Thinking Outside the (Recycled) Box

 

Recycling, reusing, repurposing… it’s not just a fad. It’s a way to life for some garden designers who strive to breathe a second life into an unimaginable array of ‘stuff.’ Someday perhaps our landfills will disappear, as everyone catches on and reuses their stuff in new and exciting ways in their homes and gardens.

Here are a few ideas from past Northwest Flower & Garden Show display gardens and container exhibition (now called the ‘Small Space Showcase’) that will spark your own creativity to reuse and repurpose items that might be destined for the dumpster.

(Above) Pamela Richards settled an old vintage bed into her black and white garden she created for the 2005 garden show.

 

In 2009 Adam Gorski Landscapes used an old white table and two fire engine red 50’s style chairs to go with the shiny red of a vintage Mustang and a red coral back maple.

Exteriorscapes planted this classic claw-foot tub, put it in front of some used windows and set it on a checkerboard pebble mosaic, with a planted chair and rug for a cozy washroom scene in the 2010 garden show.

Christianson’s Nursery always excels in creating the nostalgic look. Here their 2011 garden was reminiscent of family nurseries of yesteryear, with a barn built with old weathered wood.

Courtney Goetz of the Creative Gardener designed these gabion walls in the entry to her 2011 garden, using old wire, wine bottles and topping them with street covers.

Another scene from Courtney’s 2011 garden, where an old shipping container serves as a garden house, topped with a greenhouse made from old window doors.

DIG Floral & Garden used old crates to make the containers in their container garden at the 2011 show. We’ll never go back to boring plastic pots again.

Molbak’s created this greenhouse using vintage windows in funky colors for their 2011 container garden on the sky bridge.

More recycled materials in another garden by Pamela Richards, where she combined an old rusted screen as a backdrop that blends perfectly with the rusty antique bench.

For their 2011 container garden, Windmill Gardens planted their container garden by recycling metal containers and wood, and maybe even an old gardener!

Likewise, in 2012 Artisans Cottage brought in many kinds of repurposed items to create an old-fashioned vignette. ‘Mother Earth’ was popular with show attendees as she took a break from her gardening activities.

In 2012 Artistic Garden Concepts designed a lush garden with a romantic setting, using an old pallet with wooden legs for a candlelight dinner. Do try this at home.

Tumwater’s Black Hills High School students found use for these lovely rusted old wheels (probably made well before they were born) for their ‘Funky Junk” garden at the 2012 show.

This container garden by Ravenna Gardens shows that any old glass container can be turned into a beautiful terrarium – the ultimate easy care garden for inside or outdoors.

Even old pianos can have a new life with their top planted, as shown by the imaginative people at Sunnyside Nursery.

Last year Native Root Designs and WSNLA created this dramatic black and white checkerboard garden with two vertical pieces made from old pallets serving as focal points.

Lovers of all things vintage will love to know we’ll have a Vintage Garden Market at this year’s show. We’re bringing in a dozen of the top vintage/antique vendors from around the state and putting them together in the North Hall for a fabulous shabby chic ‘flea market.’

The Northwest Flower & Garden Show, to be held February 20 – 24 at the Washington State Convention Center, will feature 23 amazing show gardens plus 16 Small Space Showcase gardens. Designers are putting on their finishing touches, and you are sure to see a lot more imaginative ideas for recycling and repurposing. Don’t miss it! ~ Janet

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Garden Gallery Showcases Artists’ Imaginations

Last year the garden show brought back the popular feature, “My Garden Gate,” an exhibit of hand-crafted gates from both regional and out-of-state artists. The gates were made from a wide variety of materials, and included many imaginatively repurposed items. This year we’re giving the exhibit a new twist with “Garden Gallery” which will feature garden seating (chairs and benches) and birdbaths.

Bob Bowling Rustics in Langley on Whidbey Island, a new exhibitor at the show, and entered the gate competition last year. He’s going to the birds this year, creating the ultimate in bird watching with a one-of-a-kind chair. Titled, “A Better View,” the piece mimics a lifeguard chair, but is equipped with the bird lover in mind. The charming, rustic structure, like all of Bob’s pieces, is handmade entirely from reclaimed and recycled materials, and will add a touch of whimsy to the garden. It is a delightful and functional piece of artwork for serious or aspiring Birders, or just those who love the idea of something eclectic in their garden sanctuary. You could really catch the bird action in this chair.

