[Stonehenge]

We just got our packet in the mail. I'm excited about creating a slick booth to wow the visitors.

Anyone else getting involved in a local show come springtime?

[Stonehenge]

For our local show, another member of the association and I did the Lion's share of the work for the first show, 2 years ago. Last year we did, too, and were anticipating a blockbuster show, but exhibitor interest waned, and we had to cancel the show.

So this year I am not involved in the organization of the show at all, and can focus on making a cool booth and selling. I'm a bit more organized this year - I've got sod ordered, and will pick it up once it's totally frozen. I've got plans to grow some bulbs (a little earlier this time), and have gotten permission to store a flowering crab in a greenhouse, when the time comes to get it to green up. I'll be able to have 3 guys helping me with the booth this time, which will be very nice.

The shot below is during construction 2 years ago.

[Stonehenge]

And this is after construction was complete:

[AZTLANLC]

It looks real nice, kind of make me want one npw, how long it took to assamble all of that, did you do it a day before to the show?

[Stonehenge]

Since I was organizing the show, I was called away from my booth a lot of times during construction in order to answer questions, talk to reporters, whatever. So it took longer than it should have. However, the display was constructed on top of plywood (the floor of the greenhouse was uneven), and meant to last 3 days, so it didn't need to be built as well as we would normally do it.

I believe start to finish was 2-3 days. Keep in mind, we couldn't cut pavers inside the greenhouse, so all cuts had to be walked outside and cut. And much of the materials had to be hand trucked in there as well.

I really had a lot of fun building the booth and talking to the people that came through, but it was also extremely tiring.

Another thing to note - for this show, as with most other shows, the show organizers want to make sure everything is ready before the show ever starts. For that reason, there is usually a walk-through conducted 24 hours before the show. Everyone is expected to have their booth ready at that time. For this show, there was one week of construction time available before the show, and tear-down had to be completed 3 days after the show was over.

Ours was a smaller display - we're going to build a bigger one this spring, and I think I tried too hard to show everything we do in a single booth (water, lighting, wood structures, pavers, plants). This time I want to design something that is a little more focused.

[Stonehenge]

I need some advice on 'greening up' time. How long should it take frozen sod to green up, once it has been put inside a warm greenhouse and watered?

Also, for a flowering crab, how long to leaf out?

The folks at the greenhouse are very accommodating, so even if it has to be 2 months ahead of time, that won't be a problem.

[Paul]

Wish I knew what type of crab you got there? Most start leafing out in about a month, color depends on var. sod should green up in about 2 weeks if temps are in the 70's

[Stonehenge]

Sentinel crab is the tree. The sod is 100% Ky Blues.

[Paul]

That should take about a month to pop are you looking for color on it or just green?

If i was going for color I would be looking at a different ornamental, may be a Magnolia, Redbud, Cornus Mas???????

[Stonehenge]

Those would probably be better choices, but do you remember those 30 Sentinel Crabs that went into my yard? The driveway only needed 24, so I have 6 that have been planted still in burlap, just to overwinter. Since that's what I have available, and it's free, that's what I think I'm going to opt for. The form of a Sentinel is all wrong for this type of setup - very vertical. But I'm beggin', so I guess I can't be choosin'.

[chrissygardensc]

I usually attend the Green Expo in Minn and Mid Am in Chicago. What Landscape trade show if any is comparable in Wisconsin?

[Bunky]

Those two shows are very large and specific in the Landscape Industry. We have not found any other show in Wisconsin that would compare to those two shows. We exhibit and attend a lot of shows throughout Wisconsin, but none of them are specific to the Landscape Industry.
I am going to attend the Hardscape NA Show in Nashville again this year. It is a great show but wish there was something like that here in Wisconsin.