Thursday, February 19, 2015

City Living, at the 2015 NWFG Show

As I see it there are two reasons to attend a garden show...the people and the plants. Seeing old friends, eavesdropping on strangers, attending the seminars...the people make the show. Then of course there are the plants. Ideally that means discovering something completely new (to me), however seeing something "old" in a new way is always nice too. The display gardens? They're entertainment. The big gardens (at this show and Portland's Yard Garden & Patio Show), with all their hardscape and water features, are rarely anything I'm really inspired by. However the small space display gardens in the skybridge at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, those I've always loved and found hugely inspiring, until this year. This year they had a theme...

City living was the theme. If there was a theme in prior years I was blissfully unaware of it (I didn't attend last year). The gardens were supposed to demonstrate "just how creative container plantings can be in a small space. These 8-ft. x 14-ft. masterpieces incorporate intimate outdoor living spaces for relaxing and entertaining." This theme made for less exciting displays than previous years. I think part of the problem was the designers had to leave the window area clear (to reinforce the idea you were on a balcony), which made it harder for them to create a mood. Why does there always have to be a theme, stop the theme madness! Just say NO!

(I take a deep breath...)

There were 8 displays, I'll be sharing 5 of them with you, I'm skipping a few in the idea of if you can't say something nice then don't say anything at all. I do recognize all the designers put a lot of work into what they created but hey, this is my blog and my opinion! This one was called "Love On A Balcony….The Engagement" I love the colors of the floor covering and the painting and how they're echoed in the plant choices.

I'm less in love with the furniture but hey, I guess I can't have everything my way.

This one, Romancing the Kasbah, was interesting. I want to love it, but I can't quite and I'm not sure why.

I want this orange umbrella! This particular display (Penthouse Passion) allowed me to overhear one of my favorite quotes of the show "There is just too much orange! What do they think, it's Halloween? It's not, it's Valentine's Day"...

Another year, another wonderful display from Ravenna Gardens, "All You Need is Love … and a Garden!"

Since blue is about my least favorite color I wasn't immediately drawn to their display like I have been in past years, but still...it all works and is lovely. I especially love the lights overhead.

And the use of greys. That container on the far right...another long standing crush. I saw it first at Smith & Hawkin in something like 2006. Been on the hunt ever since, the price always gets in the way.

I will admit the theme played nicely to the location of these displays, since each one backed up against large windows looking out on Pike Street.

Clever light fixture.

This is the final display I'll be sharing with you, "An Urban Botanical Retreat: Unique and Easy Planting Ideas for Intimate (Plant) Lovers." If the exuberant use of cool plants seems at all familiar this was created by the same fellow who did the award winning "The Lost Gardener – A Journey from the Wild to the Cultivated" back in 2013, Riz Reyes.

The only thing I wish were different were the chairs. They give a "bachelor pad" feel to this otherwise lush and stylish "garden." Then again right there in the title is "Intimate (Plant) Lovers" and that truly is what this is all about, the plants...

How fabulous is this?

Riz also works in floral design and that definitely shows here. Oh the drama...

Oh hey, guess who that is, Sylvia of Dig Nursery (her booth was shown in this post) was taking a portrait of Riz and I snuck a photo of my own.

Excellent color combinations!

If you read my post on Marcia Donahue's garden then those bulbs no doubt look familiar.

I've had a love/hate relationship going on with those multi-colored geraniums for years. They look good with that astelia.

A lucky gardener named Mary (who I had the privilege of finally meeting in person at this show, we've been Facebook friends for awhile now) got to take this multi-headed Nolina 'La Siberica' home after the show wrapped up.

Just two more images. These hung off the side of the display...

Pretty fabulous!

All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

48 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your great photos of the Small Space Showcase designs that you liked. I'm pretty sure they don't usually have a theme for these. It ruined them for me too. It leaves so much less room for creativity. You got some good shots of the two hanging containers with all that twiggy, mossy goodness in Riz's display.

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    1. So what do you suppose the chances are they have a theme again next year? I have a feeling once they've gone there it will be hard to go back.

