Hothouse flower shows

Last update: January 20, 2009 - 1:06 PM

It may be cold and bleak outside, but it's warm and fragrant in the Como Park Conservatory, which is hosting two winter flower events this month.

First up is the tropical punch of the Winter Carnival Orchid Show, sponsored by the Orchid Society of Minnesota. Orchids are considered one of the most varied plants on the planet, and the show will showcase hundreds owned by individual and commercial growers, as well as orchid-themed artwork. The show will take place Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr., St. Paul. Admission to the show is $5 for adults and $3 for ages 3-12.

After the orchid show, the next flowering will be the second phase of the conservatory's annual Winter Flower Show in the sunken garden, which will be abloom with vibrant purples, yellows and pinks to warm up the winter-weary landscape. Featured flowers will include azaleas, cyclamen and amaryllis. The Winter Flower Show runs Jan. 30-March 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and admission is free.

For more information, visit www.comozooconservatory.org.

KIM PALMER

What's bugging you?

With a spiral binding and water-resistant pages, "Good Bug Bad Bug" ($16.95, St. Lynn's Press) is the kind of useful guide that gardeners with dirty hands will toss in a bucket with the trowel and carry with them as they poke around their vegetables and perennials.

While the blurb on the cover ("All you need to know about the insects in your garden") is overstatement, author Jessica Walliser has written a great guide to identifying 34 common garden insects, with organic suggestions for control when needed. The 90-page book is divided into good bug/bad bug sections, a glossary, an appendix on organic insect controls and even an index that allows users to find bugs by the plants on which they're commonly found. The only thing that would improve this admirable little volume would be to enlarge a few of the insect photos, but Walliser gets an A-plus for providing the practical information gardeners want to know.

MARY JANE SMETANKA

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