A Gala Recap

Mar5

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.

Not. Spring.

Feb26

So for a few days last week it warmed up, and the snow melted and there was even the sound of rain on the roof, and I’m always surprised by how odd that sounds after months without, but it’s not real. Snow came again, temperatures dropped, and thankfully we don’t have the 2+ feet of snow which my parents had to dig out of… well sort of… my 91 year old father was scolded for trying, but somehow his youthful bride went on to shovel paths to the birdfeeder and compost pile and fortunately called it quits when it came to the mailbox. She reluctantly called in a plow who did the rest of the digging out for them in exchange for a well-earned wad of cash. I held back a laugh when she said she wasn’t sure if my brother would be ok with the plow since he said he would come over and tackle it with the snowblower, but I know how my brother really feels about that job so was glad when things worked out as they did.

Welcome back to ‘Potter’s Prelude’, typically a late November bloomer, but due to a late start and then a couple months in the freezer, he’s only just now thawing out and coming back to life. Snow is a great insulator. Temperatures down to 0F and these delicate blooms are still perfect.

It was great to see plants again and poke around a bit and even clean up a few snowdrop patches, but it does not feel like spring yet. That’s a surprise from someone who will declare the season as soon as possible, but things are still sleepy even with a string of above freezing temperatures and a steady melt. The witch hazels were convinced a little after the fourth day without frost, but even then it was just a few tentative blooms which opened. The rest are still cautious. Caution is a good thing for witch hazels in this garden because it’s a dangerous land, full of witch hazel-eating bunnies who just wait for a fence to shift in the snow enough so they can get in and “severely prune” all the exciting new witch hazel grafts which I purchased last winter. They weren’t cheap by the way. To be on the safe side though, I ordered a few more. It’s an investment I told myself.

I would never be brave enough to give these young grafts such a hard-prune, but the bunnies had no problem. Perhaps this is just what they needed to branch out perfectly with strong new growth this summer… said with a mix of optimism and sarcasm…

Speaking of investments, I spent Saturday digging any snowdrops which looked remotely close to blooming, and potted them up for this Saturday’s Galanthus Gala in Downingtown Pa. I thought last year was a stressful, locked in cold for the Gala year, but this year tops it! There are a few trays filled. They’re up by the garage where it’s a little warmer, drug in when it’s cold and back out when it’s warmer and I hope they look well enough for the sale. I’m still hoping to add a few winter aconite if anything opens, but the clock is ticking down faster than the thermometer clicks up and I don’t think it’s is enough to inspire them to bloom.

Flats of snowdrops ready to head out to their new homes. Many average things, many I love, and a few treasures which I’m forcing myself to offer for sale in order to support my habit.

Saturday looks to be beautiful. Warm temperatures, bright sun and I shall be amongst fellow plant lovers and table after table of early spring goodies for sale. I’m excited. There will be engaging speakers, a fun and oftentimes dramatic auction, and from what I hear there might be a ticket or two which have become available to the in-person Saturday afternoon talks, but that opportunity may have already passed, so check this >link< before you get your hopes up. Even without a ticket to the talks, virtual tickets are a thing, and with that you can watch at your leisure and still take in all the plant sales and the auction, and if you skip tickets altogether the sales area and auction are still worth the trip, all for just the price of showing up.

I hope to see you there, and promise to take plentiful pictures and give a full report for those who can’t make it. -Sorry, just kidding. I get caught up in the day and never remember to snap a photo until it’s cleanup time, so I’ll apologize ahead of time. Hope you are having a wonderful week and hang in there. Spring will come, and for us it might be as early as next week which would be nice.

Winter. Continued.

Feb8

What a failure. After all that effort during Plantness some fat groundhog comes out of a hole and declares six more weeks of winter, and here we are staring at snow and a thermometer which doesn’t budge. What a jerk. Might as well blame my knee joints as well as that smelly rodent, since in years past I would love this weather for skiing, and just go do that instead, but recently I’ve begun to think about consequences rather than dealing with consequences, and when you start doing that the idea of throwing yourself off the edge of some snowy mountainside doesn’t hold up as well. Plus it’s become ridiculously expensive. I feel stupid spending that much money and still being able to see my house.

The garden covered in snow. It’s evaporating in the sun rather than melting, but at least it’s not a couple inches of ice which is what our more southern neighbors received.

So rather than get outside and embrace the season, I’ve been drifting aimlessly through hours in front of the tv and far too many family size candy bags which are hidden and consumed as a family of one. Even reading has been too much of an effort, but maybe if I just sit down and write a blog entry that can help me turn a corner. It is bright and sunny out so that’s a win at least, if it were gray and snowing again I’m 98% sure this would be a day of endless scrolling and sofa-sitting.