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  2. I think there is at least one worthwhile element in each of these designs, so now I'm curious to see images of the ones you skipped (I'll see those through other bloggers' eyes I hope).

    From seeing a couple of these, you might think the theme was actually "Impractical Chairs". :)

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    1. Those I skipped included one with a bunch of wood pieces and orchids, it was only about 30% full and dead center were a tiny table and chairs. Another one was nearly empty with lots of small pots of bulbs and the third had potential but was just way to stuffed full of chaotic elements.

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  3. Often there's more to be inspired with in small gardens as opposed to the big ones. Intimate spaces can be made even within big gardens. Certainly given us ideas on how to do our containers this year.

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    1. I thought you were going to say "Certainly given us ideas for a new garden room" -- maybe you're planning on adding another building or outdoor room in your Tardis-like garden. :)

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    2. Indeed, these small gardens are usually the most inspirational. Do you guys do many mixed containers?

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  4. nice exhibition!
    The composition of the last picture is really gorgeous

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  5. I think the casbah relies too heavily on ephemerals. What would it look like without them? Half a garden, maybe?

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  6. I always feel bad saying negative things about the displays: I know that producing one is an enormous undertaking! But I don't find them to be very inspiring. These "City Living" displays look like assemblages of over-designed pots that one would see as a centerpiece in a shop window. And kind-of bitty at the same time. Did the rules preclude using substantial, built-in looking pieces?

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    1. I don't think the rules were against substantial containers or built-ins, probably just time and budget. I agree it sometimes feels mean to critique a garden display, but I think there's a difference between a private garden you're invited to visit and one like these where it's a paid entrance show with awards handed out.

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  7. I agree with you, the theme & limitations did not help the sky bridge gardens this year although there were some great elements in them. Too much orange? Is there such a thing? I share your feelings about "Romancing the Kasbah," Maybe it needed a more exotic background than the Seattle Skyline? The Orange and blue color scheme was carried through nicely. Maybe some huge heavily beaded tapestries or a tent over the top or Indian or Turkish pillows, Persian rug, small table on the ground set for two with benjarong plates and serving pieces. heavy with gold, more lamps, huge shiny brass incense burners... You know, a heavy exotic style. The dark wood chair? Just a thought.

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    1. I think YOU need to do a small space display garden next year, seriously.

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    2. I was thinking that YOU should do one! The Plant Lust team could come up with something really stellar! Plants on loan from Cistus - Fab pots from potted. Plant nerd in an apartment? plant lust on a balcony? City dwelling plant fanatic? Small space, big lust? Plant lust with style? Organize your lust? California Dreaming on a soggy day? You could emphasize the importance of small space gardens for the increasing number of downsizing baby boomers who still want to have their hands in the dirt and/or gardening for aging plant lusters who need accessible gardening that still has the thrill of fab plants.

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    3. Gosh, you almost make it sound like fun!

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  8. I don't understand people who don't like orange. But then, I love blue, so I'm confused t here too.

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    1. It's been a life-long issue with me, I flirt with turquoise but over all blue just leaves me cold.

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  9. These are all great. Did each space have to work with a specific colour?

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    1. No, although it kind of looks like they did!

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  10. I really like the last 2 displays, particularly that gabion with the glass bottles. Displays like these always pack in a lot more than anyone would put in one place in a real garden but then the purpose is generating sales so I take all that with a grain of salt. Your shows are still a cut or 2 above ours.

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    1. Had I shared a couple of the other displays they'd be changing your mind about that "pack in" business.

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  11. There's always an idea or two to take away and that seems to be the true theme of this year's small space show. Those plant combinations in Riz Reyes' space are just so gorgeous. Are the soft grasses a sedge? I've had my eye on a couple of those zinc barrels at a local shop for a while. The price is definitely a point of hesitation, so it's no wonder they haven't sold them in over a year.

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    1. Sometimes I think great display items are priced not to sell, the shop owners don't want to give them up! (sedge, I think so...but I'm not the best at grass/grass-like identification)

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  12. Having seen pictures of some of the past displays in this area, I can understand why you didn't appreciate the limitation of a theme. That said, I do like the displays done by Ravenna Gardens and Riz the best. I love the color palette in the former (no problem with blues here) and the cool plants in both.

