George’s Talks and Trips

Below is some of what I know I’m doing so far for 2012. If you’re interested in having me speak to your group, email me at george@georgeweigel.net and I’ll get you my current list of 21 programs.

If you like to ogle gardens, we’ve got another new crop in line to see in 2012. We’ll be running FOUR trips to the Philadelphia Flower Show in March, then heading overseas to the eye-popping Floriade show in the Netherlands in April, then to America’s biggest walking garden tour in Buffalo, New York’s new High Line park, the U.S. National Arboretum and Brookside Gardens for fall foliage and three different Christmas trips. Stauffers of Kissel Hill Garden Centers (www.skh.com) is again sponsoring the 2012 trips, which are planned and operated by Lowee’s Group Tours of Harrisburg (www.lowees.com). Stauffer’s is kicking in $25 gift cards to several lucky winners on each of the trips.

Details on all the trips and talks…

2012 TALKS BY GEORGE

 Sat., Feb. 18: Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouses

    Start your spring landscape planning with my first talk of the year at Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouses, 906 W. Grantham Road, Monroe Twp., at 10 a.m.

    The topic is “Landscape Ideas Worth Stealing.” It’s a new program that’ll show you lots of creative things other gardeners have been in the landscape in case you want to “borrow” a few in your own yard. There’s a small registration fee, and pre-registration is required by calling 717-766-7611. www.ashcombe.com.

Fri., Feb. 24: Pennsylvania Garden Expo

    I’ll be doing two talks on opening day of this year’s Pennsylvania Garden Expo at the Pennsylvania Farm Show building on Cameron Street, Harrisburg.

    At 1:30 p.m., I’ll be on the Garden Talk Stage doing a new program called, “First Yard: Things I Wish Someone Would’ve Told Me Before I Ruined the Landscape.” It’ll be a fun look at the most common mistakes gardening rookies make with tips on how to sidestep them. Then at 3:30 p.m., I’ll be doing a hands-on demo on seed-starting, using cheap and recycled materials. The talks are free with paid admission to the show, which is $10 in advance or $13 at the door (plus $8 for Farm Show parking). More info: www.pagardenexpo.com.

Sun., Feb. 26: Pennsylvania Garden Expo

    I’m back at the 2012 Pennsylvania Garden Expo for one last talk at 11 a.m. on the Garden Talk Stage. This one is “Cutting-Edge Plants of 2012,” which will show you some of the latest, greatest plants to try in your landscape.

    The talks are free with paid admission to the show, which takes place at the Pennsylvania Farm Show complex on Cameron Street, Harrisburg. Show tickets are $10 in advance or $13 at the door (plus $8 for Farm Show parking). More info: www.pagardenexpo.com.

 Fri., March 2: Pennsylvania Garden Show at York

   I’ll be doing three talks at the 2012 York show, held at the York Expo Center (i.e. York Fairgrounds), 334 Carlisle Ave., York.

   At 1:30, I’ll be doing my newest program: “Garden Horror Show: When Scary Things Happen in the Landscape.” This is an interesting collection of the many things that can and do go wrong the yard, from tree-flattening October snowstorms to the ravages of hungry deer and groundhogs to the plant butchery that occurs when weekend warriors get out the chainsaw.

   At 2:45, I’ll be doing “10 Ways to Be a Greener Gardener,” a picture program that’ll give you 10 specific ways to be more enviro-friendly in your gardening.

   And at 5:15, I’ll be doing “Survivors: Good Plants You’ll Have a Hard Time Killing.” This one looks at some of the best plants for central-Pa. gardens that cope with our crummy soil, erratic weather and other imperfections.

   All of the talks are included with admission to the show, which is $10 for adults. The show also runs March 3 and 4. More information: www.pagsy.com.

Sat., March 3: Home Gardeners’ School of Central Susquehanna

   This is a daylong, Penn State Extension gardening-education event (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) featuring speakers and vendors at Milton Area High School, 700 Mahoning St., Milton.

   I’m scheduled for two talks. The first one is at 1:35 p.m. when I’ll be doing a new program called “Landscape Ideas Worth Stealing.” If you’re thinking about sprucing up the boring ol’ landscape, rather than reinventing the wheel, why not just “borrow” some of the creative ideas that other gardeners already have pulled off? I’ll show you dozens of possibilities for your 2012 garden planning.

   The second program is at 2:50 p.m. and is “Gardens for All Four Seasons.” It gives strategies, ideas and plants to help your landscape change and look good all throughout the year — not just in May.

   The talks are included with admission to the 15^th-annual school, which is $35 to $45 (depending when you register). More information: http://gardeningpa.blogspot.com or call 1-877-489-1398.

Sat., March 10: Pennsylvania Home Show

   I’ll be at this popular annual show at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex (the one a lot of people still call the “Builders Show”) on Sat., March 10, doing both a talk and a tour of the indoor display gardens.

