Once again, our monthly meeting, held at Bnai Keshet on Monday, November 13, exceeded expectations, as Dan Benarcik, horticulturalist and raconteur, introduced us to the endless possibilities of pots,
His joy in the opportunities provided by containers of all sizes ranged from rich profusions of banana plants and riotious colors to heavily disguised chimney pots with new lives. He also showed the oddly effective image of a completely empty pot in the middle of a leafy landscape.
Dan's long history at the 50-acre Chanticleer Gardens in Wayne, PA where he learned, experimented, made mistakes, and created a glorious and imaginative world, enabled him to share his experience with us all. "Never, ever become complacent in your designs, your dreams or your garden," he said. And it was clear that many of us will be visiting Chanticleer next spring.
Below is a list of some of the plants he showed in his presentation.
Chanticleer Courtyard, Canna ‘Orange punch’, Artemesia ‘Powis Castle’
Chanticleer Courtyard, Aechmea ‘Burgundy, Melianthus major
Cycas revoluta, Coleus ‘Rustic Orange’, Sanchesia speciosa, Hackonechloa cv.
Beta ‘Bulls Blood’, Thymus, Kale ‘Cosmic’
Ranunculus cv., Thymus, Petroselinum crispum, Woven Salix basket
Canna ‘Orange Punch’, Curcuma longa  ‘Snowdrift’
Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’, Coleus ‘Atlas’, Salvia elegans ‘Aurea’
Artemesia ‘Powis Castle’, Canna ‘Orange Punch’, Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’
Ravenna rivularis, Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’,Blackbird, Coleus ‘Dark Star’
Osteospermum cv. Thymus and Viola, with Coarse red Mustard behind.
Papaver ’Champagne Bubbles’ and Salix twigs
Salix alba ‘Britzensis’ branches
Salix ‘Britzensis’ again with Muscari
Violas and Carex ‘Everillo’
Hanging basket of Cilantro, Parsley, Red Lettuce, Mustard and Chives
Beta and Fragraria
Peony flowered Tulipa ‘Cretaceous’ and Muscari
Muscari armeniacus
Phormium tenax ‘Purpurea’
Strelitzia reginea var. Junciformis, Cuphea ‘Samba’
Alcantera imperialis ‘Rubra’ with Artemesia’Powis Castle’
Ravenna rivularis, Coleus ‘Rustic Orange’, Nephrolepsis ‘Macho’, Jasminum ‘Fiona Sunrise’
Ravenna rivularis, Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’, Hedychium cv., Nephrolepsis ‘Macho’
Ensete, Agave, Graphtopetalum and Hibiscus cvs.
Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’, Coleus ‘Atlas’, Abutlon cv., Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’
Canna ‘Jivago’, Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’, coleus ‘Atlas’
Melianthus major, restraint…
Abutilon cv, Codieaum cv. Irsene ‘Grenadine’, Hibiscus cv.
Bromeliad pots, Billbergia cv. And Aechmea blanchettiana X Fulgens
Aechmea ‘Dean’
Jasminum ‘Fiona Sunrise’, Nephrolepsis cv., Begonia luxurians , Abutilon cv.
Fuschia cv
Philodendron ‘Autumn’, Caladium ‘Postman Joyner’, Fuschia ‘Gartemeister’
Cordyline fruiticosa cv.
Canna ‘Tropicanna’
Amicia zygomeris
Alcantera imperialis ‘Rubra’
Bromeliads, Annas comosas ‘Variegata’ and Guzmania cv.
Aechmea blanchetiana X Fulgens
Melianthus major
Ensete ventricosum ‘Muarelii’
Cyperus papyrus
With Colocasia ‘Jet Black’, Nephrolepsis ‘macho’
Phormium tenax ‘Maori Sunset’
Manihot grahamanii
Caladium, ‘Thai Beauty’