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.

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!

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.

I just returned from Tacoma's Sixth Avenue farmers market. I am impressed.

Based on only one visit (not a scientific method, I know) it's my new favorite market. It's compact, chock full of food (and not crafts, lotions and knick knacks) and has a neighborhood feel.

As vendor Ann O'Neil told me, you can find everything you need for dinner there: veggies, fruit, cheese, meat and more. "We've been doing farmers markets for nine years and this is the best," O'Neil said of the Sixth Avenue market.

But since this is the gardening blog, I'm happy to report that several nurseries were represented there. I bought sage and sedums from O'Neil's Cottage Gardens.

Ann O'Neil sells her plants outside the Engine House brew pub on Pine Street Tuesday night.

A new (to me) nursery at the market was The Rhododendron Garden out of Federal Way. Owner Dianne Bell had an impressive stock of hydrangeas on hand. "I only have two weaknesses," Bell said of her passion for rhodys and hydrys.

Bell, at right in the photo (talking with Emillie Hirota of Steilacoom) said the hydrangeas were late this year (like everything else.) Bell said she'd be back at the market next week but couldn't commit after that.

Customers and vendors both seem smitten by Tacoma's latest farmers market. Hirota called it "charming." Bell was a little in awe. "People have been coming up and thanking me," she said.

Get down there on a Tuesday afternoon and check it out. The market opens at 3 p.m.

And, of course, Pine and Sixth is one of the hottest intersections of dining in Tacoma so you can make an evening of like I did. (The top photo was shot from Masa's second floor bar.)

I spent Sunday touring nurseries in the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula areas. I thought I would just spend a couple of hours there. I ended up spending almost the whole day there.

First stop was Rosedale Gardens. They've been around a long time but it was my first visit there.

I was really impressed with the place. It sits on two levels with the main nursery down below and trees up above. The business is very eclectic with a strong presence of art. I really dug these huge metal chickens.

There's a lot of life-like bronze sculptures which always creeps me out (Frozen children!) and I'm told by another nursery owner that there is a "mini Butchart Gardens" being developed but I didn't get an invite in.

I was intrigued with their pottery display. While their selection is not as vast as Bamford and Bamford I actually liked it better. I came away with four great ceramic pots AND they were having a two-for-one sale. What beats that? (Well, maybe free pottery day.)

They have a good, varied plant selection. I saw lots of unusual hostas, grasses and other perennials.

Rosedale Gardens is at 7311 Rosedale Street NW in Gig Harbor. Their phone is 253-851-7333 and they are open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week.

The photo below shows the pottery display at Rosedale.

Next up was Arletta Gardens & Boutique, 3508 Ray Nash Drive in Gig Harbor. This one-year-old nursery was equally impressive as Rosedale. While tiny in comparison the artistic eye behind the business comes through loud and strong.

The owner wasn't on hand Sunday but I was blown away by her displays of plants, the inside store and the unique display garden which recreates a beach scene. Near this row boat waiting for a passenger was a scene set up to resemble an ocean-side BBQ. I could almost hear the waves crashing.

Arletta Gardens doesn't have a website but their number is 253-265-2224 and they are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays.

Finally, I made it out to Blue Frog Garden Nursery. Owner Russ Smith showed me his green houses. One of them was full of Japanese maples - one of his specialties.

His personal gardens are amazing. This is his dry-stacked wall (below) with all sorts of colorful perennials.

Blue Frog is not open to the public except on special events. Luckily, this weekend (July 12-13) is one of those. Russ has invited Steamboat Island Nursery (one of my favorite Puget Sound nurseries) as well as a grower of ornamental grasses to sell their stock. Call 253-857-0127 or go to their website for more information.

Sue and I visited the Chinese Reconciliation Project today. It was the first time it was open to the public, timed to coincide with the arrival of Tall Ships Tacoma.

The park and the Parade of Sail were a spectacular combination. Here are photos from our field trip. Sue provided the commentary.

Enjoy.

Our first impression was that the park is heavy on hardscapes and light on garden. This cove, we think, is pure genius. We immediately coined a term for it, "a mini tidal basin." This little outlet fills with water at high tide, and we imagine it looks really interesting as the water level increases. We'll go back to see that happen. This area is positioned just below the pedestrian bridge.

