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| Here is a view of that incredible Davidia involucrata ‘ Vilmoriniana’ , along with D. involucrata ‘Sonoma’, one of the newer selections of Davidia that bloom at a smaller size, at the Broken Arrow Nursery booth. |
Trade Secrets may indeed be the nexus of design talents and horticultural expertise, a place where beauty, taste and appreciation of everything which is rare or valued (and vaguely garden-related) from a Louis the XVI cast bronze tub for a citron tree to an ancient Tibetan wooden thing-a ma-jig that would be just perfect for that fresh-from-the-conservatory super-rare Grammatophyllum speciosum that your gardener has been slaving over all winter.
Imagine Elle Decor, Veranda, Town & Country and Architectural Digest combined with Horticulture Magazine (circa 1989), The Journal of the North American Rock Garden Society, Hortus, Pacific Horticulture and the fine blogs of Rochelle Greayer, Margaret Roach’s and yeah – this dude (no, wait, we’ll all be there along with Martha Stewart and her entourage – plus writers like Tovah Martin whom I always see here – – put it this way – if a tornado hits Sharon CT this Saturday, your gardening and creative life could suddenly significantly less inspired.
Maybe this is the year you take on Trade Secrets.
If you haven’t heard by now, Trade Secrets ( at Lion Rock Farm in Sharon, CT) is considered by many to be the most-coveted events to attend for both lovers of rare plants for those who covet good taste and design (come on -good causes aside, that’s kind-of what we are all about, right?).
This year, both Joe and I will be attending, and I’ll be covering it, but unfortunately given that there are two of us, we won’t be able to justify the $120 ticket to get into the even early in the morning, not that it isn’t worth it – you must go early, if you want to get the best of the best (there is plenty there later, though! I mean, it’s a two day event.). This also means that once again, I won’t be able to afford covering the garden tours as well – maybe next year.
Trade Secrets attracts not only some of the most select nurseries and antique dealers who are invited to show and sell their greatest horticulturally related treasures, the gate receipts also go to a very good cause. This event, which began at Interior designer Bunny Williams estate many years earlier as a back-yard fundraiser for Woman’s Support Services in Litchfield, county CT, has now grown into this amazing two day event held on what usually is a gorgeous weekend in mid May.
Imagine this: A nineteenth century farm on a hilltop in western Connecticut, bluebirds, meadowlarks, horses, apple blossoms, orioles, carven stone foxes, lovely ladies and handsome men (ahem), all come together It’s Brimfield-meets- Chelsea Flower Show, and in many ways, this singular event has become the Queen’s Garden Party (if the Queen was Bunny Williams, I suppose). Or is it Martha? We’ll just let those to figure that out~!
So please, do go, if you can – ( this Sat, May 14 and Sun May 15) for more important than anything else, this fundraiser for Woman’s Support Services, (an organization which offers crisis intervention, counseling and education plus legal, medical. and housing assistance for women and families in Western CT) offers a double whammy for your contribution. Great help where it is desperately needed, and you get extraordinary plants, and antique that will make you swoon since you probably won’t be able to afford much for them. But hey – the ideas are free! Bring your camera.
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| Lion Rock Farm is a functioning farm in Sharon, CT, they host the event each year on their beautiful property. |
Given the means, do donate as well and go for the early bird fee though – I really do highly recommend it, if you want to make the biggest impact for the organization, and to get the best chance of snagging that rare Podophyllum delayvii before Martha gets them all, (Just saying’. Not that that has ever happened to me!).
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| Succulents planted as a wall hanging. Best use of a bed spring yet! |
I’ll be looking for my favorite vendors here, as well, and they are some of the best in the industry. I mean, where else can you buy an original Guy Wolff pot, and talk to him, as well (such a nice guy!) – Snug Harber Farm perhaps, Harvey Wightman Alpines (as in the last post), Karen Perkins and her Epimedium ( if I was buying the $120 ticket to park in the field this year I would bring my yellow wagon again, but this year, it will just be what I can carry so that I won’t have to use the runners and so that I can sneak out fast) So I may not be filling the truck with trees and shrubs from Broken Arrow and handmade pottery from Guy Wolff – well perhaps, only a few.
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| Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone! Now get out into your garden~ |
If you see me, definitely do say ‘hi”, I love chatting with readers (and I usually meet many at this great event which sometimes, turns into more of a social event than anything else for me!). The weather looks decent too ( sunny, with a slight chance of rain late in the day, and Sunday looks great too! Happy hunting!