When I did finally drag myself through the garden it was only to see the rabbit damage. Here along the house the bottom three feet of the hollies have been nibbled and turned into rabbit poop. I actually feel bad that they have had to resort to spiny holly leaves to fill their tummies in this snow covered world.

Sorry for such a grumpy post. I’m bored and don’t even have the motivation to consider online shopping but perhaps that’s a good thing? There’s a late-winter shopping event on the horizon and to be honest I might be saving up for it. Have you ever heard of David Culp’s Galanthus Gala? I’m there and selling again and although the weather means I have next to nothing ready to actually sell, the fact it’s almost Gala time means I can finally do redress for one of my worst mistakes of 2025.

Last year was my first year of trying to sell at the Gala, and amongst professional growers and experienced plantsmen, even my decades of “market research” left me feeling nervous and unprepared. In the end it went well enough, but amidst the stress and pressure of making money and hopefully not losing it I held back on purchases, and let me tell you that was an epic mistake. I will not repeat this. New snowdrops, hellebores, cyclamen, and whatever else will fill my car on the return journey even if it means buying more than I can responsibly fit into my garden. I remember a bit of panic last year as fantastically colored hellebores went back to the nursery without new owners and I thought, would it be weird if I yelled ‘no!, wait a minute’? This year I’m yelling. Even those plants which you might look at and wonder ‘who would pay that much?’ are fair game this year and I will worry about the bills next month. Gosh it feels good saying that and I should warn my daughter since she’s helping again and I want to prepare her. Maybe we should work out a bribe which includes forgetting prices. Hmmmmm.

Enjoy your week. If you’re in the midst of winter I hope warmer weather is on the way and if you’re drowning in rain I wish you sunshine. If you are having that perfect spring day good for you but keep it to yourself.

The Recap

Mar8

So what can I say? David Culp’s Gala was fun. Great seeing people excited about snowdrops, talking way too much about snowdrops, amazing lectures about snowdrops, and in general excited about the new gardening year. Selling went well. I was remarkably okay with seeing snowdrops leave my garden, somewhat insulted that a few favorites didn’t sell, and then just fine with bringing a bunch home for replanting. But… I was unusually luke-warm to new purchases and plant shopping in general. For the first time ever I tried to come back with more money in my pocket than when I went down, and in hindsight that was a terrible mindset since there were only 5 new snowdrops for the return trip and now I have to sit for months with only five new snowdrops when I really think all that work should have earned me dozens of new snowdrops!

And for the first year ever I didn’t treat myself to a new ‘Brandywine Hybrids’ hellebore. They were perfect, and seeing the others in the garden starting to stir to life makes the regret even harsher.

Each year the Gala hellebores are amazing. After years of coveting doubles I’m back to singles and any of the picotees or the purple stained whites could have easily joined me for the ride home.

I was distracted though. Maybe even stressed? The day worked out perfectly, but to be honest I woke up at 1 that morning sick to my stomach and got to enjoy that feeling right up to the minutes before the doors opened.. .and then in typical fashion it lifted right as the excitement began.

A few seconds after the doors opened. Tables are full, hands are empty, there’s little socializing but some real intense table scanning! Fyi this is the Suburban Home Nursery table, manned by the always entertaining Kevin and my exceedingly competent cashier-daughter.

Also in typical fashion I took next to no pictures. Just like every other year I’ll apologize and promise better but I think we know the truth, and it’s probably for the best too since 10 out of 10 family members will only use me as the last resort when it comes to any type of event photo. “ugh, just delete them all. Where’s mom?” should be a warning/reminder sticker on the back of my phone.

Edgewood Gardens warming up and coloring up with Adonis amurensis

I think it was mentioned that rather than work my own table, I had already committed to working the Edgewood table for the Gala, and a perk to this was a leisurely tour of Edgewood Gardens the day before. The week of above freezing weather had paid off. Things were embracing the weather and bursting out of the ground and starting off on that spring flush of color. Hellebores, winter aconite, Adonis, witch hazels, crocus… and of course snowdrops were scattered throughout the garden. At one point I was even unsupervised, and the low light, flowers, and bird song were enough to make me want to soak up the moment rather than consider what might fit into my pocket.

The best clump of ‘Blewbury Tart’ I’ve ever seen. How silly of me to have given this plant a lukewarm review years ago, I should have known it was more my growing skills and not the drop.

To round it out it was an excellent weekend. I was almost tempted to return this weekend for the Bend to Bank lecture at Winterthur, and hear Anne Repnow give a talk, but alas it might be time to spend a weekend at home. Trust me there’s plenty to do.

A coldframe inspection at Edgewood Gardens. Quite a few treasures here, both inside and out!

Will I do what needs to be done? Probably, if I can only get started. Last night was spent browsing houseplants on some fraudulent website, and then this morning I had to spend time canceling my credit card and getting it re-issued, but honestly entertaining the dog and cleaning the kitchen took more time than that. The garden is still waiting 🙂

A terrible picture of winter aconite (Eranthis) opening up alongside the snowdrops. I love these first cautious blooms.

