Plants. Tools. Art. Experts. Aphrodisiacs. Botanical cocktails.
This show is about as garden-variety as it gets.
The annual five-day Northwest Flower &Garden Show is daily through Sunday at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. This year’s theme is “Romance Blossoms.”
What’s not to love?
The show’s 23 display gardens, 110 seminars by experts and 350 exhibitors are all included in the admission.
Seminars cover garden tips from bedroom to Biblical proportion.
Learn an earful from North Carolina plant expert Helen Yoest, author of “Plants With Benefits: An Uninhibited Guide to Aphrodisiac Plants.” She’ll speak at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14. What better way to spend Valentine’s Day? Well, if you have a better way, she’ll speak again at 11:45 a.m. Feb. 15.
Other speakers include Beth Evans-Ramos, MamaKnowsherCocktails.com blogger on toasting a healthier happy hour; National Wildlife Federation naturalist David Mizejewski; Shirley Pinchev Sidell, expert on Bible gardens; and, of course, our own Ciscoe Morris.
This is the 10th year Susan Browne, of Everett, has created a display garden.
“It’s a really bizarre hobby,” said Browne, owner of Susan Browne Landscape Design. “Every year you find different people and make something new. That makes it fun.”
Her collaborators in the garden are Iron Idiom and Green Touch General Contractors.
The garden is named “Love the Space You’re In.”
It fits with Browne’s artistic statement: “Love must be nurtured, and so must a garden. This garden creates a reciprocal effect as well, allowing its visitors to either rest or stretch their gardening knowledge and experiment.”
The garden has a potter’s cottage, flagstone-based patio with seating and a custom firepit surrounded by colorful flower beds and garden art — and her daughter.
“My daughter, she’s now 14, has grown up with me doing this,” Browne said. “She decided she’s going to be the potter. So she’s going to have her little potting coat on.”
For Sandy Darnold, of Lynnwood, the display gardens are the highlight of the annual show.
“They are inspirational. Mostly it’s kind of dreaming,” Darnold said. “I wander through all the booths. I like looking at all the yard art. There’s a guy who has some metal art I really like, these giant chickens. I bought a giant sun, but I like those chickens. When I have the right place someday, I’m going to get those chickens.”
The show’s new “City Living” area spotlights the use of foliage, containers, art and outdoor furniture to create an outdoor environment for those with limited space.
The floral competition artistry of spectacularly arranged blooms showcases designers and florists.
The Family Farm Center has hands-on activities, with an emphasis on urban farming for all ages. Children can also participate in a show-wide treasure hunt.
Actually, the whole show is a giant treasure hunt.
Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown.
If you go
The Northwest Flower &Garden Show runs daily through Feb. 15 at the Washington State Convention Center, 800 Convention Place, Seattle.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 11, 12, 13 and 14; and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 15. Tickets are $22. A two-day pass is $31 and a five-day pass is $70.
Children 12 and younger are free.
Learn more at www.gardenshow.com.
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