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Design a Garden – Week 9 Garden Art

This week we are voting on a piece of art to be in our “Here Comes the Sun” garden at the 2012 Northwest Flower & Garden Show. Last week voters chose the celadon containers from Swansons that will be in the garden. This was a close vote! The celadon containers barely edged out both the black and the terracotta containers. (Remember – every time you vote you can enter our Grand Prize drawing.)

 

The hardscapes from Marenakos Rock Center will be Montana Bronze Flagstone, Sockeye Quartzite Flagstone and Montana Slate Ledgestone. The garden will be mulched with SteerCo™, an excellent soil condition from Sawdust Supply. (All are available for viewing at these companies.)

 

Choosing just the right garden art to enhance a garden can be harder than it looks. (For some great ideas on how to choose garden art, be sure to catch Helen Yoest’s seminars, “Express Yourself!” on Wednesday and Thursday at the show.) Our readers chose plants typical of a Northwest garden, including Mahonia, Vaccinium, Rhododendron and Calluna, so the plant palette and hardscape should be considered when thinking of a piece of art for a focal point. Readers choose Design B  which has a nice patio seating area.

 

Brad Siebe, President and General Manager at Swansons Nursery, has selected three different kinds of art: A contemporary metal kinetic sculpture, a collection of studio art glass, and a more functional, earth-toned bird bath. Given what our readers have already selected, which do you think would look best in our show garden? You can stop by Swansons to see them yourself, and while you’re at it, visit with the reindeer!

 

Note that the actual pieces may vary from what is pictured here. When designing a garden, sometimes things change as it all is pulled together. Designer Lloyd Glasscock, of Looking Glass Design, is teaming with Terra Firma Hardscapes for the installation. As they both know from building a show garden in under 90 hours – stuff happens!

 

ART CHOICE A
The contemporary stainless steel sphere garden spikes are flexible and have a nice kinetic effect from the wind. They are single stems and can be used singly or in groups either in pots or in the ground for a clean modern accent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ART CHOICE B
The studio art glass is from the Seattle area and comes in a wide array of styles from contemporary to traditional forms and also in a rainbow of colors. Globes, squizzles, leaves, flower forms, or bowls are some of the different styles of glass garden art that could be utilized. Final selection could be chosen based on the final color scheme and other components of the garden. These are all stake-mounted and can be used individually, or clustered together in the garden or used in pots as decorative accents.

 

ART CHOICE C
Birdbaths are both functional and decorative and these can be in several colors other than the dark walnut as shown. They come in Antique Gray, Copper Patina, Terra Cotta, and Weathered Bronze. The Regency is a very classical design whereas the Prairie style is more Mid-Century Modern to contemporary.

 

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

 To vote, go to the voting page on our website. Every time you vote, give us your email address and you are automatically entered to win our “All That Jazz” grand prize – 2 nights lodging, 4 tickets to the show, $250 cash to spend at the show and more!  ~ Janet

 

 

Seattle Garden Blogger’s Fling – Day 2

Day 2 dawned bright and early as I headed over to Jessi Bloom’s house for our carpool. Jessi’s little farm in the city is near my South Snohomish County house, and certainly has far more interesting life forms. I got to meet her chickens and her new little duck. Andrea and Jayme hopped in the back seat and we cruised down to the Silver Cloud Inn.

The first stop for the gaggle of bloggers was the garden of Christopher and Michelle Epping, perched high atop a hill in Newcastle on the Eastside. As we crossed Lake Washington on the I 520 bridge Mount Rainier was visible through a slight haze, so all the locals pointed out our pride-and-joy geological landmark to our out-of-town guests (factoid: it’s the tallest mountain in the lower 50). Once we were on the Eastside, we drove up, up and up to Newcastle, finally arriving on a residential street with sweeping views of the Seattle skyline and the Olympic Mountains beyond, where Christopher met us with one of his two Maltese in tow.

