I'm in London for a week with 23 other gardeners and I'm showing them all the best gardens of the city.
I'll blog as often as I can so you can get a taste of the incredible gardens here.
One highlight will be our visit to the 100th anniversary of the Chelsea Flower Show.
I can't wait until you see the photos!
We're going to see Kew Gardens, Hampton Court, Windsor Castle and more.
-"They're going to be desperate. We're going to be desperate, too, to get the lead." - Kris Letang on the Senators.
-"Just another rink that you go into." - James Neal dismissing any distinctive features of Scotiabank Place.
-Sidney Crosby speaks:
-Letang speaks:
-Pascal Dupuis speaks:
-Senators forward Jason Spezza (above, with Crosby) is expected to return to the lineup after being sidelined since February due to a back injury.
-The Senators will keep Craig Anderson in goal for Game 3.
-Spezza speaks:
-Brad Thiessen made 30 saves and led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 4-0 home win against the Providence Bruins in Game 5 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series in the Calder Cup playoffs. Providence leads the best-of-seven series, 3-2. Brian Dumoulin added a goal and two assists for the Penguins. The Bruins host Game 6 Sunday, 7:05 p.m.
-Highlights:
-After the Jump: The Red Wings tie the Blackhawks, the Sharks get on on the Kings and the Penguins sign a prospect.
Exhibit coordinator Jordyn Melino walks across a bridge in the East Room at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens during the Summer Flower Show; Glass in the Gardens. Photos by Doug Oster
The powerful combination of glass and gardens probably became most evident to locals when Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens teamed with famed glass artist Dale Chihuly in 2007.
Glass pink flamingos in the East Room created by Gary Guydosh.Since then Phipps has flirted with glass at other shows, but the Summer Flower Show, "Glass in the Gardens," is a full- blown artistic statement in the medium. Although the show has interesting plants, the glass sculptures steal the spotlight. That might be ironic in a place like Phipps, but it's an interesting result of the combination show, which continues through Oct. 6.
We'll start in the Fern Room, an unlikely place as it's toward the back of the conservatory and does not change during most shows. It's also the place where the glass sculptures could most be overlooked. There are amazingly lifelike glass snails climbing over and around a black obsidian rock outcropping also made of glass. They are tucked into the deep green plants used as permanent display in the room. It's so detailed, so realistic, that there's even a silvery trail where the snail supposedly slid across the glass. On close examination, one wonders how the artist mimicked nature so perfectly. It's a prelude of what's to come.
The snails' creator Nikolaj Christensen, was one of 11 artists from the Pittsburgh area chosen to create works for the show. He also made stunning vases displayed on pedestals in the Sunken Garden. Some are decorated with the kind of beautiful surrealistic patterns only molten glass can create.
Exhibit coordinator Jordyn Melino worked a year to put the show together. She first sent out a request for proposals to the art community and narrowed the responses to these artists. Standing in the East Room in front of a sparkling giant purple and yellow glass flower, Ms. Melino is pleased to see the show become a reality.
"The combination of plants with glass is just a really striking pairing," she said.
The theme of the East Room is wonderland, she says. It's the work of artist Gary Guydosh and includes orange, blue and pink birds, a huge white and pink glass sunflower and a shiny, small tangerine frog sitting on a rock. The creatures looked so real that they momentarily fooled Ms. Melino.
"Those glass fish, there were a few seconds when I thought they were real," she said, laughing.
What makes the show fun is that some of the plants can be mistaken for glass, too. The glass showcased in the East Room is supported by shrimp plants, unusual palms and pink and red cordyline.
Just outside the door in the Victoria Room, translucent glass Chinese lantern flowers seemingly float on water surrounding the center fountain. Jason Forck from The Pittsburgh Glass Center created them after seeing the actual flowers at a friend's house.
"I had a chance to look at the pods, pull them apart and kind of look how they were put together. I thought it was a beautiful form (and) could be something which would translate to glass pretty well," he said.
Unlike the flowers in nature, a green seed can be seen in the center of the pod. "I like the mystery of the Chinese lantern plant, he said. "You know, it's the main life form inside of that shell."
The Broderie Room is filled with delicate Queen Anne's lace flowers created by Diane Taninecz using a technique called pate de verre, which makes a paste out of glass that is then applied to a mold. The white glass blooms are set off by the deep red foliage of 'Little Ruby' alternanthera.
