I agree with Tracey, Betty's garden was gorgeous but I wouldn't say her blooms were any larger than those I saw in the public gardens in Madison. Her's was my favorite of the personal gardens we toured, though. Loved the garden art and how she used it and even though her flowers were perfect the garden was still so approachable and welcoming. My MIL pointed out stored cocoa hull mulch at Betty's though and I remember seeing on the Brook's blog that they mix it in to their fertilizer mix--think a son was selling it to raise some college funds or something last year? Might be worthwhile going back though their blog to get the makings of that fertilizer.
The largest blooms I saw on the entire trip were some of the seedlings at Solaris.
If all it took was very well matured cow poop my peonies would be amazing as well--our property was a cow pasture before we built our house! Parts of our property is made up of rich, black soil. Unfortunately most of my flower beds are in an area of hard clay.....
