nice! so those were taken in 2008? i've seen some from last year and i found out that currently they participate in summit farmers market. but their blog is very outdated - i was intrigued by a 'coleus day' in sep with visits to greenhouses. but that was years ago. i guess, i'll have to call. that would be a great place to visit - now i know where to get my coleus in spring!

this past spring they didn't have much stock.. lost lots last winter with the cold.. I usually see him in early spring at the flower shows as well .. he didn't have a huge selection this year.. pics 16 - 23 are his from Sussex County fair this year

https://plus.google.com/photos...

i see i've been missing local flower shows too! i read that he does topiary, but coleus is a rather difficult subject for overwintering, i'd think. though i did overwinter it once on a sunny window. that 3 seasons booth is fab! i also just found out about nj state flower show in feb - will be in edison this year. i'll try to come, weather permitting.
last winter was rather cold here, it's a shame if they lost a lot of stock in greenhouses. and here i was rejoicing that finally i'll be able to get a special coleus or too...

they usually have tons of standards with the smaller leaf coleus.. limited stock this year though.. they are pretty neat.. I will look through my old photos to see what he had different

2012 - had one real big standard



lots in 2010

oh, that 1st and 2nd standards - that's meteor i think. that's very close to my NOID. i was considering it too but now i am convinced i got 'raspberry tart'

always easier to see in person.. good for you

I enjoyed the Sussex garden photos, Allison. Coleus as standards - that is interesting. I am always cutting them to go bushy though.

i think you'll need to overwinter them for standards. as the woody trunk develops towards the end of the season - and you'll need it to support the big mass of leaves up top. or else start them very early indoors. it would be a shame to let it go in the fall in either case. so sun-room/greenhouse would be very handy.
i have overwintered coleus - but you need to be very vigilant about pests: scale could be a big problem.

I bought a twist & twirl years ago that was leggy .. on clearance ... over wintered it for a couple of years.. it was a good standard .. until it was over run with mealy bugs and I put it outside during the one winter.. just couldn't deal with it .. but I did stake the stem for the wind support.. but that was a fun thing to do for a while .. maybe I can find a pic

oh, please do!

will say this.. I did not have a big success... looked more like a shrub that was trained to be a tree