This morning, buses arrived at 7:00 a.m. to whisk 600 plus writers, photographers, television media personalities, designers and other garden communicators to Plant Delights Nursery with side trips  to the local garden of John Dilley and Willie Pilkington and the Raleigh Farmer's Market. What can I say?  Plant Delights was a feast for the horticultural senses and a tapestry of perennials, shrubs and trees.  Surrounding the greenhouses were planting beds filled to the brim with all sorts of good things. I took a lot, and I mean, a lot of pictures. Perhaps, I'll do a slideshow once I return home and can get my bearings. A ginger I turned and snapped. I did not get the name of this variety, but it smelled divine. I wish you were with me to smell the gingers in the greenhouse. In the meantime, feast your visual sense upon this. On the left was...

On our first full day of Garden Writers Association goodness, we had talks on the greening of the planet and working on the web, designer veggie gardens and editor panels. Then we were off to have lunch while perusing the garden products exhibition. I like to call it the "trade show," but I think, perhaps, I'm the only one who describes it as such. Lots of new plants to think about for next year, and I'm mailing myself a sample or two (or ten). Proven Winners, Dramm Tools Timberpress Books and so many others were there to tell us about the latest and greatest in garden products and plants. It's always fun, but a bit overwhelming too. Back at the room, it was time to rest a bit before heading out to stroll the fifty-five acre Sarah P. Duke Gardens on the university grounds. The center of the garden was a...

Planting outdoors during a downpour might look like one definition of insanity, but I had a bunch of plants to get into the ground before I fly out to Raleigh, NC, on Wednesday. The Garden Writers Association's annual meeting is in Raleigh this year. You might ask why I have so many things left to plant this late in the season.  It's all because I'm plant obsessed. When I was at Lowe's (on Memorial) last week , I saw a small sign which stated: "Any plant with a bloom is half price. This excludes Asters, Mums, and pansies." Sedum 'Autumn Joy', Botanical Name: Acalypha wilkesiana 'Mardi Gras', 'White Swan' Echinacea Like a moth to the flame, I headed to a table full of perennials.  Fall is a great time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials.  Most of the containers were unmarked (this was a box store), and when I went to...

Always, in September, I can count on the Conoclinium coelestinum (a/k/aEupatorium coelestinum) to bloom throughout my garden.  Wild blue ageratum is hardy here and many other places since it is grown from USDA Zones 5(a) to 9(b).  Like many wild plants it is much beloved by butterflies and bees.  I especially like its other common name blue mistflower, because it does weave through my shadier beds like a mist of sky blue. This afternoon, as I took photos, I found the first Monarch I've seen in the garden feasting upon its nectar.  Monarchs are more patient subjects than the sulphur butterflies.  As long as I don't move too quickly, they will pose in a queenly fashion while I snap portrait after portrait.  The sulphurs, on the other hand, rush to and fro as busy as a mother of toddler triplets.  I never come upon them unawares. The mistflower is also...