Charles H. Weiss
Hobbit House created by Carroll Landscaping, Inc, inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit."
Ready to spruce up your yard? Then head to Timonium this weekend for the Maryland Home and Garden Spring Show at the Maryland State Fairgrounds for some great gardening ideas and inspiration.
The show opened last weekend and I had the chance to preview it on Friday night at the Habitat for Humanity Garden Party.
The theme of the spring show is Books in Bloom and the landscapers really let their creative juices flow. The Harry Potter themed garden features a castle; a yellow brick pathway weaves through the Wizard of Oz garden; and the Willy Wonka inspired garden is covered in chocolate mulch.
Seriously, everyone should have chocolate mulch in their yard.
There are 17 garden displays in all. My personal favorite is the Shakespeare themed garden by Arbor Ridge Services. This garden brings the inside out with an outdoor library flanking two chairs on either side of a waterfall wine fountain.
I can see myself spending hours there getting lost in a book…
To see photos of some of the gardens, visit our Facebook page or plan to see the show this weekend.
If you attended the show last weekend, you might want to go again.
This weekend, in the Horticulture Hall, the Maryland Orchid Society will present its popular Orchid show with thousands of colorful orchids to see and take home; the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland will dazzle gardeners with a mystery-themed flower show and teach visitors how to create and maintain their own stunning displays; and the Baltimore Bonsai Club will offer educational exhibits on the art of bonsai and assist guests with planting and styling.
For more details about what’s happening this weekend at the Maryland Home and Garden Spring Show, visit www.mdhomeandgardenshow.com/spring. And let us know which garden is your favorite in the comments below.
The Maryland Home and Garden Spring Show will be held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium on Friday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 6 pm., Saturday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, March 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $3 for children ages 3-12. Children under three as well as active military, fire and police employees with ID are free.
Editor’s Tip #1: Visit the show’s website and print off the $2 coupon.
Editor’s Tip #2: Bring your smartphone, if you have one, with a QR code reader (I use QRCodeScan on my iPhone) to connect with each of the landscapers online. (Not sure what a QR code is? It’s a black and white square doodle that leads to a web link.)
Editor’s Tip #3: Be on the lookout for three garden gnomes. If you find all three, you can enter to win an iPad2. You can also enter to win a complete home entertainment system from DISH Network.
