Looks like I better get some major work done in my garden TOMORROW!

I was hoping that the weather would stay dry for a little while, but dang, I can't stay in this holding pattern forever! Fortunately, I'm not on the optional tour circuit, but I do have a couple of events in my yard in the next 2½ weeks. And the convention is smack in the middle of the 2.

Yeah, looks like the convention weather probably won't be ideal....muggy, if nothing else, as there will be heat. Thurs, the 24th has a forecast of 88 and sunny, right after this long rainy front moves out. Could be a sweaty one. 10 day forecasts are very iffy, though. I'll put a link here to one, so we can all keep checking. When you click the link, you may have to then refresh the page, I'm not sure.

I'm crossing my fingers and saying a little prayer for all of you who are there and who've worked and are working so hard to prepare!

Here is a link that might be useful: 10 day forecast Mpls

I definitely don't want any more hailstorms here! They have already messed up my garden for the whole year,and those hailstones WERE the small type! Phil

Today was mild... occasional rain... hope the hail stays away... I got a new roof and settlements on two vehicles out of the hail storm teresa mentioned...

I AM on the "open garden" circuit, and sweating it.

If you are in the twin cities area, they have posted the open garden info. Officially, this is posted for the conventions visitors, all members of AHS or MHS in theory... but "Open Garden" means exactly what it says, so I encourage all of you to check out the list and go see some way-cool gardens in a way-less formal setting than multiple tour bus loads of folks who show up at the formal tour gardens.

My thinking is, the more people who check out open gardens, the more folks might choose to become members of the MHS and start to get ready for 2020.

Wow... does that last statment sound far-fetched? Actually, after we visited some open gardens back in 2000, we started entertaining the idea that in 10 years we might be ready for such a tour - of course, we are about a year behind in our projects, but still... we are excited about garden visitors!

Link to open gardens

http://www.starsofthenorth.net/open-gardens/open-gardens.shtml

Wild weather predicted today (Thursday). I have my fingers crossed for all the host hosta gardeners, that their beautiful gardens will escape with no hail and no wind damage!

Are you sure they are open to people not registered for the convention?

I'm sure the open garden list is only intended for convention attendees... the open garden coordinator, Keith Miller, confirmed that for me...

but I don't think it is much of a stretch to extend it to any AHS and/or MHS member. And then I figure if you are touring open gardens with a member, that must be OK... not like you are going on the tours, riding the buses, or eating the food...

I know in 2000 we toured open gardens with both members and non-members - and it proved to be a great recruiting tool to get people interested.

So I don't think it is much of a stretch to extend it to anybody who might become a member in the future, or who might attend a convention in the future.

So I am not speaking for the convention coordinators or the MHS... I just know that nobody at my garden will be asked about going to the convention except to know if we might see each other again at the convention.

And since many people will visit open gardens on their way to the convention, with no check in or badges or anything... it just doesn't seem likely that anybody would turn anybody away from an open garden.

At the convention site, the leaf show, Stars of the North exhibit, vending, and auction are open to the public.

My attitude, much to the chagrin of a variety of bosses, is best illustrated by this (brief - 17 seconds) video...

Here is a link that might be useful: Badges

I would think that if I had my own garden on the open garden list, who could stop me from letting whomever I want onto my own property. Am I right?

As a good member of the society, I made sure the public position of the society was made clear. I, as a gardener, made my personal position clear. I suspect most of the official folks would privately agree... but of course, it is their job to encourage participation in the convention and there has been considerable financial risk involved it hosting it.

Good news, though... over 500 enrolled for the convention... and a ton of excellent donations... for example, I will be donating the two plants I registered - H. 'Sookai' (a grayish sport of 'Sagae') and H. 'Xela' (a subtle-variegated sport from August Moon, gentle green center...). Sookai has never been sold - only "fostered" to two other gardens in Minnesota and Wisconsin... and Xela has only two divisions out in the world, one with Danny Van Eechaute in Belgium and one with Roxanne in Iowa, who purchased it in an AHS online auction.

But the best donation at the convention? Idiot She made an absolutely awesome quilt - a Frienship Star pattern in hosta fabric. I mean... Stars of the North theme for the convention... Friendship Plant for hostas... how could you do better than that.

I can't believe she is giving it away. I want it. It will be a raffle item... so buy a ticket!

I take that back... I think I'll buy a hundred dollars worth of tickets and then intimidate people away from putting their tickets in that jar!

She just finished it, so we'll have to get photos and post... I'm so impressed! It is her first official quilt - and it is awesome.

Funny video Jim.

I'm with you Melissa. It's your property! The convention people are running the convention.......not the world! LOL

The friendship plant rules on in more way than one! :-)

Minnesota certainly put on a weather event for the convention! I was thinking of Jim's gathering during the deluge. Hope you all are safe and dry, and that the gardens survived to welcome visitors this morning.

We had pea-sized to quarter-sized hail wrapped in rain so intense that it melted the hail as fast as it fell. Between 3" and 3.25" of rain fell here last evening but the wind storm was just south of us, and our gardens and trees are intact.

How did the other Minnesota gardeners and AHS guests fare?