Trade Secrets 2017
If my schedule allows I always try to fit in a visit to the annual Trade Secrets rare plant and gardening antiques sale - it’s among my favorite events of the year.
This weekend, thousands of visitors attended Trade Secrets in the picturesque town of Sharon, Connecticut. This philanthropic sale draws more than 60-vendors - specialized growers, small nursery owners, antiques dealers, and artisans. They gather together to sell unusual plants, garden antiques, and other unique outdoor objects. Trade Secrets was developed by interior designer, Bunny Williams, 17-years ago, when she conducted the very first sale to downsize her collection of plants in her greenhouse. It was a success from the very beginning, and is now run at LionRock Farm, with proceeds going to the Women’s Support Services in northwestern Connecticut.
It's a wonderful sale and a very important cause. Enjoy these photos.
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- This year, I attended Trade Secrets with Kevin Sharkey, Ryan McCallister, and Lisa Wagner. On this day, I had just returned from a trip to Los Angeles at 5am and by 6am, we were on our way!
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- This is Trade Secrets’ 17th year anniversary. The two-day garden event was established by Bunny Williams in 2000. I always like to get there bright and early on the first day.
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- The town of Sharon is surrounded by Salisbury to the north, the Housatonic River to the east, Kent, Connecticut to the south, and to the west, Dutchess County, New York. It was expected to pour all day, but the rain held off for the first few hours.
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- With all there is to see and learn, it’s a good event and a good cause rain or shine.
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- More than 60-vendors and garden antiques dealers from around the northeast region set-up their wares under tents at the LionRock farm. http://www.lionrockfarm.com
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- One of the first people I saw was master potter, Guy Wolff. His tent is always filled with beautiful pots. Guy’s shop is in nearby Bantam, Connecticut. Ben’s pottery is available online. http://www.guywolff.com
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- Here are more of his pots, and some of his daughter’s beautiful tin lamps. I have been using Guy Wolff pots for many years. Guy has been on my television shows, and his pottery has been featured in my magazines and on my web site at marthastewart.com.
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- I prefer the more historical shapes that Guy creates. My tropical plants look so pretty displayed in his signature white clay vessels.
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- This particular booth was run by Hillside Nursery, a small nursery, plant culture lab, and research facility in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. I visit this tent every year. http://www.hillsidenursery.biz
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- Hillside specializes in the propagation and production of woodland wildflowers of the temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere.
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- I also visited the tent of Cricket Hill Garden – a nursery in Thomaston, Connecticut that specializes in Chinese tree peonies, Paeonia suffruticosa – propagating cultivars, which are outstanding in hardiness, vigor, color, form and fragrance. https://www.treepeony.com
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- Cricket Hill had many peonies for sale.
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- Trade Secrets is a very popular event, and the booths fill up quickly – all to benefit Women’s Support Services, an organization which offers free confidential assistance to victims of domestic violence. http://www.wssdv.org
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- Here is Ryan carrying two of my first purchases of the day – so exciting.
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- I recently bought several trees from Broken Arrow Nursery – another good source for rare, unusual, and garden-worthy plants. https://www.brokenarrownursery.com/
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- They also sell wonderful potted flowering specimens.
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- Ryan and Chris Koppel, sales manager from Broken Arrow, stopped for a quick photo.
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- There were also lots of textiles and whimsical pottery at the Marston House tent. Marston is located in Wiscassett, Maine. http://www.marstonhouse.com
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- And, a table filled with ironstone china. Ironstone is a type of pottery first made in the United Kingdom in the early 19th century. It was developed by potters in Staffordshire, England as a cheaper, mass-produced alternative for porcelain.
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- At the Privet House booth was a charming set of nesting tables and this antique birdcage. Privet House bills itself as ‘An Emporium of Home Goods, Antiques and Curiosities’. https://privethouse.com
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- It also sold lots of interesting bud vases and brushes.
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- When buying items at Trade Secrets, everyone is assigned an ID number, which is then tagged on each purchase and taken to a holding area for pick-up at the end of the visit. This very organized system makes it convenient for patrons to continue shopping.
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- There were many different kinds of antique planters – made from every material known, such as marble, stone, clay and metal. These are from Passports in nearby Salisbury, Connecticut. http://www.passportscollection.com
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- Campo de’Fiori had some lovely pieces also, such as this canine duo made of stone – a nice choice for a garden. https://campodefiori.com
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- Trade Secrets even had some head planters. There is a lot of energy and spirit at this sale – everyone always walks away with some kind of treasure.
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- Here is a group of snail garden ornaments.
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- This tent was filled with plants from Atlock Farm. Atlock is a nursery carrying all kinds of unique plants and flowers, including an extraordinary array of desert succulents and well-trained topiaries. https://www.facebook.com/Atlock-Farm-968380253181429/
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- Here’s Lisa with one of her finds.
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- Berkshire Orchids specializes in carrying a large and varied stock of orchids. From miniscule, delicate blossoms to massive glossy explosions of color, these mood-enhancing plants and arrangements bring color, fragrance, and joy to any home. http://www.berkshireorchids.com
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- This booth was filled with beautiful specimens for sale. It was a popular stop for customers.
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- Kevin purchased four orchids, and Lisa bought one – hard to choose – all of them are so exquisitely gorgeous.
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- Here are more stunning orchids – so healthy and bold in color.
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- The distinctive pots of Pennoyer Newman were also at this year’s Trade Secrets sale – I love these pots. They are containers that have been cast from estate originals. http://www.pennoyernewman.com
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- They’re made of pummeled stone and marble blended with resin, which help make them so lightweight. Learn more about them on a previous blog. http://www.themarthablog.com/2015/10/garden-pots-and-planters-from-pennoyer-newman.html
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- Here are more Pennoyer Newman outdoor planters.
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- Virginia Newman Yocum is a gardener and business developer. She joined Pennoyer in 2003.
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- This is Pennoyer’s newest inspiration – this one is made of lead.
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- Conifer Kingdom carried a lot of wonderful specimens that I love. http://www.coniferkingdom.com
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- The tent was full of beautiful conifers in various colors and species.
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- Here is Ed Bowen, the owner of Opus, a nursery in Little Compton, Rhode Island, which specializes in unusual perennials. They always have nice plants also. http://www.opusplants.com
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- It’s always a pleasure to see interior designer, Bunny Williams, who is the Honorary Chair of Trade Secrets. Here we are posing for several press photos.
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- Everything I bought arrived safely back at the farm. Luckily, we brought two large trucks to carry it all. Hope to see you all at Trade Secrets next year!
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