Plan Z Anyone?

When I wrote for Where & When travel magazine, I didn't actually get to see the places I wrote about. They weren't hard to imagine as I have been to a lot of places in Pennsylvania. Extracting details over the phone from owners of the restaurants, shops, hotels or resorts wasn't too hard for my eager young self in my last semester at Penn State. I really enjoyed talking to people who loved what they did.

When one actually does travel, as I was reminded while planning a day trip with friends to the Philadelphia Flower Show, preparations cannot anticipate all circumstances.

Plan A: We signed up for the second bus to the show via King Coal Tours, a company my family had used for many trips to New York City, and one I'd recommend. Apparently we three were the only ones who signed up for bus two, and it was canceled.

Plan B: a local bus company. No, too expensive.

Plan C: I drive. Philadelphia is about three hours plus each way from the State College area. And my car, while in excellent condition, has over 120,000 miles on it. I need it to last.

Plan D: 'Isn't there a flower show in Harrisburg I've heard about?'

Another plan is hatched and I pray my friends like it. They actually were quite flexible.

My web search unearthed (sorry for the pun) the Pennsylvania Garden Expo the same weekend. And I knew how to drive there quite easily, despite my recall becoming rusty after 15 years. How giddy I was when I found out that Harrisburg would be hosting a St. Patrick's Day parade Saturday afternoon. Hm. Half the drive, less than half the price of the Philly Show tickets, an ethnic parade, and an ethnic shop (Oxford Hall). And a grand selection of Irish restaurants to choose from for dinner.

We headed west on 322 about 9:45 a.m. after a short side trip to replace my ripped jeans: one problem I had not prepared for. A quick trip to Wal-Mart netted a decent, flattering pair of jeans for $5.00.

Warm, sunny weather made driving pleasant. The Farm Show Complex was packed with people. Susan asked, "Why are there garden shows now? Isn't it too early to garden?"
Good question.

People like to plan, to get ideas and generally to look at what the pros do. I find that when I'm eager to get my hands into the garden but can't, dreaming is my alternative. Flower shows are good, too. This is my solution to the times when I live in a place that gets like this:




and I'd rather be seeing this:



The weather was beautiful until the evening drive back to State College. A little chill left in the air made me glad I had my coat.

Inside the Farm Show Complex, landscaping businesses displayed some of their designs. The theme this year: Garden Party

********Continued in Garden Party Show entry *********