So, how was it? I really wanted to go but had another meeting already scheduled. I particularly wanted to hear about the cliffs communities and the hike descriptions. Please let us know what you found out!

I sent in my registration Monday, and I know quite a few people who plan to go. I think there is a limit of about 150 or even less, so don't wait too long to register. I have been wanting to see those lilies for years! I did not sign up for the BBQ, however, as I am allergic to so much. Can anyone recommend a nice restaurant around the Rock Hill area? Oh, there will be plant sales outside of the building, and even those who don't register can go and buy plants on Saturday. Members are bringing plants to sell, and I think there will be vendors from nurseries, too.

satellitehead - I can not speak for the the perennials or ferns, I barely looked. We were there early and it was busy. In a short time the azaleas were getting bought out. I barely looked at them either as it wasn't what I was buying - just noted for a future plan. I can say that the shrubs I purchased are in great shape, but none have leaves, they are just breaking dormancy which is exactly how I want them. Bought a bunch of sticks with buds I did. I can say that I spent $111 on 5 shrubs at a large nursery last Monday - two anise, 2 Leucothoe and a red buckeye, buckeye was $30 for a 1 gallon (I wanted three of them and settled for one). The same nursery had the oakleaf hydrangea pee wee 1 gal for $24, GNP had them for $9.50. At GPC I got the same size Leucothoe, anise, another 5' buckeye and a slew of other stuff for a lot less and in equal condition or better because I don't feel that they are hothouse babies. I don't want my viburnums leafed out quite yet, particularly with the ice balls we are getting pelted with today. I also received a mail order of viburnums this week which was $275 for seven plants (with shipping). Two of them were 3 gallons, the rest smaller. They are in great shape, but at GPC they were $8-10 each in harder to find species. Everything I buy requires shipping costs out the ears - usually 25%, plants are small, so for me the GPC is outstanding. I would love to order from Nearly Natives in GA, but it's too much on shipping with sales tax, or a 4 hour drive each way. GPC is over an hour away. My yard has zero in it and I need (erm...want maybe...nah, need) a lot of foundation plants. I guarantee the leucothoe and anise at GPC were commercially grown, they did not fit in.

Yes, I seem to remember you had family last year. It went very well and of course the weather was great for it. Lots of people came for the event and plenty of people came upon it just by being in Piedmont Park. I understand ABG was having an herb sale and some people might have done both. Don't be put off by the line. The sale occupies two sides of a very broad path so the crowd quickly gets distributed as people stop to look at trees/shrubs (the first area) or head straight for the trilliums. There are plenty of people with dogs, many of them because they just happened to be in the park and wandered through. Lots of park visitors bike, walk or skate their way through the sale. We only have a sale of this magnitude once a year. We do sell a few plants at meetings (every other month at ABG) and also at the symposium. You are welcome to attend a meeting as a guest and buy some plants while you are there. The meeting topics are posted on the web as the date gets closer. The next meeting will be May 9th (a Wednesday) at 7 pm in Day Hall at ABG. The topic is not yet posted. As for the sale, some stuff ran out early - jack in the pulpits and foamflower were gone by 10:30, but some trilliums and heuchera were there until the end. The two sabal minor palms (seedlings) did not sell. I think people who don't know are still unsure about having palms in Atlanta. We had tons of Virginia sweetspire (our Plant of the Year) and it all sold, but maple leaf viburnums were still available to the end. All but two of the native azaleas sold and we had a lot of those. So, I think it was a success. We (the volunteers) had lots of fun, met a lot of new people and got to talk plants all day. Can't ask for much more than that! :) Hope to see you there next year.