Fish Boxes

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I picked up three fish boxes from a local seafood store. Thanks for the tip on fish boxes Matriarchy. You can’t beat the price – free.

They are about the size of a small window box (24”L x 9”W x 5”D). I will need to punch holes in the bottom for drainage.

The boxes came with lids. I’ll have to figure out how to recycle the lids. They could be used as trays for potted plants.

I’ll reuse the soil from last year’s pots. I don’t know if that’s the best thing to do but it certainly is the cheapest. I may mix in some new potting soil and vermiculite. I’ll fertilize with fish emulsion.

I have all winter to select some plants for the boxes. I may plant some lettuce or herbs. Or, I may fill them with marigolds for a nice edge to the sunny patio. Or I may start with lettuce/herbs and change to marigolds later in the summer. Or, I may try something else entirely. What would you do with free planters?


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NOTE: The annual Lehigh Valley Flower and Garden Show at Allentown Fairgrounds Agriplex has been canceled for economic reasons as well as decreasing attendance. The show was originally scheduled for March 6-8, 2009. After 36 years, spring won’t be the same without it.
(LV Flower Show posts March 3, 2007 and March 7 2008.)

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Allentown Flower Show

2013 -
 ValleyFlower, Garden, and Pool Show  -
3/8-9-10/2013 
Ag Hall, Allentown Fair Grounds, PA

2012

Valley Flower and Garden Show

Ag Hall, Allenttown

• New Dates: March 2, 3 and 4 -- Mark your calendars!!!

Adventures in Agriculture

Palmer Park Mall, Easton

Friday, February 10, 4pm – 9 pm

Saturday, February 11, 10am – 9 pm

Sunday, February 12, 11 am – 4 pm

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Philacelphia International Flower Show

March 4-11, 2012 = Islands of Aloha

2011 SPRING SHOWS -

Adventures in Agriculture Feb 11-13, 2011 http://shoppalmerparkmall.com/calendar/event/11082

Philadelphia Flower Show “Springtime in Paris” March 6-13, 2011 http://www.theflowershow.com/home/index.html

Valley Flower, Garden and Patio Show - Ag Hall, Allentown Fairgrounds, March 11-13, 2011 http://www.valleyflowershow.com/

Lehigh Valley Green Builders Expo March 19-20, 2011 http://www.lvgreenbuilders.org/expo/

ALLENTOWN FLOWER SHOW WAS CANCELLED (2009-10) - NEW SHOW SCHEDULED FOR 2011 (see above)



“Tapestry of Green”Lehigh Valley Flower and Garden Show 2008
Agri-plex Allentown Fairgrounds March 7, 8 & 9
http://www.allentowntradeshows.com/html/flower_show.html

This is the weekend for Lehigh Valley Flower and Garden Show. With rain predicted for Friday night and Saturday, it’s a good way to be dry outdoors, sort of.

As promised, there are a few more plant sellers at this year’s show. Penn State Master Gardeners will be selling all the shrubs in the display. You can stop by the booth and reserve a plant but you must be there at 4:45 to pick up your plant at 5 pm on Sunday or it will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Landscaper’s sale & Lehigh Valley Florists Association auction also take place at the end of the show on Sunday.

The kids will love the train display by Lehigh Valley Large Scalers. And across the way, they will be able to landscape a model farmhouse with miniature shrubs at the Master Gardener exhibit.

Lehigh Career and Technical Institute constructed a sophisticated informational garden. Kutztown High School’s display is quite professional and includes a cold frame and gazebo.

There are booths of crafts, garden “art”, garden structures, demonstrations as well as professional landscapes.

Let’s get out of the rain and pretend it’s spring.

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(I apologize – the sidebar “About Me”, “Previous Posts” and “Archives” has moved to the bottom of this blog.)

Snow

Tired of snow? Me too. I choose to ignore the snow and think about indoor plants, garden catalogues and flower shows.

The coleus cuttings are due to be trimmed for more cuttings. I'll pot them in peat pots so they can go directly into the garden in May.

Fuchsia cuttings grow well under the lights. They are also ready for cuttings.

The rosy amaryllis is ready to bloom.

Pussy Willows produce fuzzy little blooms.

As I continued to ignore the snow, I put through my first garden catalogue order. From Gardener’s Supply – Large Tip Bag, 31" Diameter - “Self-Standing Bags Make Yard Clean-Up Easy”. I borrowed one of these bags last fall for leaf cleanup. It worked so well that I had to have one for myself. They are sturdy and collapse for storage. I also ordered two Drip-it Pro waterers for my container vegetables - ”Two-Week Plant Sitters” according to the catalogue. I’ll let you know how they work out.

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Next month the 36th Annual Lehigh Valley Flower and Garden Show "Tapestry of Green” will be held at the Allentown Fair Grounds Agri-Plex - March 7 to 9. You can print a $1 off coupon and read the press release at http://www.allentowntradeshows.com/html/flower_show.html The press release promises more plants for sale this year.

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The Philadelphia Flower Show "Jazz It Up" takes place March 2 to 9 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. http://www.theflowershow.com/home/index.html According to the promotional material, ' "Jazz It Up" will celebrate the birthplace of jazz and much more, as exhibitors take gardening to the next level with pumped-up versions of New Orleans walled courtyards, cast iron balconies, fountains and canals. If you like music, there will also be the toe-tapping sounds of great Jazz legends.'

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Think spring!

Spring Garden Show

Lehigh Valley Flower and Garden Show opened March 2 to March 4. This small show had some nice displays by local nurseries and educational institutions.

The displays illustrated the theme "Nature Comes Alive". Spring flowering shrubs, daffodils, hyacinths and tulips lined newly built garden paths, ponds and fountains. Lehigh Valley Technical Institute had an wonderful display for their first effort at this show complete with a water feature. Native plants were the interesting focus at Edge of the Woods Nursery.

The Penn State Master Gardener display featured growing tomatoes. As usual, the sections were informative and creative. The area pictured here answered some common tomato problem questions. There also was a artistic display of home canned tomatoes. It made me hungry for a bite of a ripe, jucy, home-grown tomato and anxious to get out in the garden.

The only disappointment at this show each year is the lack of plants for sale. But, I managed to come away with two Golden Lemon Thyme plants for my garden path.