Welcome, Friends, I am so happy you are here to share this day with me. There is so much excitement in the air as we get ready to go to the first Flower Festival of the season here in my area. Growers come from all over the Upstate to share their beautiful plants with eager gardeners. Friends arrived at our house just before 8:00 a.m. as we packed the car with a garden wagon. Soon the four of us were off to the sale and we met another friend there. We arrived as they were still setting up but we started about the market in search of plants on our list.
You can see how the growers are setting up their stock…so many beautiful colors in annual and perennial plants. A rainbow of colors surrounded me as I began going from grower to grower with my list in hand.
I headed straight for one of the herb growers as I was looking for savory, marjoram, and French tarragon as well as some chives. I was able to find all the herbs on my list for very reasonable prices. I loaded up the cart and then headed for the peony growers. I ended up purchasing two new peony plants…one pink and one white…to add to several I have planted in the garden.
You can see the plants are already budding and look beautifully green and healthy. This will make a lovely addition to my garden and bloom each spring for many years to come. Peonies live a long time and once they are planted do not like to be relocated. I hope they will be very happy here.
I love these bright orange colors even though my garden is a bit more muted. These bright colors are all about the sunny days of summer. I always try to have a few in the garden as bright spots to draw the eye.
Here you can see a wider panoramic look at part of the market. So many choices are available you can feel overwhelmed, if you don’t have a plan. It’s good to traverse any plant sale with a list of the plants you need to include in your garden. That will keep you focused and less distracted…although I get plenty distracted by lots of different flowers and herbs. It’s good to go around the market and visit the different growers before buying so you can view the different plants and pay a price you are comfortable with.
Here are the plants I purchased. I probably won’t get them planted until tomorrow or maybe even the next day but the weather is supposed to stay in the 60’s and 70’s so they should be fine. I also bought a flat of coleus to put into some containers that will be sitting on a fence rail in the shade. the coleus is a gorgeous shade of rust that is quite lovely. I can’t wait to get my fingers in the soil and settle the plants into their new home.
It was a really great morning at the Flower Festival and I’m so happy you could share this time with me.
What a wonderful place to buy your plants! We go to a greenhouse where they grow their own plants. Last year, we didn’t have quite as much success, but that may have been my soil. This year, I’m going to do a bit more amending. I love peonies, but I don’t have any yet. I need to figure out a place to plant some. And, I love coleus plants. My youngest does, too. He has some growing in water in his house!
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It is really exciting to go to a sale with som many choices of beautiful plants. I look forward to these festivals every year. Soil is definitely the basis for a great garden. I add soil every year and compost all year round. It really helps. Happy your love of gardening is transferred to your son. Have a great week.
Lynne
Great peony! I’ve supplemented my online order (which came in last Th and Fri) by going to our Capitol Market twice to get annuals that I missed out on last year, and a few more perennials. Our Capitol Market has seasonal regional vendors for flowers and vegetables and on through Christmas trees, from early April through December. It’s a destination in a restored industrial train station, with shops and restaurants indoors, vendors outside. You’re right, it can be overwhelming unless you know what you’re looking for or have given previous thought to what you want. Happy gardening!
Can’t wait to see the next phase of your garden, Rita. The Capitol Market sounds great for an outing for the whole day. I love being able to bring home some flowers and vegetables to plant. Every morning I try to walk around the garden and see what new things are happening. There’s always something new. Have a wonderful week gardening.
Lynne
I’m hoping to plant some new peonies this spring too! I definitely want to get some herbs and work on a container herb garden this summer.
Gardening is so satisfying on so many levels. Add some lemon verbena to your herb list and you will not be disappointed. It’s one of my favorite herbs and smells wonderful. It’s also great for cooking and drying. Good luck with your garden and thanks for stopping by. Have a great week.
Lynne
I love peonies. What a fun time. Thanks for sharing this post at the Will Blog for Comments #36 linkup!
Peonies are some of my favorite flower and many are in bloom right now. Can’t wait to share them with everyone. Have a great week.
Lynne
A flower festival sounds wonderful. I love the flowers you ended up choosing. I planted a few flowers over the weekend after it rained. Thank you for sharing your experience at the flower festival with us at The Crazy Little Lovebirds link party #35. 🙂
Thanks, Steph, always a pleasure to post on your Blog. I love planting new things and watching them grow. Sounds like you had some fun flower time this weekend. Have a great week.
Lynne
Thanks so much for the feature on the Flower Festival. It was a lovely outing and I did bring home lots of goodies. Hope you get some rest soon and get to enjoy your garden. Have a lovely week.
Lynne
What a wonderful flower festival! I kill everything. But I did just recently take up trying indoor house plants. So we’ll see how that goes.
Visiting today from Will Blog For Comments 36 #8&9
It was a great way to spend a morning, Paula. I wish you good luck with your indoor plants. I have more trouble with the inside ones than I do with the outside ones. have a great week.
Lynne
Marsha, thanks so much for the features and happy to hear your cold is better. Love posting on your Blog and I recognize how much work you do on it each week. You are appreciated.
Lynne