Deb,
I also went yesterday! It was an awesome show, and of course many opportunities to improvise what you saw. I also took lots of pictures and have just spent an hour going through and cropping and resizing them.
I believe it is ok to post pictures identifying where and what they are, giving credit to where the item was seen.
I plan later to put them all in a webshots album for me to look at later.
The show was awesome for sure.
Dena

I am guessing that others went to this show and would love to see and hear what others thought were the highlights.
It has never been my intention to stop the conversation by posting!
Dena

Guess it's just us, Dena.

My favorite was the display garden (Falling Water Design?--Don't have my stuff here with me at work) that had an outdoor kitchen, huge water garden and lots of exotics. I loved the cement bridges that made paths through the water garden. I wanted to sit on one and put my feet in the water (not sure if the koi would have like that). At the back side of that garden was a plant combination with pinks and greys that I'd like to try to reproduce.

What did you think of the garden with the tall column planters (made from long planters, I think) and the willow thrones? I loved those planters! They had wire baskets on the top so they could be planted in the round. I love the idea--it seems like one would need to have drip watering on those to make them grow successfully.

I really liked the narrow stone patio in the back--it reminds me of mine. I took a lot of pictures for planting ideas.

A nice thing about the raised beds (like in the Classic garden) is that it gets ground covers and other low plants that usually go unnoticed up closer to eye level.

I loved the totem with the planter on top.

What were your favorites, Dena?

Deb

Deb,
I loved the green planters that were made into a column. I am sure I know which one you are talking about, the limey green ones!?
I saw the planters at Home depot, and a friend said she saw some very similar at Costco. The columns were made by using one of the large planters and inverting another on top. The bottom one is weighted with sand and there is a 2x4 form inside that holds the top one stable. The whole thing is then caulked together. The planters I saw at home depot were the ones from Viet Nam, and should not be left in an area where they will encounter much freezing. The cost of each planter was 109.00. the topper for the columns were very full and nice big in size. So in my yard it would need to be dismantled in the fall. A grouping of one large colum with a couple of smaller columns would add a spark of interest! I took less pictures than I thought I would.
I was somewhat disappointed that I could NOT walk in most of the gardens. I really liked the toppers on several of the column ideas where there was a planter over the top. I loved the whole recycled area that was done by Seattle Tilth, and the windows to that garden work area that were able to open and close. It all looked like a gigantic erector set for the window planters. The toppers of grasses on that peice were heavy plastic milk cartons sitting on top of marine plywood. The metal rims that surrounded the top were off of a job site that the Tilth came in contact with. The person tending that garden said that they were either going to re-set that up in Seattle somewhere or it would be auctioned off, which she said was something that apparently happens to several of the displays. Oh to have any of those gigantic rocks!!!! in any one of the displays.
I also liked the water falls, and granite plynths with the holes through, my preference is for a more soothing soft sound. The garden with the concrete panels behind the bbq looks like something that would be easy to re-create, and I have notes for other panels that I saw as well. There were several things that could be re-created in just about anyones yard. The toppers pieces to most would need tending with a long water wand or a soaker hose laid in the top and then a hose attached every so often to keep the setting moist. I did notice that many of the plantings on top were drought tolerant grasses rather than mossy type plants.
I will try to get all my pic onto my webshots this week.
Dena

Lucky both of you! I really really wanted to go this year but I had to work. URGH I would LOVE to see pics.

I loaded almost all of my pics into a webshots album.
If it takes you to the front page of my albums the
album titled Northwest Flower and Garden is the one you want, it is on the second page of my albums.
And yes the things that would relate to hypertufa are last.......I have a couple other pics and just need to edit before posting those
Dena

Here is a link that might be useful: behind the fence

Wow, thanks Dena for showing the pictures!! Nice to be able to see some of what I missed. Now waiting for Deb's pictures.... nope, not a bit bashful here! :o)
Joyce

LOL, I'll load them into my webshots album when I get home. I've got to warn you though, I filled up my entire memory stick and then every floppy I had in my camera case.

Deb

Wonderful pics ~ thanks for sharing!
I'm looking forward to seeing more! ;)

Dena, your pictures are wonderful! You seem to have managed the lighting better than I did. Many of mine are kind of dark.

It's going to take me more time than I thought to label my pictures and put them into my album. I haven't been able to figure out how to re-label them and reorganize them after I get them in there.

It's interesting that we found (mostly) different subjects to zero in on.

Deb

Deb,
I think that really is the uniqueness of each garden and art style around. When I was young(er) (a loooooooong time ago and in school) I dreaded the thought that I would have to produce some piece of art, ANYTHING! I could sew, but back then that was utilitarian, not artistic.
Time tends to soften even the most hard core, me. Art, or design, is what is of interest to you/me. There really was a lot to see there. I did not feel really comfortable taking many pictures in the market place, but the display gardens were there to glean ideas from. I also did not know how I would organize them, but had my file of pics minimized, so I could pull them up beside while I was putting things on. I actually have the names of most of the plants of interest although I did not have it handy at the time I was putting them onto webshots.
I also look forward to seeing your pictures, and yes it was DARK in many of the places.
Dena

Thanks for letting us see your photos. I'm glad you had a good time.

WOW!!!!!! Now that is what I call a flower show. I went to the Kansas City Mo. flower show Sunday and as usual it was lousy, nothing but a bunch of venders. The promotors of it needs to go to seattle and check it out and take lessons.

Groovey

Wow, wonderful pictures. THank you so much for sharing them!

Angie

what size is the blue egg-shaped sculture?

...and where her sculptures heavy or light? Could you post or email me her name? I love her work and would like to see if she has a website. Thanx

I found her name, and went to the website, however the mosaic egg and spheres are not there. Perhaps someone would e-mail her and ask a little more about the tiles on the spheres. The art work on her website does not show the tiles that were used on the spheres, rocks, and some other things at the show.
Elaine Summers is the woman's name.......

Here is a link that might be useful: Elaine Summers artist

I finally had time to label photos and load them into my Webshots album; trying to get them into a meaningful order but notice that a few are misplaced. Hope I don't have anything mislabeled!

Backyard Bamboo oasis photos are missing--they were too dark, although I did try to include the cool column fountain they did with layers of cement. Their website is www.BambooGardensWA.com if anyone is interested.

Pour yourself a cup of coffee and set the album on slideshow but for Pete's sake, don't set the pictures to show longer than 5 seconds--you'll be looking at it all day!

Deb

Here is a link that might be useful: NW Flower & Garden Show 05

Well Deb, it was worth waiting for!!! I'm only on the 4th picture and lovin' it. I'll probably have to wait until lunch to look at the rest but it's something to look forward to. You going to the Portland show next weekend? Oh wait, I do have a digital camera now, so maybe I should learn how to do this and repay the favor!
Joyce