Showing posts with label IGC East. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IGC East. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

IGC East: a new trade show for independent garden centers

IGC East

Last week, I had the opportunity to check out IGC East, the first east coast foray for the IGC Show, "the world’s largest trade show and conference for independent garden center owners, managers and buyers."  IGC has been held in Chicago for the last 8 years, and has apparently been successful enough to split in two, IGC Chicago and IGC East.   Like most trade shows IGC East was not open to the public but through the efforts of Washington Gardener magazine editor Kathy Jentz and IGC Media Relations and Conference Manager Clint Albin, several local garden bloggers and writers were able to attend as press, and were also provided with meeting space for a "garden communicators" gathering.  Many thanks to Kathy and Clint for organizing this!

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Plant geeking

Plant haul
A photo only my plant geek friends will fully appreciate

I've been neglecting my own garden, as well as my blogging, because this has been a busy week for me: on Tuesday I attended IGC East, a new trade show for independent garden centers; yesterday I attended the summer meeting of the Southeastern Palm Society, graciously hosted by Tony and Anita Avent at Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina; and on the way home this morning I stopped at the JC Raulston Arboretum, also in Raleigh, to take some more photos.  But the highlight of the week was definitely Plant Delights Nursery, and better yet, getting a personal guided tour (with other SPS members) of the nursery and Juniper Level Botanical Garden by Tony Avent himself. 

IGC East
Treasure chest of begonias, IGC East
 
Tour
Tony Avent leading a tour of Plant Delights Nursery

J.C. Raulston Arboretum
Entrance to J.C. Raulston Arboretum

It was a rainy weekend in Raleigh, but back home we've had virtually no rain for the last few weeks so add watering to my list of chores.  But my garden is looking surprisingly good, especially considering the brutal winter it's recovering from.   Lobelia cardinalis is putting on a particularly spectacular show this year.  Lots more photos when I've recovered a bit... and after I've finished planting everything I brought home from Raleigh!

Lobelia cardinalis
Lobelia cardinalis