So the big display gardens at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, I guess I should post a few photos, right? Truth be told I'm still feeling a little ambivalent about them. Which isn't good, since hundreds of people spend thousands of hours putting them together. That's not to say they weren't well done, and there weren't dozens of show-goers standing in front of every square foot admiring what had been built. But there were only a few things that I felt strong enough about to lift of my camera and record. Am I jaded? Maybe. Anyway, here's what I want to share with you...
I love it when a wall of stone is interrupted with other materials. In this garden, from Jefferson Sustainable Landscaping and Avid Landscaping Design & Development, the reclining Buddha is upstaged only slightly by the rusted metal planter box.
The pathway bordered by a trio of stone orbs, and bright chartreuse grass (Acorus gramineus 'Ogon', I believe), is quite lovely.
As are a few voluptuous Magnolia flowers, in a sea of forced spring bulbs.
Next up, a garden from Nature Perfect Landscape and Design, and The Barn Nursery. I love love LOVE the mismatched pavers and mix of plants and gravel.
All this texture seems a touch impractical for a patio like mine, but I love it anyway.
The table and benches are pretty sweet too.
This next garden was my favorite of the show, Mid-Mod-Mad - by Sue Goetz and Father Nature Landscapes Inc. Add a couple of dozen potted Agaves and I could happily call this home.
I really wanted to light those logs, just a touch of burn on the edges would have taken the "new" off them. Like how we always lit the candles in our table setting displays at Pier One. Just enough to look used...
This excellent water feature reminds me of the Kuzma Garden, you too?
The upper section featured a dining table...
And a black "shade pavilion" that I could not get a decent photo of, no matter how many angles I tried.
Next up, Garden on Tap, from Plantswoman Design, Inc and Issaquah Landscaping. The wooden slat "hammock" looked quite comfortable.
Arrow points to "the tipsy garden pub"...
A bar/garden shed...
And I thought their use of copper tubing was especially inspired.
Next up, food farming on a residential scale, from Farmer Frog...
Clever! And easy to make at home.
Again with the break in the stone wall...
Inside the hoop house there was all sorts of magic happening.
Another shot of the PVC food wall...
Finally the Washington Park Arboretum Garden, designed by Bob Lily, Phil Wood and Roger Williams. Simple and serene. Oh and mossy!
Some thought a picnic, on the moss, during spring in Western Washington was a dream. I say dream on! Why not? We've had plenty of warm, picnic-worthy, spring days. Just none this year.
Finally two images that got separated from their gardens. I love this big ole piece of rusted metal. All it needed was a vine growing on it.
And if you're gonna tell people to keep their hands, feet, and butts, off your garden, the least you can do is say it with style...
Weather Diary, March 8: Hi 47, Low 41/ Precip .42"
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Thanks for sharing your shots. Sue Goetz's garden was one of my favorites too. Carex testacea is probably my favorite grass-like plant. I loved the impractical patio with its various textures too.
ReplyDeleteFunny that we're both calling out that patio as impractical when there were so many more impractical things there!
DeleteI totally understand when you say you feel ambivalent. Much about these display gardens feels forced to me.
ReplyDeleteThe first photo is a good example. The laughing buddha is great, and the metal planter is great as well. But I don't like them together. It's a bit like putting Thai curry on spaghetti.
And then there's the damn colored lighting! Seriously, that's the main reason I don't go to shows like these anymore.
Ha! That's just it, they're entirely forced...indoors, in February. But c'est la vie, we're so darn starved for garden time up here in the PNW that we do what we must. I actually really like the contrast of the buddha and metal, but I've never been one for sticking to one style. Did you notice some of my photos don't have the dramatic lighting? That's an advantage to attending their early morning tweet-up. But of course then one has to chose between taking photos and talking with all the amazing people that are there...
DeleteFirst, I have to say there is no garden show like this around here. I haven't been to Chicago but I have my doubts that have anything so creative. I think your ambivalence is justified and that your are an experienced gardener rather than jaded. Once you've created a garden and used stone and furniture etc. you realize that the common denominator in garden design is pretty low. I agree with Gerhard about the Buddha and metal container: confusion to me rather than contrast. I love the stonework patio with the screaming green ground cover until brown stone suddenly appears. For me, it ruins the visual flow and changes the concept. Whether I am in an art gallery or a garden, I am very opinionated and make no apologies. That said, I am always willing to take a look at a new idea.
ReplyDeleteThe brown appearing to ruin the flow may be more my fault than that od the designer, I focused way in on the photo, rather than showing the whole garden. And btw I like opinionated! It's more fun.
DeleteI find them interesting. They are so artificial, but you can see the designer's mind at work (along with chance, budget, and lack of time).
ReplyDeleteI find the sign inspiring. "It is unacceptable to allow one's Canis lupis familiaris to defecate on the Dymondia margaretae"
Okay, maybe not...
Oh yes please! Do print that up and place it in your Dymondia margaretae...and take a photo...(a great Wednesday vignette pic!).
DeleteSo much creativity! I just love all the materials, textures and colors. I may have to attend one of these years. Thank you for sharing : )
ReplyDeleteOh yes, you should!!!
DeleteI do love that Mid-Mod-Mad water feature, as well as the twisted copper tubing. I COVET a shed and one day will spring the idea of building one on my husband (perhaps the next time he's utterly lost for ideas of what to give me for my b-day or Christmas).
ReplyDeleteThere's that "she-shed" book out now. Maybe you should put it on your wishlist and see if he gets the hint.
DeleteThe fantasy gardens at the show are always interesting and I sometimes leave wanting to see some of the designers' other real garden work.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, there should be a tour you can sign up for to do just that.
DeleteI almost didn't read this post, as indoor display gardens always make me feel unsettled. I'm glad I persevered though, as these are some nice ones! Gave me some ideas too...
ReplyDeleteSo glad you found a few things worthwhile!
DeleteIdyll Haven Sue showed us a photo of a bar shed at the Garden show in Hartford Ct. Maybe this is a thing. If not , it should be.
ReplyDeleteI think it is.
DeleteSo many people feel this way about show gardens, and yet none of us can bear to stay home. I wonder how organizers could up the show garden game? Help line up sponsorship? Offer higher stakes/bigger prizes? I think about this every year around show time, and would love to hear what others think. When based in NY, I attended the Philadelphia Flower Show every other year, and at least one of the three smaller shows near me annually. Now in the Bay Area, nothing about the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show knocked my socks off last year. But I just marked my calendar and I'm definitely going again anyway.
ReplyDeleteYou've certainly hit the nail on the head. We find them "blah" but we can't bear not to go. I'm seeing several inspiring images coming out of Philly right now, as that show is about to open. Wish I were there. (and I hope the SF show inspires you this year)
DeleteThumbs up on the water feature. Otherwise the busyness of it all leaves me wishing for some real minimalism... Still, it's wonderful to see all those PNW style groundcovers in assorted greens.
ReplyDeleteYou'd be in awe of all the moss ground-cover we've got right now...
DeleteGlad you keep attending and reporting back. You always manage to find a few interesting themes and trends.
ReplyDelete