Celebrity Gardener
Gardening can be more than just digging in the dirt. I have been fortunate to get to travel around the country with my daughter to numerous gardens and Garden Shows. At these shows we have met some of the top celebrities in the garden world.
About three weeks ago I saw an announcement on the internet that Jamie Durie of HGTV Out Door Room fame, was presenting a program at a True Value Hardware store in Minster, Ohio. Oh yes, just 45 minutes from here in Van Wert, Ohio. What an opportunity for us. I have met Jamie in Chicago at an IGC Show (Independent Garden Centers). Being a member of GWA (Garden Writers Association), I was able to attend with a Press Pass. Needless to say he was very charming and quite nice to look at. The young gardeners were quite impressed. Ta, Ta. He had published a book and was promoting it, "The Outdoor Room".
So when he was going to be in our backyard, why not take a quick road trip to hear what he had to say about the new trends of gardening. We filled a car of gardeners and headed to Minster, Ohio. The tickets were free, but were by reservation only.
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| Home Town Gardeners |
This was an amazing True Value Hardware. It was very large and a total package. They had a remarkable greenhouse and garden center. They had unusual plants of top quality and a great selection of flower pots and accessories for the garden.
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| Hops |
They feature Proven Winner Plants. When you hear the story that substantiates what a Proven Winner plant is, it makes you understand what has gone into the production of the plant you purchase. You can be assured that it will be a great performer and is gardener friendly. You may pay a little more, but it has been grown to be trouble free and give you pleasure for the whole season.
I was interested to find out how a small garden center could attract a Rock Star Gardener. First of all if you have ever visited the Minster, New Bremen area, you would be aware of how pristine the community is as a whole. There is NOT a Wal-Mart. The town is very sufficient and supplies the areas needs. Crown is there major source of industry, and a large supporter of the community.
Now back to how Jamie Durie came to Minister. Proven Winners sponsored him, and I would say True Value has a strong connection with Proven Winners.
We arrived about an hour early. Since we were guaranteed a seat with our ticket, seats were first come first served. We checked out the store and garden center. Yes, we all made purchases. Because of the event they were offering 15% off annuals and 30% off perennials..
The program was to start at 6PM, but they received a call that Jamie had a problem with his GPS. He arrived about 30 minutes late. but he hit the stage running. He is a ball of fire. The topic for the evening was how to incorporate edibles into the outside landscape, (outdoor rooms). He suggested you remove the drapes at the back of your house and continue the living space into the back yard. He showed how to terrace plants to create spaces that were rooms, such as outdoor kitchens, play areas for the children, and living spaces. He used conifers. deciduous plants, fruits and vegetables in colorful and creative ways that was useful as well as visually attractive. He is well versed and has experience beyond the average home gardener, but he gave us basics that we could use in our home gardens. He suggested that we start on one area at a time. Have a plan and don't feel like it has to be completed all at once. That could be over whelming. What you invest on the outside of your home can only increase the value of your property. Families are spending more time in their back yards. They are entertaining and this makes for bringing families and friends closer together.
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| Minster, OH - True Value Hardware |
We left there excited and motivated to go home and tune up our gardens.
Thank you Jamie Durie and all the people at True Value Hardware for a wonderful evening.
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| Chicago, IL - IGC 2012 Show |
Louise Hartwig
twogirlswithapurpose.blogspot.com
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