Spring 2011

Spring must have finally arrived, since the OUTDOOR workshop list is ready! Tina and Bart crawled all over the Atlanta Gift Show looking for more unusual ways to create container gardens, to keep up with those of you who have been coming for years. To that end, check out the Bemis Gucci Bag, Garden Tour de France, Give Peas a Chance, Portable Herb Garden, Galvanized Gourmet, and Hot Seat.

The 20 faster trigger fingers will get a chance for much coveted greenhouse space, since I am giving up 20 spots in our growing greenhouses for the first 20 people to plant their hanging basket early, and I'll grow it inside for them until mid May.

Also new are the NEW PLANTS!!! Like the new Black petunia, the ever-blooming (Bloomerang) Lilac, and the Venus Fly Trap, and pitcher plant (back from a few year hiatus).
Other new classes are the Living Art class, where you make a living wall, and Something Special class, an advanced class for previous participants, only.

Also, we have a couple of "customer request" classes. Thanks to Amy G. for her idea on the Moonlight Serenade Garden, and to all of you who requested a class to re-use some of your pots from former classes. We will "re-purpose" them into something new and wonderful to celebrate Earth Day -Tina.

Six Month Porch Pot $29.99

Sunday, April 10th 4pm

You will learn to use our secret trick of hiding empty pots in a container garden to get it off to an early start with pansies, and other cold-loving plants. In the meantime, you'll start some warm-loving tuberous begonia bulbs indoors; when the time is right, transfer these spectacular plants into the empty spaces you left in your main pot. This pot will bloom from April to October!

Register for the 4 pm session here

Ultimate Hanging Basket $49.99

Tuesday, April 12th 7pm

In most of our classes, you make the pot and take it home immediately, because I never have enough space in my "growing" greenhouses to share! In a moment of weakness, I decided to let 20 people plant up a fancy, black metal hanging basket with the latest spillers, and we will keep it in a toasty, warm greenhouse for you until Mother's Day. Pick from a huge selection of plants, and two styles of hangers. They are a very large 16 inches across, which will make an enormous, basket of color when fully grown.

Give Peas a Chance $29.99

Wednesday, April 13th, 10am or 7pm

This is even better than last year's similar class, because you will put a twig trellis inside a twig basket. Line the basket with moss on the outside, to create a lot of surface area. Tuck in buttery, crisp green lettuce, colorful red lettuce, tasty spinach, tangy arugula and edible pansies below a mixture of dwarf, edible climbing peas and fragrant, colorful sweet peas. It's a whole salad garden in a pot!

Portable Herb Garden $29.99

Sunday, April17th 4pm

For 15 years, we've been a wide variety of cooking herbs in different containers to provide you with a wide selection for your culinary creations. Each year, the biggest comment has always been that it grows so big, it's hard to keep it watered. We've solved that problem with a brand new "pop-up" garden that stands 24 inches tall BEFORE it's even planted. Once the herbs grow, this planter will be a good four feet tall, and planted to the gills (in side pockets and the top) with cold-tolerant sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley, oregano, chives, and more! Comes with a coupon to return for a basil, cilantro and dill, since these need warmer temperatures to thrive.

The Herb Garden session is SOLD OUT, no more containers are availble, sorry.

Living Art $39.99

Tuesday, April 19th 7pm

Urban fashion magazines are showing interior walls planted with Living Walls, since city folks don't have room for outdoor gardens. Although we have plenty of room here in New England, why should they have all the fun? This succulent frame is designed for an outdoor wall. The dimensions will be approximately 24 inches high and wide.

Charming Easter Basket $19.99

Wednesday, April 20th 10am or 7pm

This woven willow basket has an assortment of spring flowering bulbs as well as annual spring flowers, like pansies, alyssum, fragrant stock, lobelia and dusty miller, which will bloom and bloom, long after Easter has come and gone. Dormant branches, a colorful bow and a cute, little butterfly round out this assortment.

Easter Sunday Grab Bag $19.99

Sunday, April 24 4pm

When the feast has been eaten, the guests have gone, and the dishes all put away, perhaps it's time for you? Since we try our best not to run out of any kind of Easter plant, we are always bound to have some left at the end of the day. Come join Tina (bring some dessert since she had to work) and design a cool new pot with whatever looks good. It's sure to have some kind of perennial bulb, some kind of annual, and some kind of herbaceous perennial. Can't promise what they will be, but we can promise you'll love it, and it will be a $40 value.

Blueberry Thrill and Strawberry Spill $39.99

Tuesday, April 26th 7pm

Blueberry bushes require two different varieties to be grown in proximity in order to cross pollinate and develop fruit. You will plant these two varieties in the same, extra large pot, with a groundcover planting of ever-bearing strawberries. In the fall, plant the whole thing in the ground together, and it will grow into one, giant bush.

Every Day is Earth Day! $19.99

Wednesday, April 27th 10am or 7pm

Last week, we were so busy celebrating Easter, that there seemed to be no time to recognize another important event: Earth Day. This brand new class came from a fellow Garden Center owner in Canada, as well as a whole bunch of customers looking to recycle some of the many containers we have planted in the past. Bring in any container you have planted from a class here in the past, and we'll help you refill it with appropriate plants for the season.

Clematis Twig Trellis $29.99

Sunday, May 1st 4pm

Choose from 6 different colors of clematis, and make your own trellis from dormant branches for it to climb up. Clematis root require cool temperatures, so we'll plant up the bottom of the pot with vigorous spillers to keep the pot protected from the sun.

The 4 pm session is full, a new session is scheduled at 5:30 pm.