I first met Christopher and Michelle in the summer of 2006, when they entered the Pacific Northwest Gardens Competition, which I chaired for ten years on behalf of the Arboretum Foundation, the Seattle Times and the Northwest Flower & Garden Show. Their garden won third prize in the competition that year (out of over 120 gardens) and they were featured in Pacific Northwest magazine. That’s quite a feat for a garden that only began in 2001, as a blank slate, with only the lawn and patio in place. It’s easy to see that they have been become true hortiholics, and often share their garden for clubs and organizations. They have a mutually agreed upon division of labor – Christopher says he likes to buy the plants, and then Michelle finds a way to put them together. She obviously has an artist’s eye for doing so.

Christopher and Michelle have completed many more projects since I last saw their garden. There’s a very steep hill at the rear of their property, and back in 2006 the landscaping was on hold, since they did not know what was going to happen when the house was built on the lot behind them. Now that construction is complete, they have planted in pockets so that the plants spill down the face of the slope.  They used a special soil in the planting pockets for erosion control that sticks better to slopes, available from Hendrikus Organics.

Also new were an iron railing on the edge of a steep stone staircase, created by Elijah Burnett of Burnett Forge. Elijah won the “Best in Show” for his hand-forged garden gate in the My Garden Gate Exhibition at the 2011 Northwest Flower & Garden Show, which is where Christopher and Michelle met him. The railing has wonderful detailing, with flowers and curlicues, and at the base it has “roots,” as if it is growing right out of the ground.

Another new addition is a beautiful bench below the stone water feature from Hidden Springs Design, also an exhibitor at the garden show. And they have added a sweet new potting shed at the side of their garden, surrounded by lavish containers and whimsical art glass baubles, and a new massive open trellis, in a sunburst pattern, to help shade their patio. Here and there they have added decorative garden lights by Stone Manor Lighting, which they also found at the garden show. (I think it’s safe to say that Christopher and Michelle were really doing their best to help the economy at last February’s garden show.)

We tore ourselves away from the fantastic view and headed on down to sea level, across Bellevue and over to Medina. Our Fling organizers promised us that “Denise Lane’s garden will wow you and feed you, spirit and soul”, and they were so right. Her one-acre garden, nurtured over many years, has been a real labor of love and a deeply needed source for Denise’s spirit and healing. Where to start to describe this memorable garden?

There’s a bit of everything in Denise’s garden, but it doesn’t succumb to “oneitis” as many collectors’ garden do. Instead, it all melds together, and Denise has carefully situated the many elements where they would be most at home. There are sunny perennial beds, a large bog area nestled into woodlands, and a 10-ton rock from Marenakos Rock Center, now surrounded by lush plantings with a more intimate seating area behind it. I first saw this rock a few years ago shortly after Marenakos delivered it. Denise was looking for a rock “with presence” so it wouldn’t disappear in the garden. It looked humongous sitting on top bare soil. Now it has settled into its new home beautifully, and you can almost miss it nestled amongst the sweeps of plants that surround it. Perfect.

One of my favorite spots is a water feature, dubbed “The Ruin,” that is a circular raised cement pond, with seven tall colored-cement columns and a large drippy cement gunnera leaf, hand crafted by local artists Little and Lewis, of Bainbridge Island. Ferns, hosta, yew and ornamental grasses surround it. It was carefully sited to be viewed from inside the house.

We enjoyed another excellent box lunch on Denise’s plaza, a former pickle-ball court, now transformed into a contemporary work of art, with deep terracotta-painted cement accented with bold lines of black Japanese rock. A long, rectangular fire table is there to warm guests on cooler evenings, but we definitely didn’t need that on our rare Seattle summer day. Next to the new plaza is a full kitchen and a garden shed. Heaven!

After lunch our next stop was at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, a 53-acre garden with woodlands, wetlands, meadows, an alpine rock garden, a water-wise garden, and a woodland-style Japanese garden. The show-stopper was the recently renovated NPA Perennial Border, which cuts a wide, vibrant swath across from the visitor’s center and the lawn.

