First-time exhibitor Michael Jardin of Mattapoisett has been named Best in Show by his peers at the 2007 New England Spring Flower Show this week.

SouthCoast exhibitors won an armful of awards at the show, sponsored by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society at Boston’s Bayside Expo Center. Peter Sadeck of Lakeville was named a Gold Medalist, among many other honors, and the team of David Haskell of New Bedford and Paul Miskovsky of Falmouth earned multiple distinctions for their sumptuous central garden display.

The New England Spring Flower Show, celebrating its 136th year, opened last weekend and continues through tomorrow. This year’s proactive theme “Yes, you can!” demonstrates the infinite ways plants can be used in a garden or a simple still life arrangement. Numerous entries and various other plant exhibits offer something for everyone.

Entering the show, you’ll walk through the central garden built by New Bedford’s David Haskell and Paul Miskovsky of Falmouth. This is the largest display garden ever created for the show, measuring 6,700 feet, with 5,000 plants situated astride a 100-foot-long boardwalk.

The team’s hard work paid off with a bouquet of honors: They won the People’s Choice award for the second year; a Gold Medal from Mass. Hort.; superior commendation for recently introduced cultivars (or the best tree in the show — a black pine, Nishiki Tsukasa); the Ruth S. Thayer Award for Daphne burkwoodii “Hana” (named for Mr. Haskell’s daughter) for a meritorious new cultivar introduced at the New English Spring Flower Show; and a superlative award for trained plants as well as bamboo and grasses.

Needless to say, the two designers worked tirelessly to create a sweeping vista that visitors will remember long after. Along the walk, beneath a huge weeping Katsura, through groves of grasses studded with black pines and much more, visitors are transported both literally and figuratively. The textures and layers and thoughtful juxtaposition of plants, combined with the sounds of the surf and exotic birds (piped in), brings the seaside front and center.

This undulating landscape incorporating sand dunes and barrier plantings provided the setting for the show’s glitzy opening night party and dinner, amazingly accommodating 24 tables situated among beautifully winding gardens. These tables — several situated beneath umbrellas, are exquisitely decked out by decorators and floral arrangers, as though for opening night all over again, with gorgeous, themed floral centerpieces ranging from simple to decadent.

“Giving (the garden space) balance was tough,” admitted Mr. Miskovsky. Not insurmountable, though.

Mr. Jardin, a first-time exhibitor in Boston, received the Exhibitors’ Award, given by show exhibitors to the garden they deem Best in Show. He also received the Burrage Award for “excellent use of variety and quality”; a Gold Vase Award for forcing hardy plant material and outstanding exhibit.

Mr. Jardin had to force numerous plants including viburnums, eastern red bud, Japanese maples (Acer palmatum Acontifolium) and the most challenging, cinnamon ferns that required pushing the heat to 85 degrees during the forcing process.

Mr. Jardin also earned a New Exhibitors Certificate given for a new and fresh approach to horticultural design; a Gold Medal for realistic transition of plant material and hardscaping; a superlative award for specimen plants; a medal from the Chicago Horticultural Society for outstanding horticultural skill and knowledge; and a superlative award for a rural garden or landscape. Judges commented on his ornamental stone work and an impressive granite arch that he calls “the eye of spring.” The V-shaped structure frames two lambs (one black and one white) in a fold set off by greenery.

“This garden came from my heart; I didn’t have to think about it very much,” said Mr. Jardin. He says he was surprised to get so many awards the first time around. “It feels great. I went into the show expecting nothing and getting eight awards is unbelievable.”

The third jewel in the crown of this year’s show was a magnificent garden by Mr. Sadeck, a horticulturist who trained under the late Allen C. Haskell (David’s father) and helped with exhibits back when the show was at Suffolk Downs. The designer (now in his 40s) recalls displays of Apricot Beauty (a tulip) and forget-me-nots in displays when he was a mere 10-year-old. “When I was 18 years old, Allen let David (then 14) and I do a garden on our own and Allen didn’t see it until preview night after it was judged. We won a bunch of awards for that.”

It’s not surprising that Mr. Sadeck features unusual birds — a Haskell trademark — in his exhibit. “I think I learned to appreciate nice things from Allen, especially the birds. They are like my hobby and they complement the garden. They are colorful like the plants.”

Four aviaries and a pond were placed in the garden with a stunning array of bird life that included a golden pheasant, English fantail doves, a pair of Lady Amherst pheasants from India, black neck swans from South America and a pair of silver pheasants.

Mr. Sadeck received a Gold Medal for the garden’s “marvelous scale and texture. Plants are in perfect condition and bloom. Small plants and exotic birds make us wish it was our back yard,” commented the judges.

He also received the Mass. Hort. award of the trustees for the innovative exhibit that most exemplifies and expands the tradition of the New England Spring Flower Show with the following remarks: “This is a subtle and innovative presentation of a mature New England landscape with a unique collection of artistic elements, mature planting and a sensitive integration of fauna.”

For his originality he earned the Arnold H. Nehrling Flower Show Award. The award is also judged on maintaining the exhibit in top condition through the show, something he attributes to “picking up every dead flower and making sure it look like opening day.” In recognition of his “glorious display and exemplary conditions,” he received the Patricia Storey Award. “Combining hardscape and bird features enhances the vivid coloration of the plants resulting in a beautiful integrated display,” the judges commended him.

All of these gardens are a bit like theaters in the round, forcing observers to walk around and appreciate the composition. In each garden there is something to learn, to bring home to one’s own humble patch. I started attending the show 20 years ago when I lived in Boston and didn’t keep a garden. It was something to do on a drizzly night — an affordable escape from dreariness. Now it’s a primal need, a precursor to the planting mode and, as always, an intensely satisfying experience

Quote of the day

“Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.”

Robert Frost

For more of Laura McLean’s gardening stories and advice see www.southcoastgardens.com.

source : www.southcoasttoday.com