The first thing visitors see when they enter the Palm Court are two giant glass passion flower vines growing toward an orange metal trellis. Jenn Figg and Matt McCormack from the Pittsburgh Glass Center worked as a team to build the impressive artwork. This piece can be viewed up close, revealing the details of each leaf, flower and vine. The room is set off with white caladiums and spikes of reddish Guzmania bromeliad.
In the South Conservatory are the "remains" of a woolly mammoth made by Travis Rohrbaugh and Christopher Hofmann, also from the Pittsburgh Glass Center. It's surrounded by prehistoric-looking plants including cool palms, ferns and cycads. Next to the display is a time lapse video that captures the installation of the glass and plants.
The Serpentine Room is filled with tall, slowly spinning glass towers that highlight East End places such as Nine Mile Run and Ellis School. They're the creation of Daviea Davis, who teaches at Phipps. The beds beneath the towers are filled with golden weeping willows along with pink, purple and orange annuals.
The other artists who contributed were Steven Sadvary and Lisa Platt.
As Ms. Melino looks over some of the colorful glass sculpture, she explains what she wants visitors to get out of the show:
"I hope they get a different experience in each room and appreciate these artists bringing their work to life."
Gary Guydosh's work in the East Room is amazing.
These glass fish in the East Room fooled Jordyn for an instant. They look real.
Another cool creation by Gary Guydosh, this orange frog sits on a rock in the East Room.
Thes Chinese lantern plants were made by Jason Forck.
Queen Anne's lace by Diane Taninecz in the Broderie Room.
Nikolaj Christensen crafted vases in the Sunken Garden and the snails displayed in the Fern Room (below).
-Dave Molinari's recap from last night's game. "They're going to be pretty desperate, so we'd better be ready." - Sidney Crosby (above) on Game 3.
-The Ottawa Citizen's recap. The Senators yanked their starting goaltender for the first time this season.
-The Associated Press' recap. ''He's one of the best in the game and if you give him time, space to make plays, to shoot puck he's going to burn you.'' - Senators defenseman Chris Phillips on Crosby.
-Highlights:
-Crosby > Ottawa's Mika Zibanejad and Craig Anderson:
-Tomas Vokoun was all over this puck:
-Brenden Morrow couldn't jam in this puck by Anderson:
-Evgeni malkin was ready for this faceoff:
-Bloody times for Chris Kunitz:
-Happy times for the Penguins:
-A good look at Vokoun stopping Greening:
-Anderson kept an eye on this puck:
-Dan Bylsma speaks:
-Sidney Crosby speaks:
-Jarome Iginla speaks:
-Matt Niskanen speaks:
-Morrow speaks:
-Tomas Vokoun speaks:
-"None of my goals are really pretty. That was another going in the net, hitting you and going in. Hopefully now they'll come a little easier." - Morrow on his game-winning goal.
-“It’s been a change but it’s been a neat experience. I’m enjoying every moment.” Iginla on joining the Penguins.
-“Are you blind?” - Erik Karlsson's reaction to a question about how he defended Crosby's first goal.
-"He played 13:37, which isn't normal for him, so obviously he wasn't one of our best players. He didn't play well." - Senators coach Paul MacLean on Karlsson.
-Will the Senators start Craig Anderson or Robin Lehner in net for Game 3?
-Will Senators forward Jason Spezza return for Game 3?
-MacLean was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award along with Anaheim's Bruce Boudreau and Chicago's Joel Quenneville.
-What's a "brinzer?"
-Hockey Night in Canada's pregame montage:
-Brad Thiessen made 31 saves for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 3-1 home win against the Providence Bruins in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series in the Calder Cup playoffs Friday. Providence leads the series, 3-1. Joey Mormina recorded three assists for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Penguins will host Game 5 Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
-"I had my grandmother's lasagna for lunch. Maybe that was it." - Mormina on his offensive output.
-Could Rangers defenseman Marc Staal (eye) return to the lineup for Game 2?
Blackhawks - Red Wings-The Blackhawks' top power play unit of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith (right), Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp has a combined 14 all-star game appearances on their resume.
-"The Sharks organization fully supports the NHL in its efforts to remove illegal and dangerous hits from the game but we strongly disagree with the NHL's decision to suspend Raffi Torres." - Sharks general manager Doug Wilson's statement on the suspension of forward Raffi Torres.
-Could Sharks forward Martin Havlat ("lower body") return to the lineup for Game 3?
