Highlights: March 2008 Show

Daffodils in the Conservatory
Guests: Tom Brinda
Assistant Director, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
804.262.9887
lewisginter.org

The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden features a conservatory which is cosidered by many to be the “Jewel of the Garden.” This 11,000 square-foot complex houses exotic and unusual plants from around the world in its permanent collection and features beautiful seasonal displays. Crowned by a 63-foot-tall dome, the Conservatory includes a central Palm House, a semi-tropical wing featuring the orchid collection, and two wings with changing themed displays full of seasonal color and interest.
 
Currently daffodils are featured in the “cottage garden” wing of the conservatory along with tulips, hyacinths and other early spring flowers.
 
Many of the plants in the conservatory gardens are forced for early bloom.  New plants are rotated in every few weeks to maintain a peak of the season appearance.
 
In the outdoor garden, daffodils are one of the most reliable perennial bulbs. Fall planting leads to a great display of spring color that will reward the gardener year after year with very llittle maintenance.

Planet Earth Diversified
Michael Clark
434.985.3570
434.985.4985 (Fax)
877.ARUGULA
planetearthdiversified.com

Planet Earth Diversified provides fresh greens, herbs, cucumbers and tomatoes year round. Customers include health food stores, restaurants, inns and farmer’s market visitors.

Greens such as kohlrabi, spinach and kale are grown in the field throughout the winter. Fresh greens can be enjoyed all winter long by planting them in August, while the ground is still warm.

Planet Earth Diversified has a goal of recycling and reusing as much as possible. To do this they utilize waste motor oil and fryer oil from restaurant customers to produce the fuel needed to power their delivery trucks. Plant wastes are composted and reused throughout the facility. Water is cleaned recycled through an on-site, manmade wetland.