|
Spring in the horticulture world always brings frantic trips to secure the latest and greatest plants for the coming season. Between conducting the annual winter post-mortem, getting all the new plants off the dirveway and into the ground, and reviewing the list of to-dos that we promised to address in the garden this year, we gallantly try to maintain some semblance of a relationship with our non-gardening partners. In the Cappiello household, things get so out of control this time of year that the weekly house cleaning that we try to maintain at other times of the year, turns into a quick spin through the house with a leaf blower and a rake.
For some reason, my wife does not take kindly to the piles of spring leaves, mulch and sticks that find their way onto our bedroom carpet. I try to convince her that it is better than the alternative stray blonde hair but she is less than sympathetic. So amidst the chaos that is the gardener's spring, we insist on socking away several days for road trips to far-flung places in search of the perfect specimen. Just last night, I returned from such a trip. Louisville nurseryman Matt Gardiner of Boone Gardiner Garden Center accompanied me (actually drove me, in his nice, big, large capacity truck!) on a whirlwind visit to Shadow Nursery of Winchester, TN. Owned by famed nurseryman and my coauthor on "Dogwoods", Don Shadow, a trip to Winchester is always an interesting affair. Not only is Don a world-class plant collector and grower. He also operates one of the finest collections of rare and unusual animals anywhere in the country. From red pandas to blue-tongued skinks and any number of assorted rare and spectacular quadrupeds, bipeds etc. it is always a sight to behold. | 
