The 2009 (and maybe last) Northwest Flower and Garden show starts Wednesday at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle Wednesday.

Today, I went up for the media preview as garden designers and their crews were frantically putting on the final touches.

I'll let my photos do the talking. The show runs through Sunday (Feb. 22). Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (closing at 6 p.m. Sunday).

"Shall We Dance . . . in the Garden" is designed by Judith I. Jones and Vanca Lumsden and credated by Aw Pottery,
Fancy Fronds, and ABLE.

This is just one small slice of a large garden based on
the musical, "The King and I". There's a Thai inspired garden pavilion and a pair of elephants and lots of tropical plants.

"Welcome to your weekend" was designed by Karen Stefonick of Le Jardin Landscape Design. I was taken by this garden and Stefonick's use of nothing but green - in all it's infinite shades. It was very soothing for the eyes.

This was one of three vignettes designed by Octavia Chambliss. The trio are examples for people who have small spaces, like condo dwellers. And all three used their economy of space extremely well. They had plenty of accoutrements, were artfully arranged but still felt open.

"Entry to Cascadia" uses plants native to Cascadia - The Pacific Northwest. A simple basalt stone circle is surrounded by flowering shrubs, ground covers, and woodland plants. It's a great reminder how our native flora can produce a beautiful garden without the help of any ornamentals.

"I love it" by John Faccone of NW Majestic Landscape & Living Inc. was one of my favorites because of its elegant, serene simplicity. Faccone is an artist: every angle, color, plant grouping was perfectly composed. The V-shaped reflecting pond was the centerpiece to this setting.

Gig Harbor's Sue Goetz's garden, "L'eau sage," made me want to buy a ticket to Provence. Her Mediterranean garden is drought tolerant (which is a more succinct way of saying you don't have to water your garden in the summer, drought or not.) Tons (literally) of golden-hued gravel compliment green and purple accents.

"Sky's the limit" by Rebecca Cole was the most intriguing garden of the show. Designed to be on the rooftop of a high rise building, this space would make you forget you weren't in a verdant ground level space. The most intriguing aspect was this structure, topped by grass and solar panels. A wall, as shown, was alive with a quilt of plants. This was Cole's first visit to Seattle and she brought a little of her New York City home with her.

This Bali-themed garden was the final stop before the commercial exhibits and it surely was a relaxing bit of zen heaven.

I'm waking up the slumbering Get Growing blog with sad news: The 2009 Northwest Flower & Garden Show might be the last. The show organizers have been unable to find a buyer for their business and have decided to shut it down after next month's show.

I'll be there on media day, Feb. 17, to report on what may be the final show.

Here's the press release with the full details:

SEATTLE – For more than two decades the Northwest Flower & Garden Show has inspired millions of individuals and families to embrace gardening with its dramatic display gardens and extensive seminar programs. In 2009, the event will make one last spectacular run before closing its doors forever.

“My wife Alice and I have decided that this year’s event will be our last as organizers and we are pulling out all of the stops to make it the best on record. We’ve enjoyed every minute of the past 21 years but are ready to pursue some other passions,” said Duane Kelly, chairman of Salmon Bay Events, the company that founded and owns the event.

Salmon Bay Events also owns and produces the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show. The Northwest and San Francisco Flower & Garden Shows are the second- and third-largest flower shows, respectively, in the country; the largest is in Philadelphia. They have earned an international reputation for the quality of the display gardens, seminars, and commercial exhibits.

“We had hoped to sell the shows to buyers that are committed to maintaining their level of quality,” Kelly said. “However, to date, we have been unsuccessful.” Without a buyer emerging he will be closing the business following the 2009 shows.

The last Northwest Flower & Garden Show will be held Feb. 18-22 at the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle. The flower show was the first major event ever produced at the Convention Center. Over a million-and-a-half people have attended the show since its inception. Annual attendance ranges between 60,000 and 80,000.

Kelly invites gardeners from throughout the Pacific Northwest to visit the 2009 show and celebrate over two decades of flower show magic. He wishes to thank the tens of thousands of people in the nursery and landscape industry, the gardening media, and the horticultural community who have supported the Northwest show over the last 21 years.

The theme of this year’s shows is “Sustainable Spaces. Beautiful Places.” The 26 display gardens will be first-rate – many offering inspiring ideas about sustainability in gardens. Sustainability will also be the focus of many of the 120 free seminars presented by speakers from around the world. For details and tickets visit the show’s website at www.gardenshow.com.

