwise I like seeing the newest and the bloomiest in person rather than in a catalog.