Spring is coming and this weekend is the 21st annual Northwest Flower & Garden Show at the Washington State Convention Center in Downtown Seattle. The Theme this year is “Sustainable Spaces. Beautiful Places” and unfortunately since it was earlier announced that the NWF&GS is up for sale, this Beautiful Place may not be a Sustainable Space any longer.
The Seattle Times reported in January about the Show closing for good after the last day of this years’ show on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009 unless a buyer is found. It may be unlikely that a buyer will be found given the current economic conditions, so take advantage now, and see the show this weekend. For more on the Northwest Flower and Garden Show which opened Wednesday, Feb. 18th and runs through Sunday Feb. 22nd, check out the official blog, Flora’s Blog.
At the NW Flwower & Garden Show you can see so many ideas for your home and patio at the Display Gardens, shop for fun and practical garden things at the three marketplaces, and learn at the many, many lectures scheduled through out the entire run of the show.
I was given the opportunity (Thanks NWF&GS!) to attend the media preview tour on Tuesday, the day before the show officially opened. I planned on using my Flipvideo camera for the first time to do a video tour and taped a 20 minuet video. Now days later after a lot of technical issues, I have found out the file size is too large to post LOL!
So I am posting some photos instead…enjoy!
Thank you Deborah! Can you send me a large photo by email fo the Provence Inspired Garden, if you have one. I would appreciate it.
Hi ARDELL, I will send you a couple of them….coming in a few moments!
This show is geared for beginning gardeners.
Hi SWRE,
I don’t agree that the NWF&GS is “geared for beginning gardeners”. While there is a lot to educate and inspire people just getting into gardening, the show is just as inspiring for more experienced gardeners as well.
I have been going to the show for over 12 years, with my first year as an absolute novice just before I bought my house, because I wanted a garden, and thought the show would be a great place to learn. In 2003 when I was the manager and a buyer at The Gray Barn Garden Center, and a much more experienced gardener, I enjoyed seeing the ideas and attending the seminars. Even now, though I am not such an active gardener I still go to learn and be inspired….and to shop! 🙂
The display gardens demonstrate ideas that are helpful to all levels with creative plant designs, and new plant introductions, this year a gorgeous new variety of red barked vine maple was in several displays. The seminars are conducted by well regarded, and knowledgble plantsmen and women, many are authors of recent books on plants and gardening.
The Northwest Flower & Garden Show has a lot for everyone!
Update regarding the show, I recieved this information:
“official attendance for the 2009 Northwest Flower & Garden Show was 54,443 — a three percent increase from last year’s attendance of 52,692.” So good news!
Hi SWRE,
I don’t agree that the NWF&GS is “geared for beginning gardeners”. While there is a lot to educate and inspire people just getting into gardening, the show is just as inspiring for more experienced gardeners as well.
I have been going to the show for over 12 years, with my first year as an absolute novice just before I bought my house, because I wanted a garden, and thought the show would be a great place to learn. In 2003 when I was the manager and a buyer at The Gray Barn Garden Center, and a much more experienced gardener, I enjoyed seeing the ideas and attending the seminars. Even now, though I am not such an active gardener I still go to learn and be inspired….and to shop! 🙂
The display gardens demonstrate ideas that are helpful to all levels with creative plant designs, and new plant introductions, this year a gorgeous new variety of red barked vine maple was in several displays. The seminars are conducted by well regarded, and knowledgble plantsmen and women, many are authors of recent books on plants and gardening.
The Northwest Flower & Garden Show has a lot for everyone!
Update regarding the show, I recieved this information:
“official attendance for the 2009 Northwest Flower & Garden Show was 54,443 — a three percent increase from last year’s attendance of 52,692.” So good news!
Great shots! I wish I would have gone as well, but love seeing the pictures:) Thanks!
Deborah, I’ve been meaning to thank you as well… I’ve never gone and hoped to but…. too bad your photos aren’t scratch n sniff! 🙂
Hi Courtney, you’re welcome! I always enjoy going to see the display gardens and of course…there is the shopping! Hopefully there will be a Garden Show next year if a buyer steps in, then you will have the opportunity next year!
Hi Rhonda, LOL! Well, when I took these photos, at the pre-view, there was still a lot of mulch and dirt in the aisle waiting to be swept up, forklifts busily scooting around, frantic last minuet efforts to finish the gardens before the judging, and loud announcements over the PA system informing everyone how many minuets they had left to finish until everyone had to leave the floor so the judging could begin…. So, I was not relaxed enough to “smell the roses! : )
But it was wonderful to be there to preview the display gardens before the NWF&GS began!
Hi Courtney, you’re welcome! I always enjoy going to see the display gardens and of course…there is the shopping! Hopefully there will be a Garden Show next year if a buyer steps in, then you will have the opportunity next year!
Hi Rhonda, LOL! Well, when I took these photos, at the pre-view, there was still a lot of mulch and dirt in the aisle waiting to be swept up, forklifts busily scooting around, frantic last minuet efforts to finish the gardens before the judging, and loud announcements over the PA system informing everyone how many minuets they had left to finish until everyone had to leave the floor so the judging could begin…. So, I was not relaxed enough to “smell the roses! : )
But it was wonderful to be there to preview the display gardens before the NWF&GS began!
The pictures are so beautiful.
When you’re at the show, be sure to check out Seattle Tilth’s garden, “A Family’s Little Farm in the City,
The photos are amazing, very inspiring! I hope the show is up for this year too, i am planing to build myself a garden starting next spring and it would be nice to get few tips from there. Basicaly i want a roses garden, but any suggestion is welcomed!
Hi Sarah,
Yes, the Northwest Flower & Garden Show will be open February 23rd to 27th 2011, and I am excited too about it!
Here is the link: http://www.gardenshow.com/
In addition to the beautiful display gardens, there are tons of free seminars that you can attend to learn more about gardening: http://www.gardenshow.com/scripts/seminars/seminarSchedule.cfm
Very cool that you will be creating a garden this coming Spring, lots of fun (work too) and enjoyment from time spent in your garden. After massive yard & garden clean up (from neglect for the past few years) I am planning on starting a cutting garden with roses myself.
Have fun at the Garden Show and starting your garden!
~Deborah
Hi Sarah,
Yes, the Northwest Flower & Garden Show will be open February 23rd to 27th 2011, and I am excited too about it!
Here is the link: http://www.gardenshow.com/
In addition to the beautiful display gardens, there are tons of free seminars that you can attend to learn more about gardening: http://www.gardenshow.com/scripts/seminars/seminarSchedule.cfm
Very cool that you will be creating a garden this coming Spring, lots of fun (work too) and enjoyment from time spent in your garden. After massive yard & garden clean up (from neglect for the past few years) I am planning on starting a cutting garden with roses myself.
Have fun at the Garden Show and starting your garden!
~Deborah