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    1. Both of those gardens managed to include a few early spring bloomers but not at the exclusion of solid year-round interest (i.e. great foliage). So many other gardens, both here and the big ones, were all about the forced blooms.

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  13. "Come wiz me to the Kasbah and you'll sit on my lap because there is only one chair." Is that it? Or was it tulips with palm trees?

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  14. So interesting. I was going to say "Romancing the Kasbah" was my favorite. Something about the warm brown furniture and the oranges and blues together. Lovely. But all the displays you've shown here are nifty. I'm a fan of orange, most of the time, and potted arrangements, so these are great. That gray tub full of mixed plants--wow!

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    1. I don't usually go for mixed container plantings but indeed some of these were swoon worthy!

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  15. The planter you mention liking looks a lot like some that I saw at Ptlnd Nursery Stark St yesterday...and not too dear, either.

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    1. Hmm...I guess I need to make a little trek to Portland Nursery! (cause I need more containers?)

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  16. The Ravenna Gardens display struck me as the one I'd most enjoy hanging out in; the nice interplay between plants and objects didn't sacrifice one for the other. The other displays certainly had interesting elements, but just didn't all come together as artfully. I can't help reacting to container plantings that try too hard, or clearly don't work as permanent displays; not a fan of high-work combos, but also understand that seasonal glitz/rare exotica is part of the reason d'etre of spring landscape shows. Thanks for sharing, wish you would show your take on the main display gardens too! As a landscape designer/plant geek, the display gardens are what I go for. I prefer the designs that push boundaries while also being more realistic with planting conditions, AND show good design in using space and materials.

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    1. No worries, I plan to share some of my thoughts on the big display gardens next week. Ravenna Gardens is an all around class act. Their displays - be it here, the show booth or their retail store in U-Village - are always nicely done.

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  17. There are some really beautiful plant combinations here. I think the last setting wins hands down for me! (But agree about the saggy chairs). Oh and loved the orange comment, ha!

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    1. There are always orange haters in any crowd...

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  18. Liked Ravenna Gardens best, by a mile, even though I'm not much of a blue person. The Riz Reyes hanging baskets are terrific. And I loved Alan's comment above re "Impractical Chairs"!

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    1. I've always felt that way about French cafe chair sets. I get their use in the cafe world but not in a home garden. Why wouldn't you want a chair you can relax in?

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  19. I like the last picture very much. Do you know what material are those Marcia Donahue´s bulbs made of? maybe ceramics?

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    1. Yes, they are ceramic. If you return to visit your sister in the Bay Area you should plan to visit her garden and studio!

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  20. Beautiful post, as usual--but maybe a dash of extra beauty this time...

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    1. Extra beauty, like the sunshine this morning!

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  21. I really enjoyed seeing these gardens. Maybe the natural light makes a difference for me. It's great to see the Ravenna and Riz gardens especially, since there's a Fling connection to both of them. Well, plus theirs are the best!

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  22. Comments about your favorite garden step by step side by side by treelinedesignz.com.
    1/ Growing sedum in gabion is very easy, A drip irrigation pipe running to water the sedum.
    2/ The light bulbs used for the show but in real leg lights out side of the gabion would be a good solution.
    3/ The chunky large stone steps for preventing visitors to enter in the garden as it is just a display and the liability issues. Even few times some visitors tried to go in to enjoy the floating bed.........
    4/ The elevated gabion path is very practical for the Northwest weather as after rain all garden is wet and muddy,walking on the gabion path keep you away from the wet and muddy garden. You can grow many varieties of plants in the gabion to protect from deer like roses and hydrangeas etc and feel like walking on the flowers:-))))

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    1. I would have loved to be able to walk up on that path and into the garden, but understand that wouldn't have been a good idea for everyone to be able to do. Thank you for taking the time to share more info about the garden.

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  23. These are gorgeous! I moved to a new place recently and finally have the chance to make a small balcony garden. These designs are so beautiful and creative. I hope that my balcony garden will at least imitate them when I finish making it. Greets!

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