'Li'l Georgie' shows up at the Philadelphia Flower Show

Blue ribbon terrarium by Lynn Cook & Troy Ray

Story # 127,

            The area at the Philadelphia Flower Show that displays specimen plants for judging is the most interesting to me.  It’s amazing that so many hobbyists devote the energy required to grow top quality plants and manage the entry process with the hope of a blue ribbon prize.

            This year the challenge class was Sinningia‘Li’l Georgie’.  The plants are distributed through Meadowbrook Farm in the Fall and the challenge is to grow it to perfection for the March show.  15 – 20 were entered and were grown well.

            More ‘Georgie’s’ were shown off in the big terrarium class by Lynn Cook and Troy Ray.  The terrarium had Hemizygia ‘Candy Kisses’, Selaginella ‘Brownii’ and Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’.  It earned the Blue as it was excellent.

            Lynn and Troy also had a domed terrarium with a cluster of S. ‘Li’l Georgie’.

            There is a category for returning challenge plants from previous years.  Sinningia ‘Prudence Risley showed up there.  I hope some ‘Li’l Georgie’ can return in next years show.

The Show

Great topiary shown at Philadelphia Flower Show - 2013

Story # 94,


The Show!


        My favorite part of the Philadelphia Flower Show is the specimen plants entered for judging.  There are perfectly grown plants there that can be seen nowhere else.


      The judging is very important to the dedicated few who put tremendous effort into the contest.  They want to win.


      For us observers, the judging system only insures the quality.


      The hobby of growing plants for show is more difficult than growing commercially.  Commercially, on average all of the crop must be good.


      Hobby-wise, one plant must be grown to be perfect.

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Sinningia 'Prudence Risley' - Blue ribbon at the Philadelphia Flower Show 2013
Challenge Class grown by Brandon Huber

 Story # 93,


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           The most consistent spike in readership is when someone else recommends that you look!

Find this plant!

Hemizygia 'Candy Kisses' at the Philadelphia Flower Show 2013

Story # 92.

Find this plant!

      One of our declared missions each year at the Philadelphia Flower show is to find a new plant ------ At least, a new plant in my area of interest.

      This year I came upon a striking variegated specimen with somewhat shiny leaves that could have been a Plectranthus but was shown as Hemizygia ‘Candy Kisses’.  It was exhibited by Mrs. Samuel Hamilton who shows many exceptional specimen plants.

 

      I’ve never seen the Genus name, Hemizygia.  So is this a name change for one of the many varieties of Plectranthus that I know or a new exciting plant worth growing.

      It is described as a tender perennial that can be used in summer planters.  And it must be a short day flowering plant that could be a pot plant in the Fall and Winter 

      This is worth finding and growing to see its potential for tip cuttings in small pots for Miniature Gardens.

Plants for sale at the Philadelphia Flower Show

Ladyslipper Streptocarpus for sale

Story # 91,


      Announcing the sale of Sinningia ‘Li’l Georgie’ at the Philadelphia Flower Show, March 2 – 10, by Meadowbrook Farms.


      Look for them there.


      There will be Ladyslipper Streptocarpus,  a few Columnea, Sinningia ‘Prudence Risley’, S. ‘Gabriel’s Horn’ and S. ‘Kristobel’ ------ Look for ‘Prudence Risley’ in the Challenge Class.


      Assorted ‘Mini’ plants for Miniature Gardens will go fast.  Get there early in the week or ask when the next shipment is coming.