It's More Than Just Putting Plants In a Pot

Artisan's Cottage had a life-like container garden.



Red Lion Hotel had some flashy container gardens in front of their lobby.


With the memory still fresh from one of the best garden shows I've EVER BEEN TO, I wanted to point out that the Northwest Flowers and Garden Show was a beacon for those in search of great container plantings.
I love Molback's Nursery!
And, y'all, I'm just getting started! Check back soon to see my newest interest - fairy gardens!

Dreaming of Summertime

Summer shade...
Autumnal fuschia, Chocolate lysimachia, begonia, cordyline, acalypha (copper leaf plant)

Listen To The Music in the WaterGardens at NWFGS

These containers were made out of recycled milk jugs.



Containers with drum covers that play as drips fall overhead.

Teach a Little, Learn a Lot

Last week was Seattle.
Off to the wild, wild west to TAME ME SOME CONTAINERS! Yeah, I wrassled up a group of folks, corralled them into the listening pen, and branded their minds with container gardening pictures and ideas.
But, whoa there Silver, this ol' cowgirl still had time to lasso up some new ideas in that big ol' saloon they called a Coonvenshun Center. Now y'all gather 'round and I'll show ya what's got me singing round the campfire...Just go into the woods for some rustic planters.


And luscious foliage planters with an artsy vibe.

The power of one plant in a pot.

And some of the mighty fine handy work of Seattle's own Personal Garden Coach and Container Gardening Superstar, Christine Salwitz.

Christine is holding the breathtaking artwork of photographer David Fishman.

Unsuspected Surprises In Seattle

The notes were a tease as we shuffled our way through the crowds at Pike's Market in Seattle. Having spent the last few days enamored by bodacious garden displays, my friends Kylee Baumlee and her mom Louise Hartwig and I adventured to the legendary Pike's Market to experience another kind of sensory assault of tastes, color, smell, and sound. We had enjoyed several street musicians along the way - many quite good - but the piano music that was coxing us along was exceptional.
Maybe it was the flying gloved fingers that made the magical music so arresting.
Or the rolling miniture, well-tuned piano and lyrical music that seemed so out of sink with the old kitchen stool, the wooden foot stool, and the wild-haired musician that kept me mesmerized for so much longer that I would have imagined.

The theme of the Northwest Flower and Garden Show was 'A Floral Symphony'. What a treat to find the music spilling out onto the streets below!

Brief Reflections from Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Tonight I'm back at home after a 5 day whirlwind trip to Seattle to teach about container gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, to catch up with garden writing buddies, to listen to some fabulous seminars from folks like Helen Yost, Rebecca Sweet, MaryAnn Newcomer, Jessica Bloom, and David Perry, to visit with my darling niece Paige & introduce her to my plant nerd world, and to be inundated with ideas from the gardens of displays and hundreds of vendors. Here are few teasers - they'll be more after I rest up!

Northwest Flower and Garden Show - Starts Today

Here's a sneak peak at some of what you'll see and hear about in my container gardening talk tomorrow!