Northwest Flower & Garden Show: From Game Nights to Barn Frames

Game Night by Washington Assoc of Landscape Professionals (WALP.org)

Game Night by Washington Assoc of Landscape Professionals (WALP.org)

Large chess pieces, board games and ample space to gather, this wonderful outdoor show garden design let everyone imagine a lively summer evening with friends and family. The Northwest Flower & Garden Show becomes a living showcase of ideas to help local home owners imagine what their yard could become.

Captured Nature by GMC Landscapes

It's incredible how the beauty of the Pacific Northwest could be recreated inside a convention center. GMC Landscapes managed to create a waterfall accented with fir trees, fern, moss and rocks and have it look and sound like a weekend hike. It was so peaceful standing right here.

 Backyard Bliss by Wintergreen Landscapes & Nursery & Root of Design

A "contemporary backyard retreat," this modern design brings luxury grilling and entertaining to those that want to extend their design aesthetic outdoors with clean lines and sleek touches. The grand plant chandelier looks both elegant and interesting. I loved how orchids are dangling from each of the containers with wire plants and moss. 

How Much She Loves Us by Jen Szabo Design 

Described as "the central garden structure serves as the ribcage of the home, organizing the space with balanced gardens in every direction offering a blend of public and private realms..."

How Much She Loves Us by Jen Szabo Design 

I find it beautiful how your imagination can fill in the missing parts of the building and complete the image. It makes it personal.

#nwfgs #ilovespring #gardendesign #showgardens #landscapedesign #seattleshow #gardenshow

2024 Northwest Flower & Garden Show: Tremendous Tree Trunk Anchors a Mystical Show Garden

"The Secret Garden" Nature Perfect Landscape

In 2020, Better Homes & Gardens recognized Seattle's Northwest Flower & Garden show as the best flower and garden show in the country. It is truly on a grand scale with 20 show gardens, a collection of City Living gardens designed for apartment or condo living with balcony or patio growing spaces. The show has educational programming and lectures included in your ticket price - the wealth of knowledge available is staggering. The show includes a large retail area where plant specialists of all types create stores to cater to your botanical whims - houseplants, citrus trees, camellias about to bloom, orchids, dahlia bulbs, tiny terrarium plants. The selection is far and wide and you will not know what to do. It's okay. Experts are on hand to talk you through it.

No matter what, you will be inspired. You thoughts will ping pong between  your patio, your kitchen windowsill, your front porch. You may find yourself sketching on a napkin while you're having lunch. Embrace it. And see what your brain does with all of this madness. Plus the shopping for garden-related tools, seeds, fertilizers, art, furniture, pots etc. is staggering. I am going to do my best to give you a glimpse at the magnificent show gardens and a variety of photos to give you a sense of the event over a series of posts. Please do try to attend next year with a garden friend; I know that you will love it. 

The Secret Garden by Nature Perfect Landscaping (also shown in top photo) won the 2024 Founder's Cup award as Best In Show for it's incredible use of a real 15 foot wide and 8 foot tall stump, including a flowing stream and the charming use of fairies and fairy doors throughout the installation. This enormous beautiful natural garden will find a permanent home at Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma. 

You can see the fairies leaping among the real Pearl Oyster mushrooms. Congratulations to Nature Perfect on winning this year's Founder's Cup award.

#nwfgs #natureperfect #founderscup2024 #treetrunkdisplay #gardendesign #fairies

 

Sneak Peek: Seattle Northwest Flower & Garden Show

A darling Instagram-able sign declaring this year's theme

It is February, so that means the Northwest Flower & Garden Show has come to Seattle. This year's theme is "I Love Spring!"

I was honored to judge the show today, so I had a chance to get a sneak peek. 

How Much She Loves Us by Jen Szabo Design

This garden had an optical illusion, allowing your eye to fill in the negative space and see an entire barn.

A Year in the Life of Your Garden by West Seattle Nursery

This mélange of color and texture is sure to make hearts swell.

Artful displays of spring bulbs, hellebores, moss, hyacinth and heuchera. Blooming trees, glorious pine, flowering witch hazel - nature honored.

The Secret Garden by Nature Perfect Landscape & Design

Can you imagine the water flowing down these rocks? You've got to come see it.

A heart on the side of Here Comes the Sun by Devonshire Landscapes

I think your Valentine would love to come walk around and look for ways to bring delight to your space - indoors or out. 

#nwfgs #seattle #plantlove #gardenshow #finddelight #sneakpeek #ilovespring

Shopping the Seattle Northwest Flower & Garden Festival: Brocante Beach House

I fell hook line and sinker for the world Kim & Dino Medica of The Brocante Beach House created at this year's Northwest Flower & Garden Festival. They had a booth in the vintage market section and created a City Living Display named, "Coastal French Cottage." 

