In this economy I think many folks will be staying home more and will look to ways to save on food. Vegetable plantings is a great way to go. I learned many of my techniques simply watching shows like Gardening Naturally (thanks for helping me recall the name of that show Marg). In that show I learned more about proper composting, the use of manure, seaweed of all things, and other stuff. Sure it certainly may not appeal to all audience, but it was very imformative. Too bad we no longer have such shows. The new Victory Garden - well it's simply rehashed segments with a new host - Jamie Durie, a well known garden designer/landscaper from Australia. The show focuses mainly on designing on a grand scale - although it does emphasis green techniques, water conservation, etc.. It does have a small segment with Kip as the actual gardener and Chef Michel cooking the organic way. However it just doesn't have that 'Organic feel' to it. It seemed too Hollywood or too New Age. In my opinion -- good eye candy, not much on substance. There is good show on PBS - called Cultivating Life. While it is short, it does have everything, from building trellis, to planting, to cooking. It's good enough - although not close enough to the shows of the past. I've pretty much given up on watching shows on TV. There's hope however, and it exist online. Look at such places such as Youtube and someone is most certainly going to upload a specific gardening technique. Ianna

I loved Chanticleer in PA. Longwood is spectacular at Christmas (or any time of year for that matter) The gardens at Burpee in PA were very nice too. Ghoghunter, now I'm bummed my mom and I didn't have time to venture across to NJ to see Bowman's Hill. We also didn't have time to get to Morris Arboretum. Next time! Ladew Topiary Gardens in MD was quite a treat as I thought I might get "bored" with just topiaries but it was so much more than that and the topiaries were unbelievable! I never thought I would see a full-size fox-hunt made out of topiary, including horses and riders, fence and fox! Spectacular. They also had a tall, long yew hedge and there were topiary swans all along the top of the undulating hedge. Brooklyn Botanic garden and the NY Botanical Garden (were lucky a Chihuly display was there when we visited) are both well worth checking out. As well as the Central Park Conservatory Garden. Cameron, I still need to get to Juniper Level Gardens. There never seems to be an open house when I'm down in NC, and when we had made an appointment one in our party got very sick so we had to cancel the trip. I'm going to have to check out Airlie and Horton. I agree with Juneroses that the Norfolk Botanical Garden is very nice. In winter they have a spectacular christmas light display that you drive through. Annette, someday I am definitely going to make it out your way to visit Butchart and other gardens that you've mentioned. That is a trip that is absolutely on my list so thanks for adding more gardens to this post. Also in Charleston, SC is Magnolia Plantation and gardens. It is so interesting because they have a lot of information about the slaves who worked there and many original documents. It was a lovely garden with a lot of history. I couldn't believe how HUGE the camelias were at Middleton Place! They were like big trees! And if you ever plan to go to Charleston, check with the chamber of commerce to find out when the private garden tours are. That was really nice. Fun ghost tours there too! In England, Sissinghurst is really incredible and I also really liked the gardens at Hever Castle. Well actually I think I liked every garden I saw in England. I was surprised as to how many parks/gardens were scattered througout Paris and they were all so beautiful and well kept. Listing out some of these gardens I've visited makes me realize how extremely pathetic I am that I have never visited the Arnold Arboretum in Boston or Tower Hill Botanical garden both only about an hour away from me!

I have to add my little voice to the "I miss the old Victory Garden" song. It's been some time since it's been worth watching. Jamie Durie is so annoying I want to bash him with a shovel. I think it's been a couple of years since they even made a new show - they just recycle the same boring old things over and over. I didn't like the previous host much either - too fat & effeminate (he couldn't possibly have spent THAT much time gardening!). I don't know the name of the next previous host, but his were the last of the worth-watching Victory Garden shows, in my opinion. With his overalls and hillbilly beard, he looked like you couldn't get him OUT of the garden.

Thanks for the link, Claire. Looks like they will be doing monthly walks through the property. The first one is on April 7th. And there's no charge. "Join Kristin DeSouza, Superintendent of the Allen C. Haskell Park, for a monthly Monday morning walk around the property. Come see the horticulture plan take shape as Kristin points out seasonal interest in the gardens! Track the progress of this beautiful garden." Steve