| Gardening news briefs
Making flower arrangements is much easier when you've got a professional at your elbow. Making one at a party with food and drink is even better. Chapon's Greenhouse in Baldwin Borough will show you how to make a combination moss basket at after-hours garden parties scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 22 and 24. The cost is $50 per person and includes basket, materials and refreshments. Additional baskets may be planted for $40 each. Attendees also get a preview of this year's plants and accessories. Reservations: 412-881-1520. Phila. Flower Show in March
The Philadelphia Flower Show, the largest indoor show in the region, is scheduled for March 4 to 11 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The theme this year is "The Legends of Ireland." Christopher Woods, a former executive with Chanticleer in Wayne, Pa., will design the displays.
Flower vendors brave cold weather
Bundled up in coats, scarves, hats and gloves, flower stand workers and volunteer firefighters on Friday endured weather conditions more winter-like than spring. "For the last two days, the weather has been keeping people away," said Peter Gabriel, former president and volunteer with the Colonial Manor Fire Company in West Deptford, which set up an Easter flower kiosk in front of AutoZone on Route 45.
"All of the proceeds go to our company," said Clay Koonce, president of the Colonial Manor Fire Company. "It all goes for equipment. We are all volunteers. With the weather, sales will be lower."
With temperatures in the 40s during the day and the 30s at night, flower stands throughout the area have suffered.
"It's way too cold," said Brian Creitz, owner of four flower stands in the tri-county area.
Green parties cut waste, not fun
Imagine throwing a picnic for 2,000 guests. Now factor in their ages -- mostly 18 and 19. Clean-up would fill a Dumpster, right? Wrong. When the University of Puget Sound held its annual freshman orientation picnic in the fall, 2,000 meals produced one small bag of garbage.
"Environmental responsibility is part of our university's overarching mission, so we've incorporated green practices into everything that happens on this campus, including event planning and parties," says university spokeswoman Melissa Rohlfs.
The university chose compost-ready plates made of cornstarch and sugar cane as well as reusable flatware and glasses from the dining halls. Food scraps were gathered to compost, and volunteers manned waste containers, separating recyclables, compostables and garbage.
Flowers Bloom at Festival
The sight of adults dragging around little red wagons is not something that happens everyday. Nor is overheard conversations concerning where certain rose bushes or ferns will grow best.
But with red wagons in tow, families and flower enthusiasts alike flocked to the 10th annual Emerald Coast Flower and Garden Festival held March 30- April 1 at PJC's Milton Campus.
The festival featured numerous flower vendors, as well as a few selling yard art and clothes. One was even selling bird seed mixes.
PJC's horticulture students also had a display of flowers they had been growing since February.
"We did clippings and planted seeds and this is the results," said Candice Hoting, pointing to the huge rows of brightly colored flowers and large leafy plants.
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