I was talking with Kim and she said that they opened their shop on Alki Beach during the pandemic. I told her that we would be sure to visit this Spring when we started visiting the Alki farmer's market again. I can't wait. I mentioned that the mannequin that I had photographed (above) was missing, and she told me that a woman bought it for her daughter who would be wearing it for her wedding on the coast of Oregon this spring! They arranged the whole transaction on the phone from the show and Kim was excited to tell the bride that the dress had been made for the Seattle Opera. How glamourous!

You can see my plate on display (above). I bought two of these gorgeous blue French plates that I can layer in with some of my other dishes. Note to self, plant more medium blue grape hyacinth. They are everything.

I also bought several bundles of pussy willow branches wrapped in brown paper. They were so beautiful and elegant I simply couldn't resist.

"Coastal French Cottage" in City Living section

I absolutely laughed out loud when I read, "I love you. In French" As if she really wants you to know it, and then tags on a way to make it even better. I can see this being used a lot of brilliant ways and I'm here for it. I love the old cloth. I love the block white letters. I love the dirt. It's absolutely great.

It's so great that it took me a while to see the rest of the display. The lion with the hat askew. The cream tin canister planted with blue grape hyacinths. The fact that the dresser has different knobs and pulls all the way down. 

The artist's painting on the easel and a palette smeared with paints - wonderful. A champagne bucket filled with moss -love it. Vibrant double white daffodils sprouting from the cabinet drawer. It all adds up to great visual storytelling.  

#nwfgs #cityliving #springvibesonly 


 

Nature Perfect at Northwest Flower and Garden Festival 2023: Aquaponics in the House

A short video of the stream in action

I want you to really appreciate what Nature Perfect Landscaping & Design created at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival with a show garden inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater including a greenhouse built by Northwest Green Panels. This incredible building puts the beauty of an aquaponics system on display. Aquaponics is a form of agriculture that combines raising fish in tanks while growing plants from the resulting enhanced water. "In aquaponics, the nutrient-rich water from raising fish provides a natural fertilizer for the plants and the plants help to purify the water for the fish."

The fish live in the water inside the greenhouse (above)

Nature Perfect Landscaping designed it so a stream could runs into the green house to a koi fish pond and then that water would flow under the greenhouse floor over to the hydroponic area where plants could thrive on the nutrient-rich water while growing in the greenhouse. It's interesting, creative and a dynamic approach to harnessing the power of byproducts. I almost wish there was an audio narration running inside the greenhouse, as I'm not sure that everyone who toured it understood what they were seeing. Wow. Every elementary school science class should see this as part of a field trip - it opens your eyes to the possibilities and it was built with intention. I loved it.

 The plants are growing hydroponically in the enriched water (above)

 

I was really taken with the beauty and ingenuity of this show garden. The style was true to the Pacific Northwest with the beautiful evergreens, native plants and bronze koi fish sculpture. 

#aquaponics #greehouse #hydroponics #nwfgs #ingenuity 

2023 Seattle Northwest Flower and Garden Festival Show Garden Spotlight

I want to shine a spotlight on a few exceptional show gardens at this year's Northwest Flower and Garden Festival in Seattle. I loved these 2 gardens for their inspirational qualities that urged the viewer to feel transported.

Show Garden: "Evoke Your Inner Yellowstone"

*photo above by Erica Brown Grivas

Show Garden: "Evoke Your Inner Yellowstone" was inspired by the idea of a Yellowstone campsite combined with the luxury of the Snoqualmie Lodge by Method Hardscapes. I loved their interpretation of Montana chic, from the the large canvas tent with a full bedroom outfit made cozy with a Pendleton prints to the soft glow of light coming from the natural antler chandelier. Pour my coffee in a tin cup, I'm staying.

The entertaining area was grounded by a massive pergola and featured cowhide chairs pulled up to a dinner table perfect for a family dinner under the stars. A pot simmered over a "smoking" wood fire and the atmosphere really made me believe that Method Hardscapes understood the Pacific Northwest aesthetic.  
 

Show Garden: Afterglow by Redwood Builders Landscaping and Bonsai Northwest wants viewers to "step into the afterglow of disaster and appreciate the light and life that comes next." The show garden includes charred wood reminiscent of forest fires and the honors the resilience of nature. The square drop water screen was visually dramatic, yet gentle on the ear, which was an interesting juxtaposition. Sculptural bonsai and dramatic rock placement kept attendees standing transfixed. 

The scale and drama of these two gardens made me want to highlight them first. I promise there is more to come! I'll show you more of the show gardens in another post. 

#nwfgs #seattle #gardenshow #finddelight 

My Mom & Seattle Northwest Flower and Garden Festival

It's taking me longer to write blog posts these days. In my mind they burst like firecrackers, but getting them past the keyboard seems to take longer these days.

So I want to stop and tell you that this year, for me, the best part about the Northwest Flower and Garden Show was that my mom could attend. She had a frightening fall last year at this time and I wasn't sure about anything. But here she is, happy and enjoying it all and I am amazed. And thankful.

Dan took the day off work to enjoy the show with us and help with with logistics and we had a really great day.

