The Home Expo

St. Augustine, Florida
Robin Hoselton

“Anything interesting in the paper this morning?” asked my significant other.

Giving my best flirtatious eyelash flutters, I answered, “The 13th Annual Flower & Garden Expo is this weekend. It’s only $5.00 and parking is free.”

Seeing his lack of interest, I added “It’s gorgeous spring weather so you’d have a chance to get out of that stuffy office.”

 

Fresh Air, Warm Bread, Awesome Photo Op

My computer nerd partner, who considers such “chances” inhumane, grimaced.

“You’ve never been to the annual first through 12 shindigs, so why this one? You said we should take advantage of things now because when we get older, maybe we can’t drive as far, or we’ll have stiff joints and can’t walk much, or maybe we can’t take the heat and stuff like that,” I said.

“I don’t remember saying that.”

He frequently backs out of things by claiming he doesn’t remember but I let it pass and dangled another enticement.

“You can try out your new camera. You always take such outstanding photos.”

Bingo! He soaked up the reference to his prowess as an amateur photographer like warm butter on freshly baked bread.

In a resigned tone, he asked, “Do I have to shave, and where is this thing?”
“No, you don’t have to shave. When we get there, I’ll just pretend I don’t know you. It’s at the St. Johns County Agricultural Center at I-95 and SR 16,” I said.

An hour later, my freshly-shaven chauffeur and I arrived at the Expo entrance where a friendly young man collected our $10.00 and handed us two seed packets. I gleefully waved them in my sweetheart’s face.

 

“Look what these are. I’ve been wanting to try violas ever since I saw them all helter-skelter in Nestor’s garden, and look at these moon flowers. You won’t believe what sweet smelling white blossoms this vine has in the evening. I can plant them by the back porch. Isn’t that nice of them to give us these?”

 

My patient driver pulled into a parking space and grumbled, “You’d think you won the lottery. I wish you’d get that excited when I shave for you.”

 

As we began our garden tour, people smiled at the ole geezers holding hands. The truth is that I had to hold his hand to keep from merrily striding off while he still meandered at the gate. He was kind enough to drive me, so I felt obliged to amble by his side even though I yearned to race toward the beckoning nursery displays and craft booths.

 

Horticultural and artist exhibits lined the sides of a winding path in a lovely park teeming with butterflies and birdsong.
I knew I couldn’t go home until I adopted a plant. We paused, so my cameraman could adjust his lens and I gazed longingly at the floral displays. Then I saw it! I swear my heart skipped a beat. A beautiful white-flowered baby shrub stood out amid the colorful perennials and, afraid someone would claim it first; I wove through throngs of strollers as fast as my Medicare legs could carry me.

 

“An English dogwood,” said the vendor in response to my query.

 

Pocketing what had been my “emergency money,” she advised, “Plant it in partial shade and throw some coffee grounds around it once in a while.”

 

I hugged the 5-gallon pot to my chest; loathe in relinquishing it when my gentleman offered to carry it. All the way home, I grinned like a blithering idiot, craning my neck from time to time to admire my treasure on the back seat.

In the ensuing three weeks, she has settled into her new digs and everyday she makes me smile.

  

Next to Rain Barrel

 

This springtime bloomer is deciduous and grows best in a slightly shady site. It is very drought tolerant and can reach heights of 12 feet and can be as wide as 8 feet. It has a sprawling habit and is an interesting shrub to have in the landscape. The flowers are worth the year wait. They are a bright white flower made up of 4 petals. This shrub will make small plants from the base of the mother plant. Plant it in a well drained area that is bright but doesn’t get direct afternoon sun. You will need to prune it soon after it blooms since it produces flowers on the older wood. Some gardeners prune the lower branches to showcase the exfoliating bark that is on the lower framework of the plant.