The view from the pedestrian bridge. That's the Lady Washington in the background. Again, a waterfront park is such a cool thing.

This spiral walkway is a focal point at the entrance to the park. It travels from a sloped area and winds into the tight circle you see here around the slab of granite. We aren't sure what the symbolism of the spiral is, but it's a really interesting spot. We walked single file around the spiral and pondered the slab of granite.

Oat grass? Blue fescue? We couldn't quite decide what it is (probably fescue, judging by the stalks), but there is quite a lot of it. There are many of these mounding grasses in long, straight lines that move your eye toward the water. I like how the plantings and the hardscapes, including the elevated areas, seem to really draw the eye and the observer to the water. The ship in the background is the Amazing Grace.

More hardscapes! Yes, this garden is heavy on rocks and hardscaping. I appreciate that, though. Gardens with structure are interesting. It seems as if the park will look more garden-ish when the plants mature. We saw lots of freshly planted ornamental grasses, rhododendrons and roses. I had an OCD moment when I saw the spent flowers on the rhododendron bush. I even started dead heading one of them, but stopped after I realized that I probably shouldn't engage in public pruning anymore. I'll save it for my yard.

We are back from our field trip and I am sunburned. Don't let the overcast weather fool you, the sun is out. It is just sort of hiding, that's all.

Craig and I had good times at the Chinese Reconciliation Park and Tall Ships. Watch for a post on that in a bit after Craig works up the photos and I formulate some thoughts.

Here's something fun: We swung by the farmers market on our way back. I sauntered right on up to the Amergardens booth and bought myself a garden full of lavender. Or, at least it will be a garden full of lavender in a few years. Right now, it's baby lav. Ready to be nurtured.

I bought: Silver frost, grosso, munstead, lodden blue and Spanish.

Look! A picture! (Not as good as Craig Sailor's, but it will pass. I took this with my cell phone just now).

Here are my five varieties of lavender, nestled among the offerings of my desk: the SoundLife team digital audio recorder, today's paper, a falafel sandwich from MSM deli (in the bag) and my water bottle. Enjoy!

In a few moments, my fellow garden blogger Craig Sailor and I will head out into the drizzle to the opening of the new Chinese Reconciliation Park for a tour and our first up-close gaze at the new garden there.

In yesterday's South Sound section, our intern Brian Everstine wrote about the park. Click HERE to read it.

Volunteers will give tours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Meet at the park's entrance for your own tour. Craig and I are looking forward to inspecting the waterside garden. We're curious how the view will play into the aesthetics of the garden. And of course, our photographer supreme, The Craigenator, will snap photos. Watch for them here later today.

Oh, while we're there, we'll also check out the Tall Ships. You know, those huge beasts that are sailing into town this weekend?

Note: It's raining! Bring an umbrella. But, duh, you already knew that.

Details here:
Tours of Chinese Reconciliation Park
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today
Near Jack Hyde Park on the waterfront, at the south end of Ruston Way (you know, near Old Town)
Click HERE for more info to fill your brain.

Fellow Get Growing blogger Craig Sailor and I just sailed back to the News Tribune office after a trip to the Tacoma Farmers Market in search of eggplant starts for Craig and herb starts for me.

It looked as if the veggie starts are starting to cycle out, but there were plenty of herbs.

Attention bargain shoppers: Steve White, co-owner of Morgan Creek farms with wife Donna, had tomato starts (green zebras and a few others) "take 'em please" priced at $2 each.

I bought a tarragon start from Cheryl The Pig Lady's booth (she said business has been good). Then, I popped over to the Ambergardens booth and bought a blue cushion lavender from Laura Pittman-Hewitt.

The Ambergarden booth is the one to hit if you are in search of lavender. Pittman-Hewitt had several varieties: Jean Davis, munstead, gross, silver frost, Spanish and ladden blue today. Her favorite? Royal velvet. "It's the darkest lavender there is. It dries to a nice dark purple. And it's great for cooking," she said.

I am sitting here eating lunch (granola from Marlene's Market, and a peach) sniffing my blue cushion lavender. I suddenly feel better, more calm. Maybe.

Some photos Craigenator shot at the market:

The lavender at the Ambergarden booth.