Can you see us in the mirror? This show garden by Hello Garden and we loved all of her sweet entertaining touches - silverware, plates and platters mixed around her display garden. It was darling. 

Hello Garden added grow lights to this vintage cabinet to create a gardener's dream set up. We could all take a page from her book and do this! Isn't it awesome?

Aren't the plantings beautiful? I must plant coral tulips and white crocus.

My mom insisted I zoom in and photograph just the coral primulas (photo above)

Anyhoo, 11 months ago I was scared to death, yet here we are walking among the flowers and buying seeds to plant this spring. This is the beauty of every day life.

#nwfgs #seattle #gardenshow #plantlovers #springvibesonly

Blooms & Bubbles: Slow Flowers at 2023 Northwest Flowers & Garden Festival

I enjoyed watching Debra Prinzing's Slow Flowers workshop Blooms & Bubbles. Tyra Shenaurlt of the W.W. Seymour Conservatory taught this workshop on building a living arrangement with spring plants. 

Slow Flowers doyenne and author of 10 books and her acclaimed Slow Flower podcast, Debra Prinzing welcomed the thrilled registrants to the plant arranging demonstration and gave a warm introduction to horticulturist Tyra Shenaurlt. 

Everyone seems so very engaged and happy. I think it's great to have additional for-purchase activities for interested attendees at garden shows like this. I would happily plant an herb pot or plant a wire head with succulents on top - it would be fun!
 

The pot, plants and supplies were arranged at each place, along with a pot of dirt to pull from in the center of the table. The attendees listened to each step Tyra explained and then you could hear the swell of chatter and laughter as everyone relaxed and got to it. I think the show would benefit from more workshops like this because everyone really liked bringing the aspirational ideas of the show down into their own two hands. The project wasn't hard, but it was satisfying. And that is what people want, to feel like they accomplished something in a space of time and have something to show for it. Win-win.    

#nwfgs #bloomsandbubbles #slowflowers #finddelight #seattle #indoorgarden

GardenComm Friends at Northwest Flower & Garden Festival

It is such a joy to be able to participate in the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival again this year. I met my dear friends Mary-Kate Mackey (burgandy) and Marinne Binetti (cream) in the press room at this show in 2016. 

Erica Brown Grivas (coral) and I got to know each other through GardenComm at one of our Regional Connect Meetings just a few years ago and we have talked a mile a minute ever since! She is a phenomenal National Director for our GardenComm Region VI, which covers a vast portion of the Western United States and has been so great to work with.

We all missed being able to see our garden industry friends & colleagues during the pandemic and this photo was taken after the 2023 Press Tour - the start of an incredible week in Seattle.

While I was organizing my photographs, I kept noticing this photograph in my garden show pics and thinking that our group shot (above) matched it. You decide, did we dress for...Spring Vibes Only?

#nwfgs  #springvibesonly #finddelight #gardencomm

Northwest Flower & Garden Festival: Succulent Souvenir: Kileen's Garden Boutique

The Northwest Flower & Garden Festival starts Feb 26th at the Washington State Convention Center and in my shopping series, I wanted to spotlight a great booth called Kileen's Garden Boutique.

I had direct experience with them because one of my neighbors made a purchase from their booth and was so happy with it, she asked if I would go back and get her another one the next day. For a price, you receive everything you need to make a complete succulent garden to fill a shape, like a wooden Initial box (represent your last name) or a heart. It is really cute. 

My friend Jenny wanted to give her friend the letter P. I chose 7 small succulents and the shop keeper supplied the moss, potting material (not much more than what is in each pot, if I remember correctly) and everything the recipient needs to plant a little garden. I think this is a great gift.

Be sure to look for this cute booth and consider a succulent souvenir from the 2020 Northwest Flower & Garden Festival 

#nwfgs #succulents #souvenirs #kileensgarden #gardengift #seattle

Northwest Flower & Garden Festival: Spectacular Show Gardens

I want to take a moment and show you a few of the standout show gardens at this year's Northwest Flower & Garden Festival. The show gardens are life size examples of how plants, walls, furniture and landscaping can transform a space. The theme of this year's show was "Gardens of the World."

This first garden (above) was "Notting Hill Modern English Garden" by Folia Horticultural and Design. It was a favorite of mine because I loved the layers of green on green on green. It's hard to see, but there is a fireplace-size curtain waterfall between the topiary trees that adds movement and a calm water element. Love!

This beautiful courtyard garden is "Under the Mediterranean Sun" by Washington Park Arboretum Foundation and designed by Phil Wood, Bob Lilly and Roger Williams. By hanging a spotlight, the team evoked the sun casting shadows through the grape vine draped portico. Bravo. Every element from the colored doors to the Bitter Orange tree bursting with fruit told the story of a hot and quiet afternoon a world away.

  
#nwfgs #seattleblogger #finddelight #mediterranean #gardendesign #landscapedesign #gardenshow #seattle