This Year's Trade Secrets - What a Great Event!
As I stated on yesterday’s blog, I once again attended the annual Trade Secrets in Sharon, Connecticut. This sale of rare plants, garden antiques, textiles, and more was the brainchild of interior designer, Bunny Williams. Thirteen years ago, she found that she had too many plants in her greenhouse and hosted a plant sale on her property. Other nurseries and garden antiques dealers were invited and the sale was a big success. It has since been moved to LionRock Farm, its current location, and proceeds benefit Women’s Support Services, an organization devoted to creating a community free of domestic violence. I love Trade Secrets and look forward to going every year.
1 There I am, wearing a white jacket, waiting in line at Trade Secrets. It's important to get to this event early because the merchandise goes fast!
2 When purchasing items, your buyer ID # is attached and your purchases are taken to a holding area for later pickup. This keeps your hands free for browsing.
3 It's always a pleasure to see interior designer Bunny Williams, who is the Honorary Chair of Trade Secrets.
4 As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, the funds from Trade Secrets help support the Women’s Support Services in that area, which offers free and confidential services to victims of domestic violence. This group does very good work.
5 Upon entering, my eye was immediately drawn to this long pink granite planter, the size of which was most impressive.
6 Carved from a single block of granite, I thought this would be perfect for Skylands, my home in Maine. I needed to decide.
7 Watering cans in many sizes
8 There was a lot of really nice outdoor furniture.
9 I loved these large metal buckets.
10 Here I am with the owners of Ze Cafe and of Zezé Flowers, in mid-town Manhattan - Zezé and Peggy O'Dea. We had a party in their cafe last January honoring MSLO's 10-year plus employees.
11 Campo de' Fiori is known for their terrific pots.
12 Hillside Nursery had many unusual specimens.
13 As did Opus
14 Ryan and I posed with Jerry Fritz of Linden Hill Gardens.
15 Linden Hill Gardens offered a large inventory and a nice assortment.
16 Here I am visiting the booth of Peony's Envy. Kathleen Gagan (brown jacket), is the owner and founder of this nursery and display garden in Bernardsville, New Jersey.
17 Avant Gardens had a lot of what I love.
18 Many, many beautiful succulents.
19 Amazing succulents on display at Sweethaven Farm
20 I bought several epimediums at Garden Vision.
21 Snug Harbor had great succulents.
22 And wonderful topiaries
23 I wanted this Davidia involucrata - handkerchief tree, but when I went back, it was sold.
24 I bought 2 of these narrow leafed alocasias to plant in urns.
25 Rob Gennari of Glendale Botanicals sold me an unusual coconut-scented orchid. It smells so good!
26 Berkshire Orchids always has an impressive selection.
27 Such vivid colors!
28 Kevin bought a few amazing orchids for his apartment.
29 Peace Tree Farms had a very colorful display.
30 Huntington and Hope had a nice old poster about victory gardening.
31 And a boxed set of 6 cake forks made by Sheffield Silver of England
32 Really great bushel baskets at Berkshire Home and Gardens
33 Stately glazed urns at Balsamo Antiques
34 This is Richard Lambertson - Co-owner of Privet House.
35 He was selling these elaborate shell-covered boxes.
36 And a wonderful painted bench and linen-covered pillows
37 And an ice cream parlor table and chairs
38 We then browsed at Bob Withington Antiques.
39 This dish is part of an old fountain.
40 There were all sorts of antique flower frogs.
41 Another view
42 Debra Queen was selling this interesting planter.
43 And these marvelous outdoor benches
44 I was drawn to these adorable Petitfelts by Jocelyn Gayle.
45 Jocelyn needle felts all these puppets. I had a hard time deciding which one to get for Jude.
46 I finally decided on this wonderful horse.
47 Falls Village Flower Farm was selling some really nice pots.
48 Loved this cascading sedum
49 At Falls Village, I purchased dianthus, dwarf baby breath, and variegated Jacob's Ladder.
50 I'm always happy to see Wolff Pottery.
51 Guy Wolff and his son, Ben, are master potters.
52 Here's Guy wrapping up someone's purchase.
53 I am the proud owner of a large collection of Wolff pots.
54 These are extraordinary pots!
55 Hoffman and Woodward had an interesting selection of garden twine for sale.
56 Another look
57 I chose some twine and a stack of garden trugs made from recycled rubber.
58 I was surprised to run into Erika Hanson, who along with Kim Alpert Popolizio, runs Anthrôpek, a landscape and container garden business. Both Erika and Kim have worked in my gardens.
59 Posing with the team from Cricket Hill Garden, who specialize in tree peonies.
60 Umbrella Factory Gardens was selling this incredible Nepenthes, hanging pitcher plant.
61 In fact, they had many amazing plants in their collection.
62 Trade Secrets was definitely a buzz of activity.
63 Aaron helped Patsy load up her truck.
64 This is some of what I took home.
65 After Trade Secrets, we went to visit the gardens of Bunny Williams. This is her green-and-white parterre garden, patterned after a design by legendary English gardener, Rosemary Varey.
66 This garden is graced with two fragrant Miss Kim Korean lilac standards, which I also have growing at my farm.
67 A great pool
68 And a koi pond
69 Bunny's dog wandered through the woodland of sweet woodruff.
70 These white species peonies are thriving in the woodland.
71 A border of hosta and white allium
72 A massive lilac in full bloom
73 And a massive lilac arrangement indoors.
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