   The talk topic is “Befuddled Gardeners,” and it’ll be a new-for-2012 program that gives answers to 10 of the most common and perplexing mysteries of yardening (i.e. “Why didn’t my shrubs bloom?” “When do I prune the butterfly bush?” “What’s the best mulch?” “What ate my tulips?” and “How do I know when and how much to water?”

   I’m not sure yet of the exact talk and tour times, but they’re both free with the $8 admission to the show. More information: www.pahomeshow.com.

 Sat., March 17: Dauphin County Extension Gardeners’ School

   Every late winter, Dauphin County Extension runs a series of Saturday-morning classes on gardening at the Dauphin County Extension Office, Peters Mountain Road, Dauphin.

   This year I’ll be speaking on March 17 on “Gardens for All Four Seasons.” It gives strategies, ideas and plants to help your landscape change and look good all throughout the year — not just in May.

   Registration begins at 9 a.m., the talk starts at 9:30 a.m., and I believe the price is $10. More information: http://extension.psu.edu/dauphin. Or call 717-921-8803.

 Wed., Oct. 3: Town and Country Garden Club, Lancaster

   I’ll be the speaker at the October meeting of this Lancaster-county garden club that meets most first Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Homestead Village, 1800 Village Circle, Lancaster.

   The program, which begins at 7 p.m., will be “Garden Horror Show: When Scary Things Happen in the Landscape.” This is an interesting collection of the many things that can and do go wrong the yard, from tree-flattening October snowstorms to the ravages of hungry deer and groundhogs to the plant butchery that occurs when weekend warriors get out the chainsaw.

   Guests are welcome. More information:  www.townandcountrygardenclub.net or call 717-898-0229.

 Mon., Oct. 8: Lancaster County Garden Club

   Formerly the Men’s Garden Club of Lancaster, this club welcomes guests to all its programs — usually the second Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in Salem United Church of Christ, 2312 Marietta Ave., Rohrerstown.

   I’ll be speaking Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. on “High-Octane Bulbing.” Most people are far too timid with their bulb plantings, which should be the workhorse of your early-spring gardens. This program shows how to plant bulbs for a much better impact and focuses especially on varieties that come back year after year.

   A donation of $5 is asked for non-members. More information: www.lancastergardenclub.org or 717-872-5192.

 2012 BUS TRIPS WITH GEORGE

This year's trips are sponored by Stauffers of Kissel Hill.

   These one-day and multi-day excursions target some of our region’s best and often little-known public gardens. Each trip includes traveling seminars and timely gardening tips, plus gardening games and prizes that may land you a plant or two from George’s gardens or a $25 gift card to Stauffer’s of Kissel Hill garden centers. Bonus: George’s fun, friendly wife, Sue, will serve as your escort and “mom” for most of these trips.

   Pickups are at both East Shore and West Shore locations.

 March 5, 7, 8 or 9: Philadelphia Flower Show

    This is the world’s biggest and oldest indoor flower show and is a spectacle that everyone – including non-gardeners – should have on their must-see list. Many people make it a point to go every year.

    All three dates sold out last year, so we’re adding a fourth in 2012. The 2012 theme is Hawaii, and the show will feature 40+ blooming display gardens, more than 100 vendors and an impressive amateur plant competition.

    We leave and return a little later than most bus trips in order to mitigate the peak crowds. You get to sleep later in the morning and stay until 6:30 p.m. — about 2 hours after most buses skedaddle.

    Cost is a bargain at $79, which includes your show ticket, drop-off at the front door and get-the-most-out-of-the-show strategies by me on the way down. To sign up, call Lowee’s Group Tours at 717-657-9658 or toll-free 1-888-345-6933 or email ckelly@lowees.com.

 Fri., June 22: Temple’s Ambler Arboretum & Jenny Rose Carey’s Garden

One of the fun surprises in Jenny Rose Carey's garden.

 

    Originally home to the ground-breaking Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women, the Ambler Arboretum is now a 187-acre campus of Temple University with 14 themed garden areas, including conifers, groundcovers, woodland plants, native plants, tropicals and herbs, plus a winter garden, a labyrinth and the newest feature, the Ernesta Ballard Healing Garden.

    Jenny Rose Carey is director of the Ambler Arboretum, and her 4½-acre home garden ranks No. 1 as the best home garden I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot). It’s got numerous sitting nooks, a gardener cottage, a dry garden that’s never watered, a beautiful pond with paver sitting area and many great plant combos and fun surprises.

    We’ll then tour the private gardens of landscaper Michael Colibraro, who built Ambler’s conifer garden and who has an interesting bonsai and conifer collection.

    Cost is $115, including lunch at Bridget’s Steak. To sign up, call Lowee’s Group Tours at 717-657-9658 or toll-free 1-888-345-6933 or email ckelly@lowees.com.

Fri.-Sun., July 27-29: Garden Walk Buffalo

Just one of the many great gardens to be seen at Garden Walk Buffalo.

