Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on March 05, 2010

OK, I will be first. Get to Greenfest 30 mimutes before it starts and start shopping. Each person take there own cart or wheel barrel.
Anything you have to have buy on the spot,
then walk through the whole plant show checking out prices. When you know what else you have to have get the best price. The vendors are very good at holding your plants. Last year they had several vendors that have Florida friendly plants, so you know they will live here with little care. Pumpkin

Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on March 05, 2010

My whole plan is based on how excited I get at Greenfest. May be we should have a sleep over out side of Greenfest like people do to get concert tickets? Now premeditating the night before is a given.

Go yard sale shopping this weekend for a cart, wagon or wheelbarrow. I am just afraid they will be so busy this year that there may be a shortage of carts.

Penny, This is just plain fun, Thanks Pumpkin

Posted by (kgardens) on March 05, 2010

Oh Penny, two hands/two plants made me laugh.  I agree about bringing a cart of some kind.  Tie a ribbon on it, put your name on it, some kind of ID so it won’t get mixed up with all the others.

Also, bring a camera to take pictures of plants you don’t buy but would like to consider in the future.  Try to include a plant label in the picture so you can look it up on line for all the info on it.

Posted by (kgardens) on March 05, 2010

Give yourself a budget.  Bring just that amount of cash and leave checks and credit cards at home or at least in the car.  That way you will still be able to buy groceries the next week. 

Collect business cards from vendors that have plants or products you are interested in.  That way you can access them throughout the year not just at the plant sale.  Out of town vendors can provide wonderful day trips

Posted by (Chip) on March 05, 2010

Green fest tailgating party? sounds like fun and with skittles for snacks! Good advice pumpkin! If this is anything like USF’s sale and it sounds like it is if you snooze you lose. With everyone’s yard in bad shape they may just break some attendance records so be ready for a crowd. I hope so the nice folks that grow our plants for us has had it hard this last year and could do for a good spring to help make things right….“Chip”

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on March 07, 2010

I hope I’m not Debbie Downer but the idea of everyone showing up at Greenfest with a cart sounds like a nightmare for anyone trying to maneuver on those little sidewalks. The friends of Plant Park should be better prepared and have a ton of carts available so as not to frazzle everyone’s nerves and have things run smoothly. Plus make some extra money for the Park. Then you can shop, cart free, get the cart up front and go back and pick up your purchases from the vendors when you are finished.

Must haves—-Water, sunglasses, a big tote and cash—-and some years an umbrella.

Posted by (frostie) on March 08, 2010

Definitely go on Saturday to check out the entire show…and wear sunscreen and a hat…and, bring a wagon! It’s such a great show…I count on regular growers that I never see anywhere else…
Frostie

Posted by (Gardendipity) on March 09, 2010

I look forward to Greenfest every year.  Instead of a wagon, I’ve used baby strollers to haul my plants around and they work great. One year I used a sit-and-stand with some stretchy cords to secure the plants, and last year I used one of those pull-behind-the-bike stroller/trailers, and it actually worked great!  I lined the bottom and sides with a tarp to keep it clean, and then just loaded the plants in. 

Greefest is held beside the Hillsborough River, and there are a lot of shady oaks along the river.  We bring a snack and have a little picnic beside the river.  Last year we saw several dolphins in the river, it was really great!  Greenfest has food for sale, but the lines are usually VERY long to place an order.

Posted by (kgardens) on March 10, 2010

I won’t be able to go to Greenfest until Sunday afternoon because of a previous commitment.  I’ll miss Penny and Kim’s talk on Saturday :(

Those of you going Saturday please don’t buy all the plants, save a few for us Sunday shoppers.
Kay

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on March 10, 2010

Well, that’s something to look forward to—-advance scouts. Although, even though I can only go on Sundays, I have never felt the place was “shopped out” by the time I got there. They always have beautiful displays full of goodies. I do wish I could be there to root for you and Kim when you give your talks.

Posted by (kgardens) on March 10, 2010

Thanks for any advance scoop you can give us, Penney!  I’m particularly interested in native plant vendors.  With 90 vendors I’m sure Susan is right about plenty being there for the Sunday shoppers.

Posted by (Gardendipity) on March 10, 2010

My interest is also native plants, especially any native plant that is attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.  We have three or more hummingbirds in our garden now, and hope to encourage them to hang around all year. 

So I’ll be looking for native plants and hummingbird/butterfly plants at Greenfest. 

I’m also interested in ground covers to replace our grass.  I think the ornamental peanut plant is recommended by the Master Gardeners program.

Posted by (Gardendipity) on March 11, 2010

Thank you, Penny, I appreciate it that you took the time to identify those vendors for us!  I’ll be in the audience for your presentation, I’ll be sure to say “hi!.”

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on March 11, 2010

I love Kay’s organizational skills. She has such great ideas. I still have some cuttings from our exchange that didn’t have labels that I forgot what they are. Erf!

I think we will all be looking at those native plant vendors. I’m tired of losing things every year. It’s expensive and a lot of work.

Did the Yard Crashers get to finish with the rain?

Posted by (kgardens) on March 12, 2010

Thanks for the heads-up on the vendors.  I may be a little pressed for shopping time and that will surely help me get to where I really want to go. 

The organized Kay is only a cyber persona.  Just ask my hubby.  Talking the talk is one thing, walking the walk is something else.

Posted by (cjacobs3) on March 23, 2010

I must be really behind…I have never heard of Greenfest….so can someone tell me exactly where I have to go on Sat. or Sun?  Thanks, Carolyn Jacobs

Posted by (cjacobs3) on March 23, 2010

Kim,
I think your new orchid appears to be a Miltonia or Oncidium from the bloom.  I could not see the plant very well.  The orange one appears to be a Dendrobium with its’ “cane-like” plant.  If you do a search for “orchid identification” or “orange dendrobium” you can find lots of sites that can help you identify your orchids.  Hope this helps!

Posted by (Gardendipity) on March 24, 2010

Hi Carolyn, Greenfest is a very, very nicely done plant and garden festival…it always reminds me a lot of a garden flea market.  The vendors have booths and sell plants and some really beautiful garden art and accessories.  There are food vendors too. 

There will be two tents set up for garden instructional talks.  If you check the program you can see what the presentations are.  And our own Kim and Penny will be giving a talk.

It’s along the river, under oak trees, very scenic and a truly very nice event.  Bathrooms are located inside the building and are really nice and clean. 

Maybe we’ll see you there!