So blog post done, maybe breakfast and a shower wouldn’t be the worst ideas either, and then maybe it’s time for a little work outside. Just because I stayed home to get things done doesn’t mean it will happen!

Enjoy your weekend, and prepare for the onslaught of even more snowdrop photos while I second guess the witch hazel and primulas which I also did not buy last weekend. Grrr.

Off to the Gala!

Feb28

I have a gift. Many people have special gifts, but mine is the gift of chaos. I’ve been told that in the midst of chaos I come across as very calm, but the truth is I’m just used to it, since for as far back as I can remember whenever things can go wrong they did, and when it can’t possibly look worse it does, and I guess the silver lining is that it always works out in the end. Kind of along the same line of thought as “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”… except I’m not sure I’d like to push it that far, and I’m just fine sticking with ‘What doesn’t ruin everything might make for a nice story in a few years’. To sum it up, eventually the birthday stitches come out, the garden tour which finished up in the ER becomes a story, and you find a new job after cutting the vacation trip short.

Melting snow has finally arrived, and this exceptionally early winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis ‘Lightning’) and a few other early risers can finally begin to show off.

I was lucky this time. No toothache on Christmas Eve, but with a table to set up at David Culp’s Galanthus Gala in Downington Pa this Saturday, I shouldn’t have been surprised something would happen. First the car went. I wanted to finish up making labels but first the car had to get to the dealer. Then the water heater went. I just wanted to pot up a few more things. Then the garage door broke when I wanted to move things out and into the other car. Then my nephew told me he was indeed sick and would not be able to help sell… and would also not be able to give my other helper a ride down to Downington. Good times, but also silver lining time. We were able to lift the garage door and roll the car out, the repair bill came in about 2k less than expected, the door is also set for repair, the heater is fixed, a new helper has been tapped,and a new plan to get the other helper down has been set up… even the labels got done. Was it touch and go for a few hours? Maybe, but I’m back to excited and won’t even consider the repair bills until after this weekend’s adventure!

‘Wendy’s Gold’ is probably my favorite for an early bright spot. She waits for the first warm days, sprouts, and never looks back.

So that’s enough woe is me for one post because seriously it’s just life for every one else, except for me there’s the added fun of ‘dramatic timing’. The thing happens and I just look to the heavens and say “good one. Did not even see that one coming”.

Winter interest in the garden is about done for the season. Should old hellebore foliage be removed before blooming? I would have to say yes, and that might be the first thing I do once things calm down here.

So tomorrow in spite of whatever still comes my way I’m off to the Gala with my goodies. It’s been a solidly cold winter… one which coincidentally seemed to start the day after I agreed to sell a few things from the garden… but the silver lining is a burst of warmth in the days right before. Let me share how a few things have turned out.

With everything freezing solid outside, I potted up a few clumps of English bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) for a just-in-case scenario. English bluebells are kinda awesome and fairly hard to find so of course I’m keeping a bunch.

There will be English bluebells, spring snowflakes (Leucojum vernum), and of course snowdrops and winter aconite. They look pretty good and I would buy them, but not everything came through. Another just-in-case scenario had potfuls of species tulips, and they just don’t look like much so I’m leaving them here. Really. They are barely sprouting and don’t look like much so in the garage they stay and I’m absolutely not leaving them behind because I want more species tulips.

Leucojum vernum out of the garden of my friend Paula. I think they look great and if you’re thinking how much? I suppose $25 a pot will be the price even though I’m worried they’ll all sell and they’re another thing I wouldn’t mind having more of in the garden.

Besides the threat of chaos there’s another thing which gives me sweaty palms on the eve of the Gala. I’m not a good salesman. I don’t really want to get rid of any of my snowdrops so I’d actually be just fine bringing dozens back and replanting them, and I’m afraid my sales pitch will reflect that. They look so nice all potted up. It makes me think of a greenhouse filled with pot after pot of perfect snowdrops and what a shame it would be if I had to build a greenhouse next week because just having snowdrops in the ground isn’t good enough anymore. Hmmm.

Some of the potted goodies awaiting the sale. A few varieties were potted up too early and did not like the last cold blast (their flowers were burned) but most look quite happy. I hope there’s enough variety to be interesting.

If you’ve been to the Gala you may know there’s an auction which goes on. My friend Paula gave me a drop to donate, and I know I’ll feel a little light-headed when I hand it over. A Dutch drop named in 2020, ‘Snowdropfever’s Nelly’s Birthday’ is a vigorous, early, large-flowered snowdrop with strong green markings on the outer petals, and a full green inner. It’s about ready to split into three bulbs, which of course will make for an even better show next year, but even now I think it looks just dandy. Of course Paula found a small offset to share with me, she knows how I am. I hope it grows quickly!

galanthus snowdropfevers Nell's Birthday

Galanthus ‘Snowdropfevers Nelly’s Birthday’. I think it’s been in bloom at least two weeks and the green has only faded a bit. It’s a cool drop.

