About Ellen Park
Ellen Park has been gardening ever since she discovered playing in the dirt was more fun than digging in the sandbox. In her blog, Road Trips for Gardeners, she covers the world looking for plant-centric events, flower shows, great gardens and places to see the best things growing.
Recent Posts by Ellen Park
Wisconsin Goes Crazy For Tulips
February 2, 2012 by Ellen Park
A glimpse of the tulip craze in 17th century Holland comes to the Domes of the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, 524 South Layton Boulevard, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (map), March 31 through May 28, 2012.
A variety of tulips will create a blanket of spring color at the base of a large windmill during the show, dubbed Tulip Mania.
Scottish Snowdrop Festival
January 31, 2012 by Ellen Park
Celebrate the promise of spring at the annual Scottish Snowdrop Festival, held February 4, 2012, through March 18, 2012.
Arranged by VisitScotland, the festival includes more than 50 garden showcasing their snowdrop spots, some of which are open exclusively for the event.
Properties taking part in the festival range from castles and classic country estates to woodland walks, walled gardens and urban retreats. There is also magical Snowdrops by Starlight night time experience.
Everything from a footpath sprinkled with snowdrops by a waterfall which inspired Robert Burns in Perthshire, to carpets of snowdrops at Culzean Castle in South Ayrshire can be enjoyed. During a visit you can also tour castles and stately homes, visit deer parks and tea rooms or see specialist varieties of snowdrop like those at the Shepard House Snowdrop Theatre in East Lothian.
One of the gardens taking part is Cambo Estate, Fife, which has 70 acres of woodland carpeted in snowdrops each year — and, it’s home to the National Collection of 300 species of snowdrop.
Dates published for snowdrop openings are ‘general’ as unfortunately snowdrops do not flower to order and their flowering can be dependent on which part of the country they are growing in and indeed the variations in our climate. As a general rule, they are two weeks earlier in the Borders and Dumfries & Galloway than in the east of Scotland, and those growing further north and/or on higher ground can be later still.
(Photo courtesy of VisitScotland)
Brussels, Belgium Is Blossoming!
January 28, 2012 by Ellen Park
When spring arrives, the central square in Brussels, Belgium, is filled with flower vendors.
Even though as tourists, we can’t carry home armloads of potted geraniums or masses of petunias for window boxes, we can buy blooms to brighten our hotel rooms.
Note the red flowers already blossoming outside second floor windows around Grand Place.
(Photo © 2005 by Susan McKee)
Flower Power Festival and Daffodil Explosion
January 24, 2012 by Ellen Park
Each year, thousands of blooming daffodils in sunny shades of yellow and orange will welcome spring to tiny city of Point Arena in Mendocino County, California.
Highlight is the annual Flower Power Festival and Daffodil Explosion to be held March 10 and 11, 2012, sponsored by the Point Arena Merchants Association.
The multi-colored blossoms will brighten the drive along historic Highway One and throughout Point Arena. An early sign of Spring, daffodils will trumpet the season from scenic Arena Cove to the historic Point Arena Lighthouse (pictured).
(Photo courtesy of Flower Power Festival and Daffodil Explosion)
North Carolina Azalea Festival
January 22, 2012 by Ellen Park
The Azalea Festival, first held in 1948, returns to Wilmington, North Carolina, April 11 through 15, 2012.
Azaleas should be in full bloom throughout the city, which has a full calendar of special events planned. Included are a children’s azalea tea, Cole Bros. Circus Big Top, a parade, historic home tour and juried art show.
Centerpiece of the festival for us Road Trips Gardeners, however, is the 5th annual Azalea Garden Tour presented by the Cape Fear Garden Club. The gardens are open for visitors from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 13 through 15, 2012.
(Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Garden Club)
“Wild About Orchids” in Australia
January 22, 2012 by Ellen Park
The 19th Australian Orchid Council Conference and Show will take place September 11 through 16, 2012, in the Burswood Entertainment Complex, West Perth, Australia. Theme is “Wild About Orchids”.
The Australian Orchid Conference is held every three years, and returns to Perth for the first time since 1991.
Organizers note that there’s an abundance of native terrestrial orchids in this part of Australia (the southwest). In addition, spring wildflowers should be in full bloom (yes, September is spring Down Under).
A schedule of 21 lecturers and 27 lectures is planned in the Botanical Room. over a three day period.
The Northern Districts Orchid Society (NDOS) will host the 19th Australian Orchid Conference while the event will be organised and managed by a Special Project Committee of the Western Australian Regional Orchid Organisation (WAROO) whose members are AOC affiliated clubs/societies.
North Carolina’s 19th Annual Garden Show
January 20, 2012 by Ellen Park
The 19th annual Garden Show will be held February 4 and 5, 2012, in the Schwartz Center of Cape Fear Community College, 601 North Front Street, Wilmington, North Carolina (map).
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults, and children under 12 are free.
Among the seminars and demonstrations are a discussion of “The Southern Garden Trio: Azaleas, Dogwoods and Camellias” by Matt Hunter, president of the American Camellia Society; Ikebana Design and History, and Making Compost Tea.
(Photo courtesy of Wilmington Garden Show)
Indiana to Host Ninth Annual Gardening Show
January 18, 2012 by Ellen Park
Enjoy a breath of spring at the ninth annual Gardening Show in Porter County, Indiana.
It’s scheduled for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Central Standard Time — also known as Chicago Time) January 21, 2012, in the Porter County Exposition Center, 215 Division Road, Valparaiso, Indiana (map).
Keynote speaker is Peter Loewer, better known as the Wild Gardener, but there’s a full schedule of presenters.
It’s sponsored by Porter County Purdue Extension and the Porter County Master Gardeners Association.
Bring your saved seeds to trade at the Seed & Bulb Exchange, enter the Photo Contest and shop in the marketplace. There’ll also be a children’s corner, book signings and on-site dining.