Kelly anticipates that My Garden Spaces, an online community recently launched as a year-round adjunct to the flower shows, will continue beyond the shows.

The cost of admission, which includes entrance to gardening seminars, is: $20 for adults; $9 for students 25 and under with valid student I.D.; $4 for kids ages 6 – 17; and free for children under 5. The shows run from Wednesday through Sunday. Advance tickets are also available at a discounted price of $16 for adults. Tickets

On a golden pond, two ducks swim at The Edgewood Estate Sunday.

I was dubious about taking a Northwest Perennial Alliance garden tour last weekend. After all, my garden is not in the best of shape this time of year. But am I glad I went.

THE EDGEWOOD ESTATE

My first stop was at The Edgewood Estate, where owner Ilga Jansons graciously showed me around her garden. The five year old garden is being expanded and improved every year. She and husband Michael Dryfoos haven't filled every bit of their 32 acres but they've made quite a bit of headway.

Mums are a consistent theme in one part of the garden.

This restful spot is inside the vegetable garden.

=> Read more!

Author Lucy Hardiman will speak at Lakewold Gardens at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 on "Voluptuous Vignettes: The Art of Making Plant Combinations."

Hardiman is a garden designer and author in the Portland area.

In order to get a sense of her style check out a video of her winter garden here. (Skip the first two minutes of ads)

Members of the Northwest Perennial Alliance get in free but nonmembers pay only $5.

Lakewold Gardens is at 12317 Gravelly Lake Drive S.W. in Lakewood.

The first day of fall is Monday, Sept. 22 but you can get an early start on the season Saturday at Point Defiance Park.

The W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory is holding a fall plant sale from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Point Defiance greenhouses at 5402 N. Shirley.

Hardy herbs, garden mums, perennials and houseplants will be on sale.

I talked with conservatory manager Mary Anderson today. She said they'll have a wide variety of quality plants on hand. Most of what is on sale is grown specifically for the fall plant sale.

"We actually grow things for the sale that we know people want," Anderson said. But some are excess that were grown for parks.

Some of the houseplants are grown from cuttings taken at the conservatory.

Generally speaking, 3 1/2-inch pots will sell for $3.50 and gallon sized plants are $5, she said.

Proceeds will benefit the Conservatory.

Call 591-5330 for more info.

This just in from the city of Tacoma, a community garden tour. Check it:

2nd annual Tacoma Community Garden Tour slated for Aug. 23
Discover some of Tacoma’s hidden treasures from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, during the 2nd annual Tacoma Community Garden Tour.

Passport maps for self-guided tours will be available at Tacoma’s Proctor Farmers Market the day of the event. You can also e-mail growingconversation@gmail.com, or pick up maps at TAGRO headquarters, 2201 Portland Ave., Gate 5, Tacoma.

A bike tour guided by the Tacoma Wheelmen’s Bicycle Club will depart from the Proctor Street entry of the Proctor Farmers Market at 11 a.m. Please come at least 15 minutes early to fill out a waiver. Riders will have the opportunity to ride back to the Proctor Farmers Market. The route is approximately 10 miles over mostly flat terrain, though there are some moderate hills. Helmets are required; bring your own snacks and water.

Tour stop locations include:
Proctor Farmers Market, South 27th & Proctor
(bike tour meet-up and/or pick up your map)
North Proctor & 21st
Franklin Park, South 12th & Puget Sound Avenue (far south corner of park)
Guadalupe Land Trust’s La Grande garden, South 18th & G
Neighbors Park community garden, South 8th & I
The Hub, 203 Tacoma Ave. S. (discounts for tourgoers on local food specials)

Get your passport map stamped at all four gardens and receive a free plant, courtesy of the Pierce Conservation District, at the tour’s final garden stop at South 8th & I streets. There will also be several community booths at this stop.

In celebration of community gardens and local food, tourgoers who show their passport map on Saturday will get a 50 percent discount on special local food dishes at The Hub, 203 Tacoma Ave. S.

Former TNT photographer Bruce Kellman, who retired earlier this year, tipped us off to a tour of private railway gardens, an event hosted by the Puget Sound Garden Railway Society.

The tour is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 16 and 17. The tour is a self-guided wander about of a dozen private railway gardens from Tacoma to Everett. Cost is $10 and a map and details can be found if you click right here.

In Pierce County, the homes of Dave Kiesig, in Orting, and Carol and Pete Comley, in Bonney Lake, will be open for garden train voyeurs.

According to Kellman, the "Kiesig layout has a fabulous look with many tracks and lots of buildings and miniature plants. The Comleys run miniature steam engines, some fueled by real coal."

