FW: SHOW: Part II -- 341 in East Aurora

From: "Mark, Maureen" <MARKM@tc.gc.ca>

> After Peter finished our judge's training, he suggested that we go
> over and listen to the hosta judge.  Carolyn had posted that this
> judge would be fun to follow as he judged.  He is.  Not only is he
> fast, but he talks as he is judging and doesn't mind everyone hanging
> around.  And he freely chastises exhibitors for failing to groom
> properly and offers tips as he goes.  When he finished, I went back to
> take a good look through the hosta show.  The specimen of SIEBOLDIANA
> ELEGANS is an absolutely huge blue leaf -- about one and half times
> the size of a dinner plate.   BORWICK BEAUTY is a lovely large yellow
> with blue irregular edge.  Other nice variegated ones are SPRITZER, a
> striped yellow and green and VENTROCOSA AUREOMARGINATA.  There were
> also some lovely miniatures such as LITTLE JIM (a streaky one) and
> BABY BUNTING (blue).  
> 
> Then I had to take another look through the nursery to see what I may
> have missed the first time around.  The display of JIs is very nice.
> Johnson's simulated a garden bed and sunk pots of JIs in.  Offerings
> included varieties like LITTLE SNOWMAN and ORIENTAL EYES.  I resist
> successfully.  I hover over the peonies and astilbes alternatively
> picking up and putting back pots.  I do the same for daylilies (a very
> large selection).  I admire the Japanese maples but leave them alone
> because they are definitely not hardy in Ottawa -- we've tried.  When
> I head to the cash register, I am armed with another two hostas and
> Heuchera "Cappucino".  As I bump into Sandy, he insists that we won't
> be able to take all these plants across the border.  But I refuse to
> put them back.
> 
> I had checked the import requirements before we left Ottawa and noted
> that bedding plants (less than 11 flats or less than 51 pots) may be
> permitted into Canada without phytosanitary certificates provided that
> they come from an area no more than 50 miles from the U.S. border
> going to an area no more than 30 miles from the Canadian border.
> Someone suggests that I add a flat of begonias to my purchases.  Sandy
> reluctantly agrees because then at least he won't be lying to the
> customs officer that he bought bedding plants.  And we were going to
> Oakville first before heading back to Ottawa.  So I head over to the
> bedding plants area where I pick up some coleus -- I like them more
> than begonias.
> 
> Between JI training, hanging out with the hosta judge (he recommends
> WIDE BRIM for beginners) and acquisitions, I didn't spend nearly as
> much time perusing the daylily exhibits.  I can't remember much other
> than AUSTENTATIOUS was a gorgeous double.  I think it was peach with a
> raspberry eye zone.
> 
> In the meantime, I've met up with a few other faces that I know.
> Chris Hollinshead from Mississauga showed up and Jim (last name?) from
> Albany, NY.  A bunch of us headed over to the Guest Mansion for a
> picnic -- no directions or navigation necessary as we were following
> Peter.
> 
> We are the first to arrive and meet Kathy's husband and assured him
> that Kathy was arriving soon and so he promptly disappears.  Peter
> gives us a bit of garden training before everyone else arrives.  I can
> report that STATELY FLAMINGO also draws the eye in the garden and
> competes with delphinium for height.  (And the delphinium is a
> gorgeous blue with violet rim.)
> 
> I believe that Kathy's garden has been described before, so I won't
> have to wrack my brains to describe it.  But I don't understand how
> she does it.  It is a wonderfully balanced garden with loads of
> different kinds of iris mixed in with peonies, hostas, daylilies and
> samples of all kinds of other perennials.  My garden beds remain
> dominated by iris, no matter how hard I try to make it more diverse.
> I probably just need more space.  Kathy has at least three times more
> garden space.  Then I could indulge in more hostas, peonies and
> daylilies...
> 
> After gorging ourselves on iris and garden talk and stuffing our faces
> with sausages, hot dogs, pasta salad, potato salad, melon ball and
> fruit flan, we settle down for the auction to offset the costs of the
> show.  A variety of perennials are offered including certificates for
> a new hosta (valued at over $100 that went for $60), some caladiums,
> astilbe, coral bells.  I pay $6 for a pot of meadowsweet (not a
> bargain).  Sandy promptly holds my arms down so that I can't bid
> anymore.  But that's okay, I've made my contribution for the day.
> 
> Thank you Kathy and Carolyn for arranging a wonderful show.  The sale
> at the nursery was an added bonus.  And hospitality at the Guest
> mansion is magnificent.
> 
> So armed with my auction winning and some cuttings of Kathy's
> pelargoniums (some really neat variegated ones and few scented ones),
> we set out to the car.  We stop at the car, as we realize that we
> don't know where exactly we are because we had followed Peter.
> Luckily, Jim was also heading out at the same time and was heading
> back to Albany.  So we followed Jim back to I-90 and the way home.
> 
> And Kathy, customs was easy.  Sandy didn't even have to sweat.  We
> couldn't have stopped for more than minute.  Four questions only:
> Where are you from?  Ottawa.  How long did you stay?  Day trip only.
> Did you buy anything?  Some bedding plants.  What was their value?
> About $40.  Then he waved us on.  Smuggling is easy!
> 
> And now we're back in Ottawa, with my new purchases waiting to be
> planted.  And Sandy is digging up more lawn to accommodate our iris
> purchases from Superstition, Aitken's and Ensata and muttering as he
> does every year that we have no space.
> 
> Maureen Mark
> Ottawa, Canada (zone 4)
> mmark@ottawa.com
> 
> 
> 
> 

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