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Ahhh the tastes of summer! Tina and I just took a day off. (OK actually 26 hours but who's counting?) We love what we do so in some respects every day is a day off. That partially explains that why, on our first day off this year, we took a ride up to Vermont, just north of White River Junction, to visit a garden center, a hosta grower, and a tractor auction. Along the way we also stopped at a number of farm stands, roadside stands, and pick your own farms and bought strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and currants, all ripening at the same time. I don't want to admit how many strawberries I ate while driving around! If you are a first time vegetable gardener, be prepared to harvest even more now from your own garden now that the weather has warmed.

Many of you may have heard, but for those who haven't Tina was one of only four garden center merchandisers in the country to be invited to participate in the first ever Merchandising competition held in Ohio at the OFA Short Course, the premier floriculture show in the country. I am going to "steal" the description of it written by Ellen Wells, Editor-at-Large of Green Profit magazine since she writes so much better than I do:
Most. Fun. Ever (at least at Short Course). Hands down, that title goes to the new Merchandising Contest, the surprise hit of the show. You may recall this is the contest that pitted visual merchandisers against each other to create retail displays within 45 minutes. Think "Food Network Challenge" but with garden center stuff. Participants were sponsored by {several national Garden Center Magazines}. They all had a blast, and the crowds that gathered to watch the three-day competition were snapping photos of the displays to take back and implement on their own. The judges and OFA's garden center committee and staff need to give themselves big pats on their backs for scheming up such a successful event. ...The winner? Murphy Hendy, who narrowly edged out Tina Bemis in the finals.

As a proud husband I have to brag a little. For Tina to be even invited is a huge honor, and for her to win her first round and make it to the final round against such national talent makes us all so happy for her! She had a great time, albeit on two hours of sleep a night. If you want to read her (long) story click here.
These are a couple pictures of her displays. In honor of her winning Butterfly Display we are recreating one here for Saturday and featuring a number of wonderful butterfly plants to attract the whimsical creatures to your yard.

Beautiful red Beebalm. Three stems in a vase, simple yet elegant. Every week Tina and I along with my brother and nephew have dinner with my parents. Each week there is a different guest right in the middle of the table. Last week was Beebalm. It doesn't take much effort or time. Simply stroll out your door with a pair of scissors. Snip a bloom or two or three. Back in the house, into the vase (and no I'm most definitely pronouncing it vaaaaaase) . Have fun and experiment a little bit. If you want a little encouragement and "permission" here is a list here of flowers that work well as cut flowers.