Flower facts
Published 8:01 am Friday, February 29, 2008
While the East coast is blanketed in snow, spring will come early to the Northwest, in the form of the region’s annual floral extravaganza, the Northwest Flower &Garden Show.
In its 16th year, the show presents new ideas and inspiration for the gardening public — and lifts the spirits of those just happy to stroll among the fragrant blooms for a few hours. Here are some highlights:
Show gardens: Designed by top regional landscape designers, nurseries and plant-lovers, the 27 full-sized display gardens offer a wealth of gardening creativity. This year’s gardens explore a variety of concepts, including a celebration of the botanical discoveries during the Lewis &Clark expedition 200 years ago, an urban garden that illustrates how to harvest rainwater, a dog-friendly woodland garden, a backyard playground for grown-ups and an edible garden that promotes “Plant a Row for the Hungry.”
Container garden exhibition: Currently one of the most popular ways to garden, container design is the focus of a new display. Visit the convention center’s skybridge where 20 professional designers present a wide array of innovative plantings for container gardens.
Seminars: The ever-popular seminar series brings more than 100 seminars and hands-on workshops, free with admission to the flower show. International, national and regional gardening experts will speak on topics ranging from color design and chemical-free rose growing to garden touring and pruning tips.
For those who have endured long waits to gain entrance into some of the more popular speakers, the flower show has established a new “no lines” policy: You can obtain a pass to each seminar in the Rainier and Hood rooms, the two larger lecture halls. Given on a first-come, first-served basis, the passes will be available at the seminar room an hour before the presentation. The pass holds a seat up to 10 minutes before the beginning of a lecture. See www.garden show.com for more details.
Other features: “America’s Poetry of Nature” readings with Steve Lorton, Sunset’s Northwest bureau chief, who will recite his favorite poems about nature and gardening; the orchid display; the Ikebana demonstrations; the florist competition in the show atrium; and small-scale gardens created by area schoolchildren. The Washington Federation of Garden Clubs will stage a 5,000-square-foot flower show of themed floral arrangements and horticultural displays. High school student designers are participating in a “Funky Junk” display of gardens that incorporate throwaway stuff.
