I've commented before in my blog that I like the smaller, more intimate displays of the City Living patio gardens at the Northwest Flower and Garden (ok, sigh) Festival. Here are a few that appealed the most to me.
30th Anniversary Pearls
GH Horticulture
Designer: Grace Hensley
You may be surprised to find that I liked this display. I don't have the ability to edit or restrict myself in my own garden, but I can recognize the appeal of elegance and simplicity. I sometimes wish I could stick with a restricted color palette, or a limited list of plants. I'm not sure what it is within me that makes me want to add more, more, more. Acquisitional greed? An unbalanced mind? The desire to just be chaotic?
 |
| My own house is gray, although a less bluey-gray than this |
 |
| I really like those black containers |
 |
| The display includes a little mouse door, a la Spielberg's film An American Tail, as well as an unclaimed Amazon package |
Set The Mood
Happenstantials
Designer: Chance Justbe
This is more my style, right? I overheard the designer describing to someone how he found the child's jungle gym and knew he could turn it into something. Doesn't it make a great gargantuan Papasan chair? As I was eavesdropping on Chance, a woman next to me said, "The only thing I like here is the little rug." I turned to her and said, "Oh? I like everything else!" To her credit, she then said, "Well, I guess between us, we've got this one covered."
 |
| It's pretty cool to repurpose a piece of play equipment like this -- I love the idea of repurposing, but I often lack the creativity required |
 |
| I have a feeling if this were in my garden it would have fewer cushions and more vines crawling all over it -- but I adore it! |
 |
| Chance made all the Kokedama adorning the display and salvaged the mossy branches that he weaved into the chair |
 |
| More Kokedama -- Chance taught a class on making them on the DIY stage on Friday afternoon |
 |
| Love the mossy mushroom! |
 |
| Not sure what those caterpillar-looking things are, but I love this trio of containers too |
 |
| The hand holding a severed finger is after my own heart -- which could get messy |
 |
| He invited me into the display to try to take a shot that showed the Pike Place Market sign through the hands, but I couldn't get my iPhone camera to focus |
Plenty of Room
Sky Nursery
Designers: Ashley Bougie, Gina Jones, Kathryn Neumann, Jill Nunemaker
This whimsical display had an Alice in Wonderland theme, which also appealed to me. My first name is Alison, and more than once, ok, many, many times in my life, people have mistaken it for Alice, and immediately called me "Alice in Wonderland" -- to my extreme annoyance. The older I get, the less annoyed I get -- it's not worth it. From now on, I'm just going to own it. Yes, I'm Alison Wonderland.
 |
| I've been on the hunt lately for a big old vintage birdcage with a stand |
 |
| Nice collage |
 |
| The dormouse is a sweet touch |
 |
| Blooming Edgeworthia chrysantha |
 |
| Love the curly branches with teacups hanging |
 |
| Shouldn't that rabbit be wearing a waistcoat? |
 |
| Are there butterflies in Alice in Wonderland? I've never read it. |
 |
| I know they used flamingos to play croquet |
Bohemian Rhapsody
Nature's Tapestry Landscapes
Designer: Tracey Kosenski
There were elements here that I liked, although -- and I can't explain why -- it kind of screams retirement home to me. I don't know any retirement homes that serve gin and tonic to their inmates, though. Perhaps it's that I associate drinking alcohol with adults -- I still refuse to become one.
 |
| Maybe it's the macrame plant hanger and the stair stepped plant holder |
 |
| Old planted suitcases are fun, I have one made of wicker on my own back porch, full of little treasures |
 |
| I want that blue bottle -- you can keep the contents though |
Did anything in these City Living displays strike your fancy?