-Sweden/Canucks defenseman Alex Edler was suspended two games by the IIHF for his knee-on-knee hit against Canada/Hurricanes forward Eric Staal Thursday.
-Former Penguins forward Jeff Taffe has joined Linköping of Sweden's Elitserien.
-Happy 51st birthday to former Penguins forward John Chabot. Acquired early in the 1984-85 season in deal which sent Ron Flockhart to the Canadiens, Chabot spent parts of three seasons with the Penguins. In 67 games with the Penguins that season, Chabot recorded 53 points. His first full season with the Penguins in 1985-86 saw him appear in 77 games and collect 45 points. In 1986-87, Chabot played in 72 games and netted 36 points. The following offseason, he signed with the Red Wings. In 216 games with the Penguins, he recorded 134 points, 62nd most in franchise history.
-Happy 51st birthday to former Penguins forward Dave Michayluk. A free agent signing in the 1989 offseason, Michayluk spent the vast majority of his professional career in the minor leagues. His Penguins career amounted to seven postseason games and two points for the Penguins during their 1992 Stanley Cup run. Injuries to stars such as Mario Lemieux and Joe Mullen forced the Penguins to recall Michayluk, Jock Callander and Mike Needham from their IHL affiliate in Muskegon. That trio formed the "Muskegon Line." Michayluk would never play in the NHL again but ended up becoming one of the most prolific minor league hockey players of all-time.
-Happy 67th birthday to former Penguins forward Rod Zaine. Acquired in the 1970 offseason from the AHL's Baltimore Clippers in exchange for cash, Zaine's Penguins career amounted to 37 games and 13 points withe 1970-71 Penguins. In the 1971 offseason, he was claimed by the Sabres in the intra-league draft.
-Happy 50th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Marty McSorley (right). Originally signed as a free agent in the 1982 offseason, McSorley had two stints with the Penguins. He made the roster as a rookie in team's dreadful 1983-84 season appearing in 72 games and recorded nine points and 224 penalty minutes. The following season, McSorley was limited to 15 games with the Penguins and 15 penalty minutes. In the 1985 offseason, McSorley was traded to the Oilers along with Tim Hrynewich and Craig Muni in exchange for Gilles Meloche. McSorley would win two Stanley Cup titles in Edmonton and would be involved in arguably the biggest trade in sports history as he and some decent center were sent to the Kings in 1988. After establishing himself as one of the best enforcers in NHL history, McSorley returned to the Penguin in the 1993 offseason by way of a trade which sent Shawn McEachern to the Kings. McSorley spent just over half the season with the Penguins appearing in 47 games. He recorded 21 points and 139 penalty minutes and engaged in a memorable fight with Detroit's Bob Probert (below) before being traded back to the Kings along with Jim Paek in exchange for Tomas Sandstrom and McEachern. In 134 games with the Penguins, McSorley recorded 30 points and 378 penalty minutes, 40th most in franchise history. Overall, McSorley recorded 3,381 penalty minutes in the NHL, fourth-most all-time.
-The Islanders re-signed forward Eric Boulton to a one-year contract extension. Terms were not revealed. In 15 game this past season, Boulton, 36, had no points and 36 penalty minutes.
-Former Oilers/Lightning/Coyotes forward Marc-Antoine Pouliot has joined Gottéron of Switzerland's NLA.
(Photos: Senators/Penguins-Justin K. Aller/Getty Images and Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press; Keith-Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images; McSorley-Penguins Hockey Cards)
Former Beaver Falls High School star basketball player Sheldon Jeter announced on Twitter tonight that he has decided to leave Vanderbilt due to some family issues. But he said he has not decided yet where he will transfer.
Jeter, the Post-Gazette Player of the Year in 2012, said on Twitter "due to some personal issues, I am leaving Vanderbilt University to be closer to my family."
The most natural question is he is headed to Pitt? Does Pitt want him? Well, Jeter isn't saying.
Jeter, a 6-foot-7 forward, also tweeted "Just to clear this up, I do not know what school I will go to. That is another conversation to take place at another time with my family."
A lot might depend on what schools Vanderbilt will release him to. Vanderbilt released a statement from coach Kevin Stallings, saying "Sheldon has indicated that he'd like to play closer to home and we wish him the best."
Jeter played in 33 games for Vanderbilt this season as a freshman and made seven starts. He seemed to come on more and was a bigger factor the latter part of the season. For the year, he averaged 5.5 points and 3.4 rebounds, shot 47 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range.