The Border was designed by the acclaimed local designers Charles Price and Glenn Withey, who are also  the curators of the Dunn Gardens, where we visited the first day of the Fling. Once one massive, impenetrable herbaceous border, about 18 years old, it has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past three years. It is now a mixed border bisected with strolling paths and two grand staircases, all the better to get up close and personal to the plants in the collection. The perennials and shrubs have become established enough that I could clearly see the designers’ intent: a plant palette that jumps from bed to bed, as a slowly changing kaleidoscope of color changes from bold yellows and reds at the south end to cool silvery blues at the north end.

I know that Glenn and Charles have been bedeviled by the marauding bunnies and deer devouring many choice plants. They have come up with some very attractive fencing to help protect the most vulnerable plants and young trees. The new Border is also a lesson in what the deer and bunnies don’t eat. (It’s just too bad the deer can’t read 50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants, by Ruth Rogers Clausen, a new Timber Press book that was in our Timber Press Swag Bags. (My copy is going to my mother in California, who is constantly fighting the deer battle in her Bay Area garden.)

Our final journey of the day took us into downtown Seattle and to the waterfront, to enjoy the Seattle Art Museum Sculpture Park. What was once a nine-acre industrial park is now a sweeping and open green space for outdoor art. The Z-shaped path has transformed the waterfront and is a tourist magnet. It was a lovely way for our out-of-state guests to get a feel for the richness of Seattle’s waterfront and the incredible views (the Mountain was out!), while still enjoying the green of the surrounding plantings. (I will confess, I like this park better seeing it in aerial views, where you can get a real perspective of how it all fits together.) Since it was about 85°F, the breezes coming off Elliott Bay were cooling and welcome.

After returning to the Silver Cloud Inn, we stopped by Suzi McCoy’s reception and enjoyed some Washington wines and hors d’oeuvres (well, except for me – I was the designated driver). Then it was off to dinner, and I’m glad we didn’t get pulled over, since I had four heads squeezed into my back seat, but only three seatbelts. I can’t even share what the conversation was – this is a PG rated blog! Let’s just say that today someone noticed some flowers that resembled a certain part of the human anatomy, and leave it at that.

Day 2 of the Seattle Garden Blogger’s Fling was pulled off by our intrepid organizers, Lorene, Debra, Marty and Mary Ann, with flawless precision. And even one of our bus drivers got into the act, bringing along his camera to photograph some of the gardens. And I do want to give a shout out to Mary-Kate Mackey, who did a grand job as our official Bus Captain. She made sure we all followed orders and no one got left behind. It was another wonderful day for the memory books, and returning home late, I shared the fun and excitement with my husband (a non-gardener). His response – “You have two more days of this?” My reply – “Oh YEA!” and then my head hit the pillow and I was out. ~ Janet

The Northwest Flower & Garden Show was proud to be a sponsor of the 2011 Seattle Garden Blogger’s Fling. Look for more photos from Day 2 on our Facebook page.

 

Here’s What’s Happening in July

There’s a lot going on in July, so now’s the time to get your head out from under those shrubs, clean up your dirty fingernails, throw on your good clogs, and enjoy some inspirational gardens all around the Sound. There are tours galore, art walks, some great lectures and there’s even a tour of chicken coops and urban farms. It doesn’t get much better than a mellow July in the garden, so have an enjoyable time!

Sunday, July 3
1:00 pm
“Classic Hydrangeas”
Maurice Horn
Hydrangeas go mysteriously in and out of fashion on a regular basis. Yet they remain almost unparalleled in the world of shrubs for the length of their season of bloom. If you garden on a small or large plot, in the sun, part shade or in a woodland setting, there is a hydrangea that is perfect for your site. Explore the different species of hydrangea, learn easy care techniques and examine some ideal companion plants. You will never be without a hydrangea again no matter what the fashion. Free and open to the public. No registration required.
Joy Creek Nursery
20300 NW Watson Road, Scappose, Oregon 97056
Visit their website for more information or call 503-543-7474.

