Northwest Flower and Garden Show - Part 2

Here is part 2 of the Northwest Flower and Garden Show.  I've seen a few posts by other bloggers and have enjoyed seeing what they saw, showing things I missed and their take on the show.  So far it seems that everyone has loved it.  I know more garden bloggers will be attending over the next few days and I can't wait to see what you thought about it and your pictures.
Continuing on the "Once Upon a Time..." theme here are a few more gardens.  There are quite a few display gardens that aren't pictured in either post, as well as smaller displays, container gardens, orchids and bonsai displays.

"Rain, rain, go away...P.S. Come again!" by Artistic Garden Concepts and Van Zanten Landscapes is a formal rain garden.  The rain chains were made from colored bottles that feed into underground drainage systems that will fill up the pond area in the center as it rains.

One of the living arches.

"Alice in Wonderland" by Innovative Landscape Technologies was probably my kids favorite.  There was so much detail right down to the painted floors which led through the display.

The white rabbit in his fancy cage surrounded by Hyacinths.

The tea party scene.

The Queen of Hearts at the entrance to "Alice's Labyrinth" by Cedar Grove Composting.

"Stepping Through a Timeless, Tranquil Forest" by Kinssies Landscaping had huge trees and boulders that felt very much like the Northwest.  This was one of those displays where I wondered how in the world they got everything in and set up.  Really beautiful!

"Once Upon a Thyme" by Wight's Nursery

Another visitor told us these bags the strawberries are growing in are oat bags that are used to feed horses.

Toadstool table and stools were probably the Littlest Gardener's favorite thing in the whole show.  We had to go back to look at them a few times.

"Run Little Pigs, Run" by Susan Browne Landscape design was very fun with lots of creativity. This is the straw house, of course there was a house made of sticks and one of bricks as well.

The Big Bad Wolf's house was in the tree stump to the left.  You had to get down on your hands and knees to peer inside.

"The Frog Prince with 'greenstyle' " by WALP King County Chapter.

The kids play area with a theme of "Charlotte's Web" was so cute.  Lots of projects for kids to do.  All those galvanized containers will full of real vegetables for the kids to put in toy wheelbarrows and cart to different parts of the area.  On the weekend they will have live entertainment for the kids as well.

Of course we couldn't leave empty handed.  A few Daylilies that will be planted in the bed along the driveway.

 A stone bunny for the vegetable garden, a rooster stake made of recycled metal and my husband's new tool called a hoe-dag.  It reminds me of a mini pick-ax.

We ended up with a couple of inches of snow last night and we started painting our picket panel sections in the garage today.  My husband is still determined to get this project finished this weekend no matter what the weather.  We'll have only more weekend after this one to hopefully have it all wrapped up before his family arrives for a visit.  As of right now it's really snowing, hoping this is the last of it this winter.
Here's your last chance to enter the giveaway too.  Click here to enter.  The winner will be announced later in the day on Friday.

Northwest Flower and Garden Show - Part 1

After a full day of enjoying the Northwest Flower and Garden Show all I know is that I'm inspired!  The theme this year was "Once Upon a Time..."  We spent about 6 hours there, and definitely could have spent another full day to enjoy more of the gardens and hear some speakers.  Our whole family went and even the Littlest Gardener who is only 4 found something fun to look at in every garden.  In each display garden there is a pig hidden, some were quite difficult to find, but having something to keep the kids actively interested was a brilliant idea by whoever came up with it.
I thought I would split this into a couple of posts since there is no way I could narrow it down to just a few pictures.  There were so many great ideas, even my husband had his phone out to take pictures of things he thought he might want to try.

"Paradise (to be) Regained ...borrowing from Thoreau" was designed by a high school senior for her senior project.  It was just amazing and she had all sorts of things that were "re-characterized" used materials for the garden.  There were street names of well known Seattle streets on and in the house. 

All drought tolerant plants in the garden with crushed gravel paths.  In the background you can see two old radiators used as the entry.   This garden got one of our votes for people's choice award.

Another favorite was "A Day Well Spent" by Christianson's Nursery & Greenhouse.  It was meant to represent the charm of old small family nurseries.

Inside the cute potting shed.

A small greenhouse on wheels full of seedlings.

We spent a lot of time at this one, it was just full of inspiration.

"Wind in the Willows:  A River Odyssey" was done by a favorite from previous garden shows; Fancy Fronds.

Love the daisies in the grass!

Blown glass Cat tails in front of the river.

"Life's Journey in a Garden" by Plantswoman Design had a lot of dark/black plants and golden foliage.  The colors were very striking together.

I love the rusty grid that was turned into a raised planter.

"Wish Shoe Were Here"  by APLD, Washington Chapter.  Can you see the shoe?

I'll share another post with a few more of the display gardens.  Of course it's hard to walk through a garden show without buying anything and there were so many vendors there I could've spent 2 days just looking at what was for sale.  There was also a really nice kids play area with the theme of Charlotte's Web.

By the time we arrived home the snow started and now the streets are white.