Highlights from the Northwest Flower and Garden Show 2013

I was elated to be able to make the short trip from Vancouver to Seattle to attend the Northwest Flower and Garden Show this year. I was excited for the opportunity to meet some of my favourite garden authors, buy some fabulous goodies, and just get inspired.

And inspired I was. The show was enormous, with a floor of demonstration gardens, multiple vendor markets, a container garden completion, and an endless stream of great speakers. I really couldn’t have asked for anything more. I’m proud to live on this fabulous West Coast (even the chillier Canadian part) where there is a deep love and respect for gardens. Here are a few highlights that I took away from the show that I can’t help but share.

Spring is in the Air

The first thing that greeted me upon arrival was the sweet aroma in the air. I mean the place just reeked with perfume, but in a good way. In the way that says, “Hey Winter, guess what? Yeah, that’s right, it’s me Spring and I’m just around the corner!”

Tulips and crocus and hellebore and narcissus and hyacinth and iris and more and more and more! I’m not sure that I have ever been in a place with so many spring flowers together except, of course, when visiting the tulip farms.

Intriguing Containers

The container garden completion was certainly one of my favourites of the day. No matter how many times I went back, I would find yet another jewel that I hadn’t noticed before.

This little piggy wants succulents.

A favourite of mine, the lion fountain planter with lime green, black, and orange on display.

Well, at least this keeps the periwinkle from taking over the garden…as long as she gets regular haircuts.

Artisan glass was everywhere at the show…a PNW staple.

The Marie Antoinette Mini Garden from Two Green Thumbs Miniature Garden Center was absolutely perfect. It looks like a perfectly landscaped yard but all in a small 3’x3’ spot!

Lawn-less Landscapes

I was happy to see that there was just one landscape plan with a lawn. The rest used creative lawn replacement from full on plantings to hardscape solutions.

Party lovers can light up the night with disco-inspired lighted patio stones…

….or perhaps a a south western theme of gravel and grasses is more your style…

…or riverstones interplanted with flowering bulbs make this landscape welcoming, even if the skull head says “stay away!”.

Water Features Galore

While this isn’t all that new, there didn’t seem to be many gardens WITHOUT a water feature.

Rustic rocks,…

…planted troughs,…

…large containers,…

…concrete leaves,…

…and even a waterfall which the taxidermy pheasant seems to be enjoying.

Vintage and Recycled

This was the first year there was a Vintage Market at the show. Unfortunately is was wayyyy at the back where I would have missed it if I didn’t happen by the area to get my customs documents processed. While I was happy I got the chance to shop it, my camera was nowhere in sight. Monica Hart from La Famiglia Design got fabulous photos though so have a snoop through them.

I was able to capture a few of the treasures around the other parts of the garden though. Like these from the container displays.

Epiphite Delight

I heard that last year terrariums were all the rage, making air plants one of the more popular plants. This year it seemed that the epiphytes had ditched the glass and hung out in all sorts of different ways.

 

I’ve covered only a fraction of what the show had to offer, but these were the themes that really spoke to me. I saw many of the projects that I have on my DIY list and gathered a whole lot more. While my friends and family are bracing snow in the east, I can don some good rain gear and get cracking in the garden. Thank goodness for the mild West Coast weather as I have a lot to get started on!