So I’m looking forward to the day. Oddly enough I won’t even be behind my own table, I’ll be helping out at Edgewood Gardens, only a few steps away, and hopefully that is far enough so I don’t keep taking things off my own table “on second thought” to take back home, because between that and all the other vendor tables there’s a high probability the car is fuller on the return trip than it was going down. We will see.

If I see you there, great! If I don’t I shall try this time (just like I try and fail every time) to take some decent pictures of the day to share later on. Maybe I’ll even try and take a picture of a person or two, because I notice that people somehow manage to do that in spite of all the horticultural distractions and maybe it’s time I broaden my horizons 😉

Gala or not I wish you a wonderful weekend, and I hope you’re also finally experiencing some sort of a warmup and feeling the promise of spring!

Brrrrrrrrrr

Feb15

Damn groundhog. After all the work we put into the Days of Plantness the stupid groundhog has to go see his shadow and bring six more weeks of winter onto us all. Everything here is trying to sprout, but it’s just one cold night after another and I can only imagine the mess that would be if we didn’t do Plantness in January. It could be colder. We haven’t had much snow. I bet that extra orchid I bought stopped a blizzard or something so you’re welcome.

Of course this is the year that I was hoping for a mild winter and early spring so that I could do a few really important things in February, mainly get a bunch of snowdrops ready to bring to a certain Galathus Gala for a sales table. Yeah, a sales table. Long story short, last November I was convinced by someone that I’m capable of selling snowdrops at this year’s Galanthus Gala in Downingtown Pa, so we will see… and perhaps you will see it as well if you make it down there in two weeks! I think the in-person talks and early entry are all sold out (click >here< for ticket info) but from ten through the afternoon anyone can stop by just to look and browse, and even if you’re outside the area, virtual tickets for all the talks are also available. I’m anxiously excited yet a little nervous. Anonymity is so much easier when you’re not lined up against a wall at a table, and I am a big fan of being anonymous at these things 😉

I potted up a bunch of snowdrops in December “just in case” and so far so good. Here they are open to the elements for a breather. I’m not crazy about a frosting of ice, but they seem to like it.

So. The cold. Maybe that’s got me a little nervous as well. Hopefully all the goodies which are, and are yet-to-be, potted up will not be locked up in ice the day I need to load the car, but of course that couldn’t happen and I’m positive everything will be fine. Surely this cold can’t last forever… unless it does… and this week it feels like it could.

An icy frosting to the garden

In spite of the cold and frequent snow and ice, the snowdrops at least are anxious to grow! It’s absolutely amazing when a frozen earth with air temperatures barely above freezing can produce sprouts from one day to the next! The plants have spoken, and are rising up in spite of that fat little groundhog’s prediction to bring a little springtime vibe to an icy garden. I may be biased, but snowdrops are pretty amazing for what they do.

Under the shelter of an evergreen, ‘Castle Plum’ is ready to go. Our one warm day tomorrow will open these blooms right up.

So in defiance of the cold I was supposed to visit my friend Paula today for a few more sales table snowdrops, but more predicted snow and an observation of frozen earth, and her “if you really insist on coming maybe you can pickaxe up a chunk of frozen muddy sprouts to take home” suggestion, pushed me over to the side of better sense and the visit is rescheduled for Monday. Tomorrow the snow is to change over to rain alongside a rise in temperatures, and perhaps slimy mud is better than hacking out chunks of ice.

Winter interest is starting to get old around here. I can’t wait to trim the hellebores and clear things out for the coming show!

In the meantime I’m trying to avoid spending too much time staring out windows and imagining the perfect year to come. I haven’t been distracted by skiing this year in spite of the excellent conditions (and I blame kids with their own drivers licenses and friends who are “aging out” for this), and to be honest I was almost bored a few days ago when weather kept me inside and I just didn’t care enough to finish fixing a burst water line or carry water to the basement plants. I think I’m suffering garden withdrawl.

A primrose purchased “for a friend” but then I just couldn’t be home any of the times she offered to stop by to pick it up. Hmmm. I feel terrible about that.

We will carry on. I’m somewhat excited but can feel myself on the edge of that manic snowdrop fever and it’s scary. There’s not even a thought of going back to the days when I’d pretend they were no big deal, and of course it will be fun seeing it all return. Just one more cold week and then snowdrops, witch hazel, winter aconite, willows… and all will start bursting out with every new sunny day to fill the garden again.

Hang in there and have a great weekend!

sorta like suburbia

more than you ever wanted to know about my garden

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