Sleetless in Seattle
(a preview of the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show)
While it was pouring down buckets of rain and hail last week, I decided to go someplace where the sun was shining - Seattle. Yes, that's right- Seattle. I boarded a plane at 6 AM under torrents of rain and that threatened to whirl me off to Oz, still clinging to my Kew Garden umbrella. One hour and 20 minutes later, I stepped off to beautiful spring weather, and 2 days at the most phenomenal garden show I have ever attended. The Northwest Flower and Garden Show is in it's tenth year, and everyone in the entire Northwest who has ever even briefly awed at a petal or leaf goes to this show. Housed in the Seattle Convention Center, a marvelous architectural backdrop, the show encompasses two floors of fabulous garden displays. I am not talking about a home show type of patio with an arbor, a few bedding plants and a cool gas barbecue. Some the West's finest landscape designers recreated the entire forest, or grandma's yard, including the house and the vintage car- even the horse in one design.
The aroma of Hyacinths, and Viburnum permeated the air. The splendorous trees of the northwest just in bud, or breaking into bloom against fields of blooming bulbs, Hosta, Astilbe, and Witch Hazel blended into seamless displays. Distinguishing reality from skilled deception was only realized looking around to see the masses of people, and looking up to see the towering trees scraping the ceiling among the lights. Sheer artistry!
Sensory overload became apparent; I went to the one of dozens of free seminars sponsored by Sunset. I was one of the lucky ones to get in to hear Rosemary Verey speak. She took us through a slide tour of some of the most fabulous English Gardens, taken from a TV series on BBC2 in 1996. As expected were lushly planted gardens, parterres, stone walls, ancient statuary, and tranquil ponds and reflecting pools. In this showing of 80 slides, one group stays in my memory. Like on an aptitude test-which one does not belong in this group. This one garden had a replica of a full sized dinosaur standing in front of the mansion. Ms. Verey said-"oh no, this just won't do", and had the gardeners move it off to the woodland where now, as you walk down the path, you cross through a beam which causes Daisy the dinosaur eyes too light up. Also on this property is a bright red, English-style, telephone box out in the woods with a mannequin (Aphrodite, we're told) inside making a call. Whose garden is this? Sir Elton John's, Woodside, Old Windsor, Berkshire, of course. I wonder if there was a yellow brick road? We saw none of that sort of frivolity at the Highgrove House owned by HRH, The Prince of Wales.
The theme of the show was "The Way We Were". What this means for us in California is the "way we will be." The professional staff who produces the "Northwest Flower and Garden Show" is for the first time producing the San Francisco show. The "San Francisco Garden Show" is next month, March 26th through 29th, so mark your calendars now. For many years the show was produced by the "Friends of Recreation and Parks of San Francisco"- a strong, largely volunteer effort that has raised millions for the preservation and restoration of parklands throughout San Francisco. The proceeds for the show will still go to the "Friends", but the show will be produced under new direction. The net result is a show that will be three times bigger and better for us. The event has been moved from the very lovely but way too small Fort Mason to the Cow Palace. Although we will miss the picturesque setting of Fort Mason, once you pass through the doors, you are swept away. More local designers than ever are showing their mettle this year. We will see gardens inspired by Napa Valley wine country, a canoe through Provence, gardens of grays and yellows, an Alpine paradise, a serene scene sculpted of rock, water and turf, and many more. The gardens are only limited by the imagination, which there seems to be no lack of amongst our eclectic group of designers.
For the first time, there will be an Orchid show, most of which are for sale as well. This was a very big hit in Seattle with people walking away with precious packages of paradise on a stem. A group of miniature gardens will be on display. Any of you out there who do miniature dollhouses should perk up at this. You may want to enter one into competition. Children's gardens will be featured as well. They are created in an area the size of a flat- about 18"X18". Gardeners as well as gardens are cultivated, and this is an arena where kids can boast of their successes along side the adults. The American Society of Botanical Artists will show their artwork in a one of a kind exhibit. Floral arrangers will use imagination and flowers to convey a message to the viewer. An array of garden vignettes, displays created in an 8X8' space showcasing window boxes, entryways, small gardens, and interiors as windows into the garden, or becoming the garden it's self.
This is going to be a garden shopper's heaven. The Marketplace is comprised of countless artisans, plant nurseries and growers, garden centers and garden galleries. There will be no lack of inspiration once you've spent the day there. Plan on a full day to take advantage of the speakers- Rosemary Verey will be speaking again, as well as four full days of many other experts and authors. For additional information check the garden show web page at www.gardenshow.com.
Carol de Maintenon is a member of Garden Writers of America and owner of Benicia Garden & Nursery.