Friday, July 8
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
“Galloping into Edible Gardening”
Graham Kerr, formerly known as the ‘Galloping Gourmet’
Join Graham as he enthusiastically shares the joys of how his kitchen has taken on a whole new feeling, as his home vegetable garden now provides unrivaled freshness, seasonal variety, and the adventure of observing the miracle of growth at the speed of life. Learn how growing his own fruits and vegetables has lead to cooking with greater understanding and simplicity. He’ll offer suggestions on the best cooking methods to create healthy, memorable dishes, drawing from the more than 100 recipes in his new book, “Growing at the Speed of Life.” Book signing to follow.
Tickets: $10, which includes a glass of wine.
Molbak’s
13625 NE 175th Street, Woodinville, WA 98072
Visit their website for more information or to register, or call 425-483-5000.

Friday, July 8 – Sunday, July 10
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
23rd Annual Bainbridge in Bloom
Visit six incredible gardens at this popular event. Tours are by bus only, available at the Festival Site at Woodward Middle School. Benefactor tickets are available which allow for a luncheon, chauffeured garden tour, a special tour of the Bloedel Reserve by designer Stacie Crooks, and admission to the Evening in Bloom Party.
Tickets: General Admission $25; children $10.
Benefactor Tickets: $225 – 350
Bainbridge in Bloom Festival Site
9125 Sportsman Club Road NE, Bainbridge Island, WA
Visit their website for tickets or more information or call 206-842-7901.

 

Saturday, July 9
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Duvall’s Garden Celebration
The Duvall Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the City of Duvall and Kirsten Lints, of Gardens Alive Design, to organize Duvall’s Garden Celebration, celebrating all aspects of gardening within the Snoqualmie Valley. Whether your passion for gardening include vegetable gardening, home gardens or containers; this event has something for everyone. The day starts at Duvall True Value with a demonstration from Karen Chapman of Le Jardinet on creating drama and impact in your containers. The ticket brochure will provide a description and location for our eight unforgettable gardens along with their activities as well as the schedule of events for the day’s Celebration. Children’s activities will include a burrito treasure hunt in which kids are welcome to harvest, build & eat a yummy farm burrito. In the afternoon come to town and stroll the streets of Duvall to view the professionally designed containers being hosted by our local businesses. Vote for your favorite container design and participate in the silent auction of the containers. Bid on a planted container that would be perfect for your yard and have one for your own.
Tickets: $5 available at Tru Value from July 7 – 9
Visit their Facebook page at for more information.

Saturday, July 9
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Chicken Coop & Urban Farm Tour
Did you know that Seattle has become known as a national hot spot for chickens and urban farms? This is your chance to visit folks who are keeping chickens and creating “urban farms” right in Seattle. Take a look at how people are incorporating animals and food production into their home landscape. In this self-guided tour in neighborhoods throughout Seattle, you will see simple chicken coops built in an afternoon and elaborate set-ups that took weeks of planning and building. See how exactly how chickens, goats, ducks and honey bees live together with people in an urban environment. Discover other creative trappings of modern Seattle urban farms, including productive organic gardens, fruit orchards, water catchment devices like rain barrels, cisterns and swales, solar and cob construction, and crazy garden art. Self-guided tour.
Tickets available at Brown Paper Tickets. They will send the physical tickets you will need for the tour. Seattle Tilth will also send a map via email or snail mail with descriptions of each site and addresses.
Seattle Tilth
Groups (3-7 people) = $35
Groups, Seattle Tilth members = $30
Individuals = $12
Individuals, Seattle Tilth members = $10
Visit their website for more information or call Chris at 206-633-0451, ext. 119.

Saturday, July 9
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sunday, July 10
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Miniature Fairy Garden Class
Watch and learn for free, or for $50 you can take home your very own miniature fairy garden. Price includes everything you need to get started (box, plants, soil, décor such as a mushroom and, of course, a fairy!)
My Garden Nursery
17414 Bothell Everett Highway, Mill Creek, WA 98012
Visit their website for more information or call 425-402-1842.

Saturday, July 16
10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday, July 17
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Soos Creek Grand Opening Celebration
Come celebrate the region’s newest botanical treasure, the Soos Creek Botanical Garden, located in Auburn, WA. There will be self-guided walking tours, a butterfly release, a plant Sale, demonstrations, and more. On Saturday, popular author and columnist Marianne Binetti will be speaking, and on Sunday, Richie Steffen, Curator of the Elizabeth Miller Botanical Garden, will also be giving a talk.
Soos Creek Botanical Garden
29308 132nd Ave SE, Auburn, WA 98092
Visit their website for more information or call 253-639-0949.

