As promised, my recap of the single gardening event which I most look forward to each year will be brief.  I had an excellent time.  I took three pictures.  I am not a good historian or social media pro and I apologize, but I wanted to assure you that I met up with friends, made new ones and sold a good amount of snowdrops… and bought a decent amount of new plants.  That was the goal and as usual the day flew by and too soon it seems the venue was cleared out and rooms went quiet.  If I had to name a highlight it was catching up with friends whom I see far too little, but on a sales note I was most pleased to hear that some of my galanthus will end up on the West Coast in Heronswood Garden.  I’m sure they keep impeccable records, and the thought that “Sorta Suburbia” will appear in their database amongst some of the greatest names in modern horticulture wows me.  That is unless I got the story wrong.  You never know.  Maybe they’ll be gifted to someone before they make the flight, but for now let me live my dream.

The Sorta Suburbia contribution to the annual Gala auction. A healthy collection of snowdrops which will hopefully flourish for their new owner.

It looks like all the uncertainty and rush in the days prior worked out.  Chipping frozen pots out of the ground, dragging plants in and out of the garage to keep them a bit warmer, sitting a few things under lights to push them along, and then a frenzied last day before when a few last plants were potted up and labels and prices went on.  Figures this was also the week when I was staying at work until 8pm and one last blast of winter rolled through.  I really didn’t know what would look good until the day before the sale, and that’s when I settled on one of the more important decisions, the auction items.  A big pot of ‘Diggory’, a full pot of “Belvedere’s Gold’, and two doubles, ‘Celia’s Double’ and ‘Walter’s Double’.  I was especially proud of the two doubles, but I’m afraid my little joke of having them both in there was lost on most people.  They come from the garden of Celia and Walter Sawyer, and I suggested the couple should always grow together, but as usual this might be another case of my humor not quite landing.  Also I had been planning on dropping the labeled plants off the morning of, but when a text to David Culp about which plant to actually include ended with ‘think presentation’ my entire plan was upended.  I never even thought of presentation.  I don’t do presentation.  Presentation is fancy and those two words made me second guess everything!  Long story short, better pots were found by pulling a few houseplants out of their quarters, a blanket of moss was scraped off the frozen earth, and a burlap table cloth was cut up for a wrapper for Celia and Walter.   The snowdrops were still safe in their growing containers, but they were now tucked into something much more presentable.  I was pleased.

‘The Wizard’ did not sell last year so were replanted back into the garden.  One good thing to see was that even after sitting on the driveway for two or more weeks before replanting, these and other unsold plants did just perfectly.  I’d hate to find out I was selling plants which would not thrive in their new homes.

Come to think of it there were a few instances of awkward moments and verbal duds.  I guess people saw the Youtube tour from last summer or remembered me from the sales table at the previous Gala and my cloak of anonymity is officially  torn and trashed.  Tops was when a wonderfully friendly person came up to me and told me what a beautiful snowdrop garden I have and it almost became an argument because I don’t really, and was sure she didn’t mean me and kept insisting she had the wrong person.  She even added that we had a friend in common and of course I can’t remember names either so that turned ugly as well.  I really really hope she did mistake me for someone else because at least she thinks they’re a jerk and not me, but I do seem to remember her referring to me as Frank, so…

At home the beautifully warm Saturday brought on full bloom for the snowdrops near the house.  In a close-up it looks amazing!

By Sunday I was home again, and safely removed from people other than those who have years of experience dealing with me, and although it was around freezing all day the sun was out and the snowdrops were sprouting… and I was in a panic because the front yard was a mess of dead stems and windblown trash and that all does not translate to an attractive springtime show.  I bundled up and cleared a bunch.  Monday after work I cleaned a bunch more and after an icy and rainy Tuesday break I finished most of the front yard today.  Today was beautifully sunny and I bet if I didn’t check every snowdrop sprout before starting work I’d have gotten much further, but all work and no play is… sad.

So the snowdrops are exploding and the weather just gets warmer each day and of course I will likely not have time again until this Sunday, but don’t feel bad.  I’m doing a few fun things and can’t complain… unless it gets too warm and everything goes over faster than it gets started which is a real possibility with still frozen ground today, yet a high next week of 79F (26C).  I hope it doesn’t all burn up though, and I hope things are going well where you’re at and things are just as promising for you.  Have a great week.