Steve White, of Morgan Creek farm

I saw all kinds of lush plants at about a half dozen farm and nursery booths at the Tacoma Farmers market today (today was opening day for the market). If you're just getting your garden started, be sure to stop by the market next Thursday, or at other farmers markets this week (click here for a list on our website). The farmers and nursery plant growers will have plenty of starts for sale. With the weather warming, it seems a good time to get started on gardening. Doesn't it? I'm trying to convince myself, obviously.

I wandered up to the Morgan Creek Farm booth and found Donna White, who co-owns the Vaughn farm with husband Steve. We blogged a lot about their booth last year. They are great garden advisers and can give you all kinds of tips for growing tomatoes (they also sell at the Gig Harbor Farmers Market). They specialize in heirloom varieties. Today, Donna gave some great advice to a retired couple who hadn't grown tomatoes since their children were young. She told them to strip off the bottom few rows of leaves from the plant and bury the plant deep. The deeper you plant the tomatoes, the more robust the vine. A good piece of advice. She told me the same nugget last year and I used it. I also planted one of my tomatoes sideways last year, advice that came from the Whites. I always appreciate how willing they are to dispense with growing advice.

Elsewhere at the market, I saw all kinds of great garden plants, including sedums and heuchera and the man who sells the magnolia trees is back again (I keep meaning to stop by his booth, maybe next week).

Check back here next Thursday for a more detailed report of nursery starts and other plants at the market.

So what was selling fastest at Cheryl Ouellette's booth Thursday at opening day of the farmers market?

"Pumpkins," she said with a laugh and a perplexed look. What? You mean tomatoes? No. Pumpkins. Why? "I have no idea, but I never guessed that would happen," she said.

Just then, Judy Leyden wandered by, overhearing Cheryl, and asked if she had any more pumpkin starts. Leyden had been up and down the market looking for them at the half dozen other booths with nursery starts.

"My granddaughter wants to grow them," she said. So why is Tacoma so pumpkin obsessed today? Cheryl was without answer, but Judy had a thought.

"My explanation is there are a lot of very indulgent grandmothers in town," she said before heading to a neighboring booth in search of a plant for her granddaughter, 5-year-old Kailyn Durves, of Gig Harbor.

Cheryl, whose nickname is The Pig Lady, seemed to be doing better business later Thursday afternoon with her other starts, which included tomatoes and herbs.

Her secret ingredient for her nursery starts? "Poop cocktail," she said, laughing. Not surprising, her answer, considering she is a farmer and known for her tasty pork (thus the "Pig Lady" nickname).

Hers is a compost two years in the making.

She starts with cow, sheep, pig, goat, chicken, duck and turkey waste. Next, she ages it in a barn for months. Then it's on to the cooking process, kept at 130 degrees for 15 days. Then it's off to the garden. "When it's full of worms, we know it's ready," she said. Don't ask her how much the compost cost. She didn't want to guess, considering how many hours she spends tending it. But her starts did seem pretty green and giganto, so probably worth it.

Volunteers Millie Russell and Terri Dufault had great advice for the novice tomato gardener looking for answers to tomato questions. They were manning the WSU master gardener booth at the Tacoma Farmers market Thursday. The gardener wanted to know what the easiest tomatoes would be to grow. And, by the way? How do you grow them?

They recommended sungold, a small, yellow and very sweet cherry tomato that is easy to grow (if I can grow them, anyone can. Seriously).

"Look for the ones that have the shortest (days to) maturity," said Dufault. Those are the ones that will yield tomatoes the earliest. She added, "People I see who have the best luck grow their tomatoes on the south side of the house right up against the foundation." The warmth radiating from the house keeps the tomatoes at a temperature they like.

Russell had some less conventional advice. "People grow them in rubber tires, that black rubber absorbs the heat. They grow better."

The curious tomato woman thanked the volunteers and wandered back into the crowd.

The Master Gardeners clinic volunteers were seeing a steady stream of questions from gardeners wandering through the market. The big questions of the day? "The cold weather problem," said Dufault. The gardeners want to know when the sun will return, and what to do in the meantime?

And, the pair said, gardeners have been asking what to do with plants with spots. The likely culprit? Probably fungus from the too damp weather, the women said, but they can't do a proper id unless you bring a sample. Are you the one with the mystery problem? Bring a clipping from your problem plant next Thursday to the Master Gardener booth. They might be able to help.