THE FOUNDING mothers of the Northwest Horticultural Society may be spinning in their graves at the thought of their organization sponsoring a vegetable symposium. After all, the group's name originally included the word "Ornamental." While vegetable gardening may be a departure, it's also a sign of the times. We're hungry for information on growing vegetables, which is why the "Welsh King of the Veg" has been invited to Seattle to be the keynote speaker at the spring symposium.

Medwyn Williams arrives here fresh from being awarded an MBE (member of the British empire) by her majesty the queen. Can you imagine a country so civilized that it bestows such distinctions for "services to horticulture"?

While this may be the greatest honor Williams has won ("the whole family is over the moon about it," he says), it's not his first. Williams has taken home 10 consecutive gold medals from the Chelsea Flower Show, as well as the coveted Lawrence Medal for the best exhibit of the year at any Royal Horticulture Society show. These awards aren't for trendy design or cool new plants but for artistic arrangement of gorgeous vegetables.

Such accomplishment isn't simply akin to winning "best of show" for the largest dahlia or chrysanthemum. Williams hastens to point out that every vegetable he grows bursts with flavor as well as ripe good looks. Aesthetics are just part of the picture; each vegetable needs to deliver, in both taste and nutrients, on what its exterior promises.

At the symposium, "Celebrating the Noble Vegetable," Williams will share his tips and tricks, along with his lively personality. Here's a preview:

"My back garden is taken up by vegetables that I grow to show standard," writes Williams in an e-mail from Wales. "Though they are often larger than supermarket types, they are absolutely delicious. In the National Vegetable Society we have a saying about exhibiting: 'If you can't eat it, you don't show it.' "

Witch hazels revisited


In my column of Jan. 15, I deplored witch hazels that hang onto dead, dry leaves, and suggested shopping for them in early winter when it's clear which types are leaf-retentive. A nurseryman tells me that nurseries clip off witch hazel leaves around Christmas time, so it's impossible for customers to tell which plants drop their leaves and which have the nasty habit of hanging onto them. So be sure to ask the nursery if they've cut the leaves off any witch hazel you're considering. It's also a good idea to ask if the witch hazels on offer are grafted onto the stock of Hamamelis vernalis, which causes the plant to sucker like crazy, another trait to be avoided. Thanks to my informant for an insider peek at nursery practices.

Williams suggests that some vegetables "are worth having a go at" in the ornamental garden. "Chard is one, both the Ruby Red and the white Seakale variety will add contrasting colors whilst at the same time giving you a high content of vitamin C."

What is Williams' favorite vegetable? "I have a passion for kohlrabi, both the pale green and the crimson types."

His advice for small gardens: "If space is very limited don't forget that the sky is quite high up. There's always room for French climbing beans as well as runner beans. Trailing courgettes (or zucchinis as you call them) will crop equally well growing upwards as they will along the ground."

Convinced that vegetables are more vibrantly colored than flowers, Williams has trolled the world looking for different cultivars. Colored cauliflowers, like the purple 'Graffiti,' he says, "are going to be big business in the future, and they tend to be higher in antioxidants than the regular white ones."

For those new to vegetable gardening, Williams suggests growing what you like best to eat, particularly those that ripen quickly. That will keep up your interest. Focus on the results, he adds, "because vegetable growing can be hard work."

Joining Williams on the symposium roster are Canadian humorist Des Kennedy and Pennsylvanian Jack Staub, author of "75 Exciting Vegetables for Your Garden." The date is March 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Bastyr University Auditorium in Kenmore. Cost is $45 for members of the Northwest Horticultural Society, $55 for non-members. For reservations e-mail nwhort@aol.com, or call 206-527-1794.

Valerie Easton is a Seattle freelance writer and contributing editor for Horticulture magazine. Her e-mail address is valeaston@comcast.net.