Maison & Object Paris, the show

It seems a little preposterous, but Maison & Object Paris is the reason I visited Paris. Andrew already had a work trip scheduled to India, when a client asked if they were going to the Paris show. They weren't, but then they were, then he said "why don't you come along?" and so I did. That's also why I spent one of my eight days on the ground, in Paris, at a huge indoor trade show*. Do I wish I'd visited Versailles instead? No. Actually I do not.

*trade show as experience = "MAISON & OBJET is the major event for professionals working in the art of living in all its rich and varied expressions. The lifestyle show brings together a 360° product offering. Decoration, design, furniture, accessories, textiles, fragrances, the world of children, tableware… The styles coexist in a multifaceted way, throughout the inventive show design which enlivens the spaces. This extraordinary diversity is in line with the varied expectations of global markets."

Makes perfect sense, right? Paris Nord Villepinte is a large Convention Center north of Paris poper, that's where the show was held.

We took the train up to the show. There was this guy, a Danish fellow, who sized up the four of us and figured we were going to the show. Talking amongst ourselves, we were unsure which stop to get off at, he let us know which stop he was talking.

Turned out he got off a stop too soon, and so then did we. We had time to chat while we waited for the next train. He was there working for German clients, he summed up his role by saying "while the Germans may be lacking in design sensibility the Danes are most certainly not"... "auto industry excluded of course"... all rightly then...

Just inside the door I snapped a photo of these Saguaro images. Little did I know I would see a lot of cactus at the show. None real of course.

The show, or rather one hall of the show. There were several others, just as large...

I've been to trade shows before, but this was on an entirely different level, so overwhelming! I have an entirely different appreciation of folks who do this for a living. Who go to these shows and manage to identify the products that fit their particular store's niche.

By the end of the day my head was full, full of stuff. However looking back now, through these photos, I have to say I captured a great assortment of plant (mainly cactus, evidently they're hot) items.

Coasters

Fun bookends, they'd be better if they weren't plastic.

If I remember correctly these were paper "slip covers" for plastic plant pots.

Cactus scissors!

I liked this best of all.

Monstera leaves were also very popular.

I do love Orla Kiely. I managed to not get too close to any of this merchandise. It was hard but I couldn't actually buy anything so why torture myself?

And there they are, the two most popular plant icons at the show, together in carpet form (although that looks like a Split Leaf Philodendron, not a Monstera).

Knit (or is that crochet?) plants...the next hot thing?

Love these, and I've seen other products from this company at a Portland shop I frequent.

Why are split leaf Philodendrons busting out from underneath the display tables?

Cactus shape overload...

But can you put sauerkraut in that jar?

Wow...(wow!)

You can't see it very well but this photo was all about the plant pieces hanging over the tables.

Here's a shot that shows them better.

Yes, those are Big Flowers.

Capiz shells, does anyone (besides these two) still love Capiz shells?

Fakey fakertone...

Ditto. Never lived a day...never photosynthesized.

I wish I could remember what this display was all about because it's actually kind of cool.

Mirrors and planters. These got a lot of attention.

See? Oh and that fellow reflected in the mirror the lady seems to be photographing? That would be Andrew, my husband. It was fun to see where he showed up in these photos. There were a few I wasn't allowed to share, dammit.

Bad photo but how fun are these woven Saguaros?

Finally the show was wrapping for the day and it was time to head out.

I was so happy to get some fresh air.

I spotted these big plastic recycling containers all around Paris, the woven covering of this one made it special.

I wish I'd had more time to explore and photograph the landscaping around the Convention Center.

But we were exhausted and it was time to catch the train!

Weather Diary, March 5: Hi 51, Low 36/ Precip .03"

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, closing out the 2017 Garden Bloggers Fling

I may have taken my sweet time getting here — and jumped all over the itinerary in the process — but I'm wrapping up my 2017 GB Fling posts with the closing event of the DC Region Fling — and not a moment too soon, since the 2018 Fling kicks off in just a little over eight weeks! Our final stop that hot June day was Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.

Meadowlark consists of 95 acres of ornamental display gardens and unique native plant collections and is located in Vienna, Virginia.

I was a little overwhelmed upon entering the garden and not sure which way to head, I chose the containers (familiarity?)...

Inside that big stacked stone circle was this, along with bits of ash. It must be a fire circle at some point in the year and they'd sunk containers in?

Looking a little more polished was this group.

Agave stricta?

A very pale (and beautiful) Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak'.

Looking back over my shoulder...

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Prostrata', aka Spreading Japanese Plum Yew, my official Fling crush...which I have yet to track down here in Oregon. Must find this plant!

I got the bee! I never get the bee...

They do Echinacea well in this part of the country.

Diverging from the flowers for a moment I discovered a tropical foliage island.

Tetrapanax have an entirely different feel when you're looking down on those big leaves.

Bromeliads in the ground! And who knew Coleus would look so nice with them?

I had that gorgeous Cordyine (on the right) for awhile. Until it died. I don't think it ever even escaped it's houseplant gig to vacation outside for the summer.

What is this bit of loveliness?

Looks like maybe a Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' that's been coppiced. Do they do that?

Looking back at the building we first entered when we arrived.

And out at the vast land to explore.

It was in this garden that I got the sad news that a dear friend's mother had died. I didn't know her well, although I did attend his parent's 50th wedding anniversary and have known him for some 30 years.

The feeling of sadness definitely colored my visit, although where better to get sad news, and work through it, than in a garden?

And a garden with ruins no less!

Like I said, they do Echinacea well here...

Most everyone was heading down this path to see the Korean Bell Garden...

But I really craved a little alone time so I headed off towards that bridge.

Where I could admire the lotus.

And then rejoin the gang for our closing dinner. Will you be "flinging" in Austin this year? I think they have just 5 or 6 spots left! Check out the details here: Austin 2018. Thank you to Tammy and the whole DC Fling crew, you showed us an amazing time!

Weather Diary, Feb 4: Hi 51, Low 33/ Precip trace

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.