Today at the set-up for the flower show opening on Sunday, the pace has clearly picked up. The convention center is noisier, there are more people around and the empty spaces are filling in. More vendors are here today, too. I say here because I'm filing this as I look down on the show floor. The lights are bright, the air even colder than yesterday but once again, no one seems concerned about deadlines. These folks ought to try journalism. Deadlines make us crazy.
I don't know about you, but the more I learn about plants and gardening, the more I realize I need to learn. On the other hand, I find this year that I recognize a heck of a lot more plants and flowers than last year. Over the last year, I've even visited a number of the exhibitors or at least talked to the owners and workers. That's called education. Very exciting.
I stopped by the Meadowbrook Farm exhibit just now, and realized that two weeks ago I saw the flowers they're using growing in the hoop houses there. I felt recognition - hello there, cosmos! (see photo) Same for the sexy 'Fishnet stockings' coleus, which a group of guys was unloading. I'll bet they have no idea what they're handling. These coleus really do remind you of fishnet stockings, though none that I ever wore in my wild youth. These were made for ... excusez moi ... ladies of the night, perhaps.
For all the excitement, one conclusion is inescapable. This is first and foremost a show. But this year I'm going to make it my classroom, too. Shouldn't be hard. I find these folks more than happy to explain what they're growing and anything about it you want to know. In fact, sometimes I forget I'm working. All I want to do is soak it up.
I used to go to the show just to gawk. Now I plan to take as much advantage of these folks as I can. It's for a good cause, after all.