Little sproutlets, guru gardener Ed Hume is inviting you to his educational garden in Puyallup. Never been? Get yourself there.

Details here from Ed Hume's people:

Sunday August 17th
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Ed Hume's Educational Garden, 11504 58th Ave E.
Puyallup (off Canyon)
Adults $10, Children $5 -- all proceeds go to the food bank
(For tickets and information, call Tanya 253-460-2841)

Enjoy a guided tour of the garden and seed factory with Ed Hume!
Autographed books "Gardening with Ed Hume" half price!

For Children of all ages: Maze; Quiz Garden; Insect eating plants; Punch and cookies; Scavenger Hunt; Art projects for children to make; Games; Face Painting; Artists in Action

This just in from Laura Pittman-Hewitt, of Ambergardens, a regular nursery vendor at the Tacoma Farmers Market:

Hey, I'm going to be making lavender wands at my booth this Thursday 8/7 & will have materials & instructions for people who want to learn. People can just come watch, make one, or take stuff home to do later. There will be a $5 charge for complete "lavender wand" kits that includes fresh lavender, ribbon & instructions.

I also now have culinary lavender available, both bundled flowers & dried buds in a spice jar with recipes.

Also, I'll have fresh garlic bulbs, as well as several varieties of fresh & dried lavender.

hope to see you!

I'll be there. How about you?

UPDATE: Laura emailed to tell me what lavender she'll have for sale at the market tomorrow. She says:

I'm getting pretty low on plants now. I have 20 or less each of Grosso, Royal Velvet, Blue Cushion, Loddon Blue, Hidcote Giant, Silver Frost. Have 40 or more of Jean Davis, Hidcote (some are newer cuttings though so not very big yet), Spanish, Alba (not ready for another week or so). I have small quantities of Provence, Cascade Velvet, Victorian Amethyst, Spanish viridis that will be available in a few weeks.
I have a number of lavender cultivars on my property so if someone wants a particular variety, they can contact me - I may have it to grow from cuttings for them.
I am bringing lots of Grosso fresh cut lavender bundles to market tomorrow.

Last weekend I took a tour of Northwest Perennial Alliance gardens on Vashon Island. As I always do on Vashon, I drug my lower jaw through a collection of amazing gardens.

First up was the hillside garden of Edna and James Dam. The couple have a steeply sloping acreage that they've planted with a variety of perennials. Interestingly, they also have grapes, pinot noir, that James has just begun experimental wine making with.

This photo shows an ebony and ivory pair of bulbous oat grass and a dark foliaged dahlia.

Next, I stopped at the always interesting and colorful nursery, DIG. Sylvia Matlock's nursery seems to be appearing in every national garden and architecture magazine I pick up these days. Last November, she expanded her business indoors and now sells interior wares. I wanted to buy everything.

Matlock told me she has shrunk her nursery but it seemed bigger to me since my last visit. Just an optical illusion, she said.

This is one illusion not to be missed.

Next up was the shoreside garden of Anita Halstead and Kelly Robinson on Maury Island.

This garden recently won an award in a garden design contest sponsored by that other newspaper up north. It's easy to see why.

Spectacular borders frame sculpture and views to the water. Interesting plants and combinations, like this crocosmia, globe thistle and flax caught my eye.

You can ponder your next move in the brilliant summer sun on this chess set.

Finally, I finished at the garden of Cindy and Steve Stockett. I've been there before but the garden looked a lot different. Cindy said the windstorm of 2006 did a lot of damage and they've spent some time replanting.

It would take a whole story to tell of the wonders of the Stockett garden but I'll show you something I've seen before but this time it really caught my eye.

This biennial, Echium pinnata, was huge, as the photo above shows. Cindy told me it takes two years for it to bloom and then it perishes - like a good biennial does. But, they reseed naturally. I stuck my camera inside the...uh....leaves...?...and shot this photo of the fleshy colored...uh....head...?

Anyway, I have got to get me some of these.

Cynthia Johnson bought her farm, Fox Farm, on Vashon for a respite from her busy day job as an obstetrician. The lavender obsession came later after a trip to France and a landscaping project hooked her.

She remembers a moment one morning in her garden that changed her from just a gardener to a lavender horticulturist and farmer. “The sun was just coming up. I saw these bees sleeping on the lavender blooms. As the sun warmed it up, it was magic. I just fell in love with it. Now when I go out to pick, I just can’t stop picking.”

