Spring flower display near the entrance. This is the first floral announcement that we've arrived at the Garden Show. The Annual Pacific Northwest Garden Show is winding down in Seattle. I visited for two days this year. This was my thirty-first garden show. I have attended every one of them. Why do I go back? Certainly the dreams of spring and summer during the cold wet winter are a huge draw. I love seeing all the color and smelling the spring flowers. The seminars are informative. I’ve actually found new products at the show that have made life easier for me. I always buy some chocolate bars from a company in Mt. Vernon. Maybe it’s the chocolate that draws me back year after year.
I really think it is the whole delightful combination of flowers, fragrance, lessons, light, products, music and inspiration that draws me back. I get inspired to think in new patterns. Thinking is hard. Having an event that stimulates so many areas of my brain through all my senses kick-starts my year after semi-hibernating all winter.
I really think it is the whole delightful combination of flowers, fragrance, lessons, light, products, music and inspiration that draws me back. I get inspired to think in new patterns. Thinking is hard. Having an event that stimulates so many areas of my brain through all my senses kick-starts my year after semi-hibernating all winter.
This guy is so perfect for my enchanted garden. He's also very doable.
Poster for the drone that sprinkles zinc granules on the roof. A decent idea for steep roofs in hard to reach places. The product that ticked my sense of humor this year was the drone that sprinkles moss retardant on roofs. My hubby obsesses about moss on the roof. Twice a year we must apply moss killer to the roof. He even fell off the roof applying moss retardant. He really is obsessive about moss on the roof. Our roofs have a zinc strip across them to retard moss but hubby still climbs up there or sends his chore helper up there to apply more moss killer. Okay, I laughed at the drone. Seems like a lot of trouble just to keep moss off the roof.
My friend has a six-inch deep eco-lawn on her roof-all made of different kinds of moss. It grew all by itself and never needs maintenance. I’m not sure our roof will last any longer than the moss covered roof. I laughed at the drone and took the slip of information the sales rep wanted to give me.
I was still laughing over the drone when I got home and told my husband about it. He didn’t laugh. He looked at my pictures and asked questions then filed the precious contact information in his house-maintenance file. Sometime in the next year, we will have a drone flying over our house sprinkling moss killer on the roof. The garden show is life changing.
My friend has a six-inch deep eco-lawn on her roof-all made of different kinds of moss. It grew all by itself and never needs maintenance. I’m not sure our roof will last any longer than the moss covered roof. I laughed at the drone and took the slip of information the sales rep wanted to give me.
I was still laughing over the drone when I got home and told my husband about it. He didn’t laugh. He looked at my pictures and asked questions then filed the precious contact information in his house-maintenance file. Sometime in the next year, we will have a drone flying over our house sprinkling moss killer on the roof. The garden show is life changing.
Here is what the drone looks like in real life. The gray canister holds the zinc granules.
One thing that made the culvert work was the blue lighting on it. Lights would work. With time landscaping would soften this up making the lighting less of a feature. I fell in love with a culvert. This puppy must be six feet tall. I assume it’s real purpose would be for storm water runoff. However, set on it’s side in the garden, it would make a lovely entrance into my enchanted forest. We are really talking about a sewer pipe here-nothing fancy, but with landscaping it could be stunning and define where the road leaves off and the garden begins. Hubby looked at my pictures and commented, “You could plant a pink clematis by it and the flowers would hag down over it making it look like it belongs in the landscape. He’s right. Clematis Montana would be the perfect planting to go with a six-foot tall gray drain pipe sitting beside the driveway.
Another views of the culvert. I really have no idea what the thing is. Part of a septic tank? In my big garden with it's tall trees I need massive accents.
Forte Chocolates Mount Vernon Washington 98273 www.fortechocolates,com One of my favorite products at the garden show is the chocolate make by Forte Chocolates in Mt. Vernon Washington. I can’t say which is my favorite flavor, but the white chocolate with rosemary and pepper is one of my favorites. The Espresso Bean bar has flecks of ground espresso beans in it. They make an orange flavor and a honeycomb bar. I have no idea what the ones with nuts taste like because of my allergy to nuts.
Poor hubby fingered my stash of candy bars wistfully. “I wouldn’t think rosemary and pepper would be all that good.” He’s allergic to chocolate so he’ll never know. I got to thinking about how much I enjoy these weird flavored chocolate bars. Finally, from the depths of my brain, two ideas collided. I could make sugar cookies in my favorite candy bar flavors. I have lots of Rosemary in my yard. We have ground espresso beans. Hubby can get a hint of the wonderful flavors I enjoy in the chocolate bars.
So what keeps me going back to the garden show year after year for thirty-one years? The ideas and the brain stimulation pull me in. I see new ways to do things to make life easier or more fun. The garden show won my loyalty by stirring my sense of creativity.
I loved the depth these windows in the wall gave this display garden. This is a more civilized version of my culvert.
I love whimsical details in the garden and this would go well in my enchanted forest. I thought of it as a suitable home for Mary Nortons Borrowers.
This drew me in. I loved the pink glowing orbs. My enchanted garden needs more soft glowing orbs.
The waterfall. I do have two places with abrupt changes in elevation. I'd love to put in waterfalls. Hubby doesn't want waterfalls that attract our ducks.
A different waterfall. Yes, our ducks would play in this and get it all muddy. Still it is a way more attractive enhancement to elevation changes that the brambles. are.
I was impressed with the drama that can be created in small spaces. We have so many colorful succulents available now.
This is from the gardening in small spaces exhibit. A pallet garden really does work and can produce an amazing number of flowers and vegetables.
Even a small space can be a colorful garden. I love to look at the small space gardens because my acre and a quarter is really just many small spaces that must be complete within themselves and blend into the whole.
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