Saturday, July 16
Sunday, July 17
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tea Room opens early, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Art & Photography in the Garden
Milner Gardens, British Columbia
Meet, mingle, and be inspired by dozens of local artists as they display their works and actively create new pieces over the weekend. There is a silent auction on site with pieces donated by each participating artist. Refreshments are available and live music will be performed throughout the afternoons.
Tickets: Adults $10; children under 10 free if accompanied by adult.
Milner Gardens and Woodland
2179 West Island Highway, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
Visit their website for more information or email milnergardens@shaw.ca.

Saturday, July 16
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
12th Annual Woodinville Garden Club Tour
The 12th Annual Woodinville Garden Club Tour of Gardens features six private gardens that offer serenity to grandeur and everything in between. You’ll find meandering paths and streams, secret gardens and tranquil ponds with Koi. Lush ornamentals, robust veggies and stunning specimen trees showcase our region’s diverse planting palette. Self-drive tour; ticket brochure has garden descriptions and directions. Also features an after-tour reception from 3:30 – 5:00 pm at Molbak’s.
Tickets: $20 per person
Woodinville Garden Club
Visit their website for more information or to purchase tickets. Tickets also available at Molbak’s, Classic Nursery and Ravenna Gardens.

Sunday, July 17
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
17th Annual West Seattle Garden Tour
“Perennial Creativity” luncheon lecture with Sue Goetz
12:00 pm
The West Seattle Garden Tour, now in its 17th year, celebrates the “Art of Gardening”. This year’s self-guided tour showcases ten spectacular residential gardens, including a 2.5-acre estate garden, and includes a noontime lecture. Tickets are available starting in June throughout the Seattle area. Ticket vouchers may be purchased online. All net proceeds from the tour benefit local educational and horticultural projects and community gardens. A luncheon and lecture by designer Sue Goetz is included in the cost of the ticket.
Tickets: $15 per person (children 12 and under are free) and are available throughout the Seattle area or on Brown Paper Tickets.
Visit their website for more information.

Sunday, July 24
1:00 pm
“Not All Shade is Created Equal”
Judith Jones & Diana Reeck
Shade is a tricky subject because it involves not only degrees of darkness, but, depending on the source of the shade, it can involve degrees of dryness as well. By understanding the type of shady environment you have, it is possible to make an educated guess as to what plants will work in an area. The fantastic team of Judith Jones, owner of Fancy Fronds Temperate Fern Nursery, and Diana Reeck, owner of Collectors Nursery, show you the possibilities of making lovely gardens no matter how dark and dry! Free and open to the public. No registration required.
Joy Creek Nursery
20300 NW Watson Road, Scappose, Oregon 97056
Visit their website for more information or call 503-543-7474.

Sunday, July 31
12:00 noon – 5:00 pm
27th Annual Snohomish City Garden Tour
The Snohomish Garden Club is proud to announce the 27th annual garden tour featuring eight beautiful gardens in and around Snohomish, WA. Advance tickets are available at local Snohomish businesses and local nurseries. Day of Tour tickets are available at the Sno-Isle Library 4th St. and Maple in Snohomish starting at 11:30 and there will be plants, raffle tickets and poster sales.
Tickets: $12 at local Snohomish businesses (see website for locations)
Snohomish Garden Club
Visit their website for more information or call 425-374-8622.

Sunday, July 31
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
ArtWalk 2011 Fundraiser
Gala Garden Luncheon Party
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Delight in the work of 26 Northwest Artists set in the splendor of the famed Dunn Gardens. Meet the artists and enjoy this festive occasion for the eye, the ear, and the palate. A Gala Garden Luncheon Party will be held at 12:30 to 2:30 pm (separate admission) with celebrity guests and an ArtWalk Preview.
Tickets: $30 per person for the ArtWalk and $125 per person for the Gala Luncheon.
E.B. Dunn Historic Gardens
13533 Northshire Road NW, Seattle, WA 98177
Visit their website for more information or call 206-362-0933.