She started propagating lavender, even coming up with her own kinda sorta variety (she and other Vashon lavender growers aren’t sure what it is, so she calls it ‘fox farm,’ named after her farm). She grows dozens of different varieties. Her farm is one of three opening Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Vashon Lavender Farm Tour (see info box for details).

Johnson classifies four categories of her favorite lavenders: Lavandula angustifolia; L. x intermedia. Lavandula stoechas and Lavandula dentata. Click the "read more" box below to see how she explains the two kinds she primarily grows and sells, angustifolias and intermedias.

The Vashon Lavender Farm Tour
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Three Vashon farms, Fox Farm (17232 107th S.W.), Lavender Sister’s Farm (16335 Crescent Drive S.W.) and Lavender Hill Farm (10425 S.W. 238th St.)
Cost: $5 (free for children 18 and younger). Tickets available at the farms. Proceeds benefit the Vashon Youth Council.
Transportation: A free shuttle bus will offer transportation for the 9:15 a.m. ferry at the north ferry dock that goes to the three farms and the Tahlequah ferry dock. For ferry schedules, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.
Information: www.vashonlavender.com or call 206-463-3115

The Sequim Lavender Festival
There is another lavender festival this weekend in addition to the Vashon lavender festival. Here are details:
What: Sequim Lavender Festival
When: Friday through Sunday
Where: Various farms and locations in and around Sequim
Tickets: $15 (12 and younger admitted free)
Info: www.lavenderfestival.com or 1-877-681-3035

Here is a pretty picture of lavender taken in Craig Sailor's North Tacoma garden.

=> Read more!

Garden voyeurs, you’ll get your chance to lollygag around private gardens this Saturday in Federal Way. The cost for your voyeurism? Twenty bucks. Will it be worth it? Maybe, if you like checking out gardens that normally would be off limits, unless, of course, you don’t mind being chased away as a trespasser.

Six private home gardens and the Pacific Rim Bonsai collection will be part of the garden tour for the Federal Way Symphony. The tour starts at 10 a.m. and concludes at 5 p.m. (although there is a bonus garden tour from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., but more on that later).

Janice V. Burgess, a symphony board member and co-chair for the tour, described the event as self guided. You buy a ticket, they provide a map and from there, you’re on your own. Lectures and demonstrations take place at select gardens.

Here’s a look at each of the gardens. Commentary provided by Burgess:

Garden one, the Ross garden. “This is a hardworking gardener who has totally redone her yard (with different kinds of annuals)" Highlights: a shade garden, a basalt fire pit, a fountain with basalt rocks, a garden house, pergola and arbor.

Garden two, the Spader garden. “This is the home of a master gardener... He has a vegetable garden with unusual vegetables, very colorful potatoes. He gave me some last year when I was there. They were pink potatoes. … He starts everything in his vegetable garden from seed.” Highlights: Eight varieties of tomatoes growing in large tire tubes; Jerusalem artichokes and an herb garden.

Garden three, the Konkell garden. “He is a former nursery owner who has an extensive train in his backyard. It has waterfalls and tracks that go through the backyard.” Highlights: Window boxes and container gardens.

Garden four, the Parrish garden. “(It) has the most spectacular waterfall. If you go up the hill beside the waterfall, you have panoramic views of the Sound." Highlights: A pocket garden near the patio and New Zealand flax in containers.

Garden five, the Pacific Rim Bonsai collection. David DeGroot, the curator there, will talk about the collection, and Bob Pogue who is a floral designer, will also lecture about floral design. Highlights: More than 100 bonsai from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the United States.

Garden six, the Sherwood garden. “Sherwood garden has a pond that goes all the way down to the water (Trout Lake). … She likes clashing colors, reds and oranges, nothing muted." Highlights: a tricolored beech, black bamboo and a dry river bed.

Garden seven, the Sessler garden. “The restored garden of a historic 1880s log home. ... Lots of natural river rock fences and walls. At the Fessler garden, Louise Talley will do a container gardening lesson. (Note: The Sherwood and Fesler gardens are adjacent). Highlights: container gardens with colorful annuals and plants that hummingbirds love.

Bonus garden, the Dzingle garden. This is the after-hours garden tour from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. “They have hundreds of lighting features… It’s an extensive piece of property.”

Other stuff to do: Strolling musicians, raffles of container gardens from Watson’s nursery, signed books by authors, artisans displaying their work and more.

Ticket information: Call 253-529-9857 or buy a ticket at Furney’s, Watson’s, Windmill or any nursery listed at federalwaysymphony.org. Tickets are $20 each.