I KNEW you would brave the cold temps and head outside today Not me. I gave it 15 minutes and then scurried my wimpy self back inside.

My friend Jill and I go to the Philadelphia Flower Show every year. We've heard that the Philly show is one of the top flower shows in the U.S. and we have been suitably impressed each year with the landscape displays. I don't think much compares to the Brit standards. I think gardening is a national past time for them. Vendors at the Philly show are a mix of what you describe for the Hagerstown show, but because of the size there is always so much to choose from. This year I got 5 peonies, an orchid, these nifty 3 tiered slat hanging planters, a great deal on a ratchet pruner and lopper set, and 2 garden statues. For the first time ever, we were there for a relaxing 3 days and caught some of the seminars. We thought the same thing that you are thinking about the seminars that the lady was trying to coax you into attending. I'm always learning something new about gardening, but the seminars we saw were too basic for anyone who has been gardening for years. At least the seminars that we attended were free with the cost of the admission ticket.

I've been to the Philadelphia Flower Show 3 times and I loved it. So much to see! and so many vendors! Haven't been in years though. There used to be a bus trip organized from Hagerstown, but I haven't seen it advertised.

RE: Tree planting. Our lot was half commercial apple orchard (70+ trees), half worn out cornfield. The apple trees were "drug addicts"...without the constant chemical sprays they were used to, they were all (but 3) diseased and dead within about 8-10 years. the sheep gnawing on them didnt help *LOL* When I think of the time, effort, and money I wasted trying to keep those trees going... The flat bare section had virtually no topsoil at all; just worn out clay. Contractor hauled in some topsoil for lawn, but that was it.