    You like garden tours? This one’s the big mama of them all, featuring more than 350 home gardens open to oglers on a single weekend each July. Even with two whole days to see them, you’ll barely make a dent in the number, which is why we’re offering this return trip in 2012. Ideal for getting ideas for your own yard.

    We’ll stay over two nights at the classy Buffalo Hyatt Regency, stopping at Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua and Casa Larga Winery in Fairport (yes, wine-tasting) on the way up. We’ll also see the flower trials at the Erie Basin Marina, take a cruise on Lake Erie and visit the Buffalo Japanese Garden.

    Cost is $399 per person double, including hotel, wine-tasting, cruise and four meals. To sign up, call Lowee’s Group Tours at 717-657-9658 or toll-free 1-888-345-6933 or email ckelly@lowees.com.

 Fri., Sept. 14: New York Flowers By Rail and By Sea

    The rail part of this day trip is New York City’s new High Line, a unique landscaped park with grasses, trees, wildflowers and seating atop elevated rail tracks that used to be a train route through the West Side’s meat-packing district. It also offers a new look at the city below.

    The by-the-sea part is an afternoon visit to Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island. The highlight is the Chinese Scholars Garden, authentically built by 40 Chinese artisans in the late 1990s. We’ll also see several smaller gardens, two museums and other cultural buildings in an 83-acre park that used to be a seaside home for retired sailors.

   Cost is $137, including dinner. To sign up, call Lowee’s Group Tours at 717-657-9658 or toll-free 1-888-345-6933 or email ckelly@lowees.com.

Fri., Oct. 19: Autumn Color in the Capital

The Chinese Pavilion at the U.S. National Arboretum.

 

    We’ll start with a tram tour through the huge tree and shrub collection at Washington’s U.S. National Arboretum, which should be taking on fall color by then. We’ll also have time to tour the arboretum’s conifer collection, the bonsai garden, the herb garden and more.

    In the afternoon, we’ll tour Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Md. This is a county park that has a better collection of theme gardens and great home-landscape plants than a lot of botanical gardens. It’s also got a butterfly house, a woodland walk and many nice fall-foliage plants.

    Cost is $95, including lunch. To sign up, call Lowee’s Group Tours at 717-657-9658 or toll-free 1-888-345-6933 or email ckelly@lowees.com.

Fri., Nov. 30: New York Botanical Garden Christmas Show

New York City landmarks made out of plant materials are the highlight of New York Botanical Gardens' Christmas show.

 

    This venerable NYC botanic garden has one of the most beautiful conservatories in the world, and for Christmas, it houses an amazing collection of miniature New York landmarks all made out of plant materials. Trains run through the whole thing. Crowded but worth it.

    Cost is $159, including lunch on site and admission. To sign up, call Lowee’s Group Tours at 717-657-9658 or toll-free 1-888-345-6933 or email ckelly@lowees.com.

 Fri., Dec. 7: Winterthur and Longwood for Christmas

    We’ll spend the morning at the “other” duPont place down the road from Longwood Gardens – Winterthur, which offers an intriguing house tour, a pretty fair holiday-decorating display in its own right, and if the weather is reasonably decent, a tram tour of the rolling grounds.

    December is actually Longwood’s most-visited month — and you’ll see why with its stunning outdoor lights and Christmas-adorned conservatories.  We’ll have lunch there, then hours of free time to peruse the plants and decorations. We’re staying after dark to see the lights better.

    Cost is $99, including lunch. To sign up, call Lowee’s Group Tours at 717-657-9658 or toll-free 1-888-345-6933 or email ckelly@lowees.com.

  Wed., Dec. 12: D.C. Holiday Conservatories and Shopping

    This Christmas-time trip is for conservatory lovers (or plant geeks who don’t give up just because they’re chased inside). We’ll spend the morning at Merrifield Garden Center — one of D.C.’s best — where we’ll hear a talk on decorating with plants and have free time to shop the greenhouse and Christmas shop.

    Then we’ll head to the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington to see the tropics decorated for Christmas along with D.C. landmarks made out of plant materials and trains running throughout.

   The last stop is an after-dark visit to Brookside Gardens’ amazing Garden of Lights, featuring 1 million lights strung over topiary frames and live plants. It also has two conservatories with trains.

   Cost is $105, including lunch and dinner. To sign up, call Lowee’s Group Tours at 717-657-9658 or toll-free 1-888-345-6933 or email ckelly@lowees.com.

  2012 GARDEN TRIP TO HOLLAND’S FLORIADE

The famous Keukenhof Garden.

Besides the Floriade, we’ll see the famed Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, which is open only in April and May and is acres and acres filled with the most amazing bulb displays you’ll ever see.

Learn more about Floriade at http://www.floriade.com/. The 2012 Floriade will be held in the Venlo region of The Netherlands, in the southeastern part of the country near the Dutch/German border.