Hot Seat! $39.99

Tuesday, May 3rd 7pm

It wouldn't be spring if we didn't find some kind of colorful chair for you to plant up! This colorful, metal chair comes in turquoise, vanilla, chartreuse, or honeysuckle pink (color authority Pantone's 2011 color of the year.) Custom plant it with a variety of fillers and spillers, and set it in a garden bed to create the effect of relaxation, or place it on your porch or patio for a little whimsy.

Bemis Gucci $29.99

Wednesday, May 4th 10am or 7pm

This is the kind of bag that all Garden Fashionistas must been see with! Filled with spillers, chillers & strawberries.

Mary Garden $29.99

Sunday, May 8th 4pm

Planting a Medieval Mary Garden is a lovely, inspiring Catholic tradition based on beautiful flowers and their religious symbolism. You will echo the intent of this picture by filling a container with flowers named for Our Lady and Jesus, that "allows you to experience God's creation, and inviting prayer and contemplation." Includes a passion flower vine, which symbolizes the five wounds of Christ. There are dozens of plants that can be used to start a Mary Garden, and you'll leave with a complete list of others to consider adding to your home gardens.

Bloomerang Lilac $39.99

Tuesday, May 10th 7 pm

Last year's new introduction of an ever-blooming, fragrant dwarf lilac had all of the nursery shrub growers in a frenzy, trying to keep up demand. They flew out the door here both times we were able to secure a block of them. This year, the growers have caught up, so there is enough for you to plant one in beautiful glazed pot to get this beauty started. When you are ready, transplant it into the garden for unlimited years of beauty all season long.

Gentle Waves $29.99

Wednesday, May 11th 10am or 7pm

The only thing these Wave Petunias wipe out are the gardening blues! The cascading waves of color grow bigger and bigger, sometime growing up to an inch a day, so they are the perfect choice for a moss hanging basket. These spreading petunias require no deadheading as long as you follow one, simple rule: fertilize!

Black is the New Black $29.99

Sunday, May 15th 4pm

The new Black Petunia is all the rage in gardening circles for 2011. What do YOU think is the best way to use this brand new plant??? Several options will be explored. Then you will design your own custom creation. Grow it on, and take pictures throughout the season. Post your pictures to our Facebook page, and we will hold a contest for the winning container. Grand Prize is complimentary registration to our all day Holiday Workshop in November.

Something Special $99

Tuesday, May 17th 7pm

Join Tina & Bart in this exceptional class. Advanced participants only. We'll go "all out" to create a one-of-a-kind glazed pot with all of the bells and whistles. You get to choose from an assortment of pots, and we will help you custom design the most amazing container you've ever had. This class is designed for those who have been taking classes here for a while, and are ready for the next level.

Galvanized Gourmet $29.99

Wednesday, May 18th 10am or 7pm

We found a great price on a large galvanized tub that looks just like the one in the picture, except it is round, not oval. We'll start by planting a cherry tomato in the back. For a little fun, you'll get 3 secret molds to shape the bite-sized tomatoes into miniature hearts. Pop in a pepper, 3 kinds of basil, cilantro and onions for the ultimate, Mexican salsa garden.

Garden Tour de France $29.99

Sunday, May 22nd 4pm

Nothing says Joie de Vivre (The Joy of Living) like sightseeing the balcony gardens of Paris filled with colorful geraniums and other spillers. Recreate the famous bike ride through Europe at your own home by filling this lovely tricycle with the flowers of France.

Bold Statement $39.99

Tuesday, May 24th 7pm

Plant a plastic urn with the biggest and boldest Thrillers, Chillers, Fillers and Spillers of 2011 to give you home impressive curb appeal. There are four upgrade options below. Feel free to sign up for one or more.

Upgrade #1: For an additional $20, return in the fall (Saturday, September 10 at 3pm), and pick up the ingredients and instruction on how to re-fill it for some Autumn Abundance, including colorful chrysanthemums, ornamental grasses, and flowering kale.

Upgrade #2: For an additional $20 return in November (Saturday, November 12 at 3pm) to design a pot full of fragrant evergreens, colorful berries, pods and cones that will slip right into your empty urn to keep your home decorated all winter long.

Upgrade #3: For an additional $50 you can switch out your plastic urn for a gorgeous, solid concrete "urn".

Upgrade #4: For an additional $99 you can switch out your plastic urn for a substantial cast iron urn.

Moonlight Serenade $29.99

Wednesday, May 25th 10am or 7pm

Moon flower vine is the obvious choice to begin this container with, but what else will glow on your deck in the dim light of dusk as you and your friends gather together for great summer parties?

English Hayrack $29.99

Sunday, May 29th 4pm

This window box is made of black metal, and is lined with a coco fiber mat. Fill it with colorful spillers that you custom design for the sun or shade. Can also be used as a deck rail planter.

Knock Out Roses $39.99

Tuesday, May 31 7pm

Join our in-house rose expert, Barb Stafinski , as she shows you the tricks of using this fantastic, ever-blooming rose in a container

Bog in a Bowl $29.99

Wednesday, June 1st 10am or 7pm

Venus flytraps grow in the wetlands and pine savannas of the Carolinas. Insect eating pitcher plants & bog plants complete this pot you simply won't find anywhere else.

Living Succulent Chair - REWARDS workshop

Sat Jun 11 9 am

The 9 am session has filled. An additional session has been scheduled at 10 am.

This workshop is free when the same person signs up for 3 other paid workshops for themselves

Living Succulent Wreath - REWARDS workshop

Sat Jun 11 11 am

(Photo coming soon) This workshop is free when the same person signs up for 3 other paid workshops for themselves

Tufa-stone Trough - REWARDS workshop

Sat Jun 11 1 pm