This is the third time I’ve been to this show and I’ve only lived here for a year. Nothing beats it for ambience. There is simply no way to compete with a garden inside a Martello tower, especially one with a funky history. A Martello tower is a defensive structure but before this one was completed it was already obsolete – so once again we have turned what could have been a bloody nightmare into a thing of beauty. Such is the magic of this small island.
I’m sure I missed the best stuff because I was not at all on the ball. I arrived 10 minutes after opening and that’s deadly if you are a plantaholic (like moi) so if anyone wants to let me know what I missed, please do (because I am also a masochist). Anyhow, once in, I made a slight right turn and ran into Going Bananas! Here’s Bob, who will always tell you the truth about bananas however painful that may be if you live in the north. However, my brother Andrew, in Ontario, Canada once grew a banana plant with a flower (which his wife subsequently knocked over and destroyed) and happens to be president and solitary member of the Canadian Banana Growers Association (Greely division)
Click on Bob to go to Going Bananas website.
I bought the weird and wonderful 1000 fingers and a red variety that produces sweet red fruit. Of course I have no business buying anything because my yard is already congested. But just think how this will increase the resale value of our diminutive abode!
This is a large image because I wanted to be sure that you could see the 8-foot stalk of “1000 Fingers”. They are edible but about the size of the tip of your pointer finger to the second joint.
There are many gorgeous and delicious varieties and some cold hardy, but better to go to Bob’s website to find out more.
I ran into Jackie Robinson
whose book “Plants of Paradise,” I quoted from in an earlier post entitled Native Landscape. This book has amazing information and is a must-read for Lower Keys gardeners. Jackie has a quirky sense of humor and weaves vivid mental images about our native flora. Unlike many ultra-serious books, this is also very readable – both coffee-table and informative. Signed copies sell for $20. I bought one for a Christmas gift for someone – don’t know who yet, but desperate gardeners abound. You’ll know them by their brittle rose bush skeletons and depleted bank account. When you tire of forking out money for delphiniums, get this book. It’s a great way to start.
Yummy goodies for sale to benefit the club. Click on volunteer to get the scoop on the Key West Garden Club.
This sturdy guy did far too much shopping, but was happy to tell me what plants should not be missed.
He sent me to Daniel Holmes of Holmes Bamboo. Click on his image to go on his web garden tour.
And I bought a rare variegated lady palm, of all things!
Some merchants that do fabulous work are Claire Perrault who sells for far less than she should. Here’s one of her dresser scarves.
A newcomer to the scene is Kathryn of Oudenhoven Clay whose luminous wall pockets are a welcome update on an old favorite.
Here’s one up close for detail.
Onto the Orchid room.
Then the bromeliads next door
Can’t miss 
And here they are! Click on image to get to website.
Hopkins Tropical Fruit Nursery has a fabulous selection of reliable and unusual tropical fruit. This year they have heat resistant blueberries. According to Barbara Hopkins in image below, you only need 4 or 5 to get a significant harvest. As for me, I’d rather get something exotic, like a Carambola or Sapodilla – yikes! Click on Barbara to go to website.
A twice yearly event like this takes lots of volunteers.
I’ve wanted one of Elizabeth’s bowls for the past couple of years so I finally bit the bullet and bought one. She does gorgeous raised work in a signature style. Her pieces look like she does, striking and vivacious. Click on image to go to website.
Bruce Berkowitz of BB Artisan Studio also does impeccable work but in a completely different style. I asked him to hold a favorite bowl, but you can’t see it very well in this pic.
So here is a close up of his work.
I’ll let Panama Peat, designsmith, say goodbye.
