The GardenFair Experience

Text and photos ©Nancy J. Ondra

It’s great to be back: back at home, back in the garden, and back with my critters. But being immersed in getting ready for GardenFair at Winterthur in Delaware, and then participating in the event itself, was a wonderful experience. GardenFair ‘08 ran from Friday, September 26 through Sunday, September 28, but we had lots of stuff to set up, so we started on Wednesday, heading down from Linden Hill around dawn on Wednesday with two trucks packed with plants, props, and odds and ends. (more…)

Published in: on October 2, 2008 at 9:15 pm Comments (11)
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Getting Ready for GardenFair

Text and photos ©Nancy J. Ondra

Now that I’ve gotten a big writing project off my desk, and now that we’ve finally received some rain, I am so ready to concentrate on gardening again. This year, I have even more reason than usual to get excited about the fall season: The nursery I work at, Linden Hill Gardens, will be exhibiting later this month at GardenFair at Winterthur in Delaware. This is the fifth year for GardenFair but the first time for Linden Hill, and the first time I’ll get to attend the event, and I know it’s going to be an amazing experience. (more…)

Published in: on September 8, 2008 at 1:43 pm Comments (8)

Linden Hill Gardens



Text and photos ©Nancy J. Ondra

Wow, it’s been crazy around here for the last two weeks. One exciting thing was a very special garden visitor here at Hayefield; more on that in a few days, I think. The other big event was at work (a.k.a. Linden Hill Gardens in Ottsville, Pennsylvania) this past Saturday evening, where we hosted the wrap-up party for the Perennial Plant Association’s annual conference, which was held in Philadelphia this year. All of us at Linden Hill have been working hard all summer to make sure the place looked perfect for our 150-some visitors, and I think it was worth every second. (more…)

Published in: on July 28, 2008 at 11:10 am Comments (11)
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Got Rocks?

Boulder field at Ringing Rocks May 8 08

Text and photos ©Nancy J. Ondra

Have you ever noticed that other gardeners always have more difficulties than you do? You mention that you have deer/rabbits/voles/Japanese beetles/shade/whatever, and then you hear how the other person has the same problem but much, much worse than you could ever imagine. I’ve noticed that it’s the same with rocks: You grumble about hitting a few rocks when digging a fencepost or trying to plant, and invariably, someone else has more/bigger/harder rocks in their garden. Well, whenever I hear someone complain about rocks in the garden, I have to think that they don’t realize how bad it could be! (more…)

Published in: on May 12, 2008 at 6:46 pm Comments (15)
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Back to Black Creek

Black Creek Greenhouses

Text and photos ©Nancy J. Ondra

Black Creek signAh, the rituals of spring: spotting the first green sprout, finding the very first flower, delighting in the first daffodil. And, best of all, plant shopping! I have a few favorite local places for my regular shopping, but at least once each spring, I take a road trip to a place I consider a plant-shopper’s paradise: Black Creek Greenhouses in East Earl, Pennsylvania. Located about a half-mile off of Route 625 in eastern Lancaster County (also known as Pennsylvania Dutch Country), this glorious range of greenhouses has it all: a beautifully organized facility, incredible prices, and an amazing selection of both old favorites and cutting-edge new cultivars. So, let’s grab a cart and start shopping! (more…)

Published in: on April 24, 2008 at 1:32 pm Comments (16)