Is it me, or has very little news come out of Hope Gardens since it became a private entity? Hope Gardens is a beautiful and serene place but a little lifeless, maybe. It's a pity, when you consider what goes on elsewhere.
Last month, for example, the 'Chicago Botanic Garden' sent me by email an invitation to attend its week-end of 'Antiques & Garden Fair'.
It is one of the leading events in the American Midwest. It attracted 100 dealers from the United States and Europe. Its offer ranged from one-of-a-kind antiques, garden furnishing and botanical art.
There were several spots to sit and sip wine or cappuccino and enjoy a gourmet dinner while admiring beautiful garden settings.
open-air market
Complementing the fair was an open-air market where patrons could select from a large amount of fresh-cut flowers.
Come to think of it, a monthly flower and plants market at Hope Gardens would certainly attract a great many people. If only among our foreign residents, whom I often hear complaining about the fact that it is hard to buy loose blooms to arranges in vases. Pre-arranged floral arrangements are mostly the norm here, but don't always allow flower-lovers to display their own creativity.
So much more can be done:
Guided tours of the garden.
A kiddie patch where children would be introduced to basic gardening.
A centre where gardeners could have their garden soil tested against a small financial contribution
Lectures on garden topics: care of bonsai, orchids etc ...
Music. The military band or regular classical concerts given when the days are getting cooler. People could be asked to bring their own blankets and sit on the grass to compress cost (it's done in many botanical gardens in the world).
Well, these are a few suggestions of my own. If you, dear readers, have more good ideas, by all means let me know!
Darling lily
Large lilies usually carry several flower heads on single stalk, and a single flower can look like a whole bouquet. Look at this candy-striped lily, for example. It stands in a small glass filled with baking beads to hold it straight. The whole thing is then placed in a more 'classical' vase.
----------------------------------------
Vinegar in the garden
Arm yourself with a low-cost bottle of white distilled vinegar and head out to the garden for some spring cleaning. Vinegar works very well for cleaning built-up mineral deposits and rust, and is a safe, inexpensive alternative that can be used throughout the year.
Clay or Plastic Plant Pots
Soak in a solution of half water, half vinegar for an hour to remove old built up mineral deposits. Plates or saucers under your plant pots may require full-strength vinegar, because they often have more stubborn mineral 'build-ups'.
Fountains
Soak the pump in vinegar to remove mineral deposits.
Outdoor furniture
Clean and sanitise your picnic tables, outdoor patio furniture and plastics with a cloth in a solution of one tablespoon vinegar to one gallon of water.
