Winning Gardens

Each year at the Northwest flower & Garden show and the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show a panel of local judges presents an award of behalf of Pacific Horticulture to the display garden that “…best demonstrates the regional nature of design utilizing appropriate plants and support of environmental conditions.” As we are wont to repeat: Beautiful gardens connected to the world around us.

These shows are one part garden, one part theatre, and altogether magical coming together as they do in the late winter, and—oh, by the way—indoors!

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

Birds do it, Bees do it…

2015 NWFG show Pacific Horticulture award-winning garden created by West Seattle Nursery.

With an overall show theme of “Romance Blossoms”—after all, it was Valentine’s Day weekend—I guess the reference was inevitable.  The designer’s intention of creating a wildlife-friendly habitat and pollinator haven was executed in a brilliant display of color and creative repurposing.

Over the course of the 5-day show enthusiastic crowds of smiling gardeners flocked around the relatively small display, avidly scribbling notes and no doubt harvesting many takeaway ideas for their home landscape: winter blooming plants for early season pollinators, insect hotels and bee boxes, water and shelter for wildlife, and more. Like a good idea, a kind gesture, or a spring-struck bumblebee covered in pollen, our team of judges felt this garden packed a powerful message that was sure to spread throughout gardens and neighborhoods in the Pacific Northwest.

Transformation

2015 SFFG show Pacific Horticulture award-winning garden created by Clearwater Designs.

The judges were especially impressed with this garden’s  ability to transport visitors to another place through its atmospheric planting and adept storytelling. Designers Nathan Beeck and Juan Chavez use of running water, a dense canopy, and myriad details created a world far removed from the—let’s face it—sometimes hectic environment that is an indoor flower show.

“Inspired by the book “Where the Wild Things Are,” our garden is a transformation through Hugelkultur techniques, water purifying bogs and the conversion of the familiar living environment back into nature.” Twinkly deep blue lights and a bed tucked in among fallen logs and root wads in a lush understory planting completed the fantasy of a life lived in the garden. Let the wild rumpus begin!