 The plant that created the most buzz was the Paperbush, Edgeworthia chrysantha grandiflora. It grows to 6ft, Zone 7 to 10, partial shade. The Northwest Flower & Garden Festival, February 2018 The Northwest Flower & Garden is THE place to go for the latest in garden trends, landscape design and new plant introductions. Garden enthusiasts, horticultural gurus, landscape designers, plant collectors and crazy plant nuts, like me, flock to this exciting expo of what is new and exciting in the plant world. This is the 30th year Seattle has hosted this five day event, which is held every February. Gardening is not just celebrated, it is explored, re-imagined re-invented and celebrated. I have linked most of the pictures below to the vendor's and designer's website for your convenience. Just click on the pictures and it will take you to their websites.
This year’s theme; The Garden Party, went beyond pretty teacups nestled among floral finery. All kinds of wonderful plants at their peak of loveliness were used to create competing gardens by the pros. Designers, growers and nurseries brought gardens to life within the walls of the Washington State Convention Center. Twenty professionally designed gardens vied for gold, silver and bronze awards. There were gardens fit for bees, fantastic container garden combinations and ones echoing the Cascade Range. Ancient forests with waterfalls, indigenous plants in natural settings, elegant geometrically designs, winter bloomers, edible landscapes and Zen inspired gardens were part of the contest.
New plant introductions were featured in many of the contestant gardens, as well as many of the over 350 vendors in the Marketplace. One plant that caused quite a stir was the Edgeworthia chrysantha, with its round, drooping flower clusters on leafless stems. This was also the place to grow for mushroom kits, edible plants, miniature conifers and dahlias.
Glass was a huge garden trend. Spirals of vividly coloured vertical glass spires boldly broke through the competing designer gardens. They reminded me of the beautiful and dramatic coloured blown glass of the American glass sculptor Dale Chihuly. There were many vendors that carried these dramatic glass pieces.
It was good to see emphasis on sustainable gardening, urban landscaping, container gardening, biodiversity and food growing by vendors and designers, and the festival's organizers alike. To inspire and educate, 100 free garden and plant related seminars were offered by professional gardening gurus, authors, prize winning landscape designers, horticulturists and naturalists. There were many lovely things to see and buy. It is not for the faint of heart or the light of wallet. For us Canadians, there was a special booth that provided information, documentation and forms to get through Canadian customs. Organizers had thought of everything to make the process easier. Here are some photo highlights of the show. Award winning Garden Designs from the Pros
From the Marketplace
 King Conservation District demonstrated the importance of sustainable gardening, biodiversity and the importance of soil health. Wonderful Plants...
 Necta Zee, a dwarf nectarine, Prunus persica 'Necta Zee' only grows to 6ft.
1 Comment
Jolene Winther
14/4/2019 08:46:52 pm
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