The NW Flower and Garden show is an event I wait for eagerly every year. I have ogled at the marvelous gardens, admired the floral displays and stopped at every booth to buy a bulb or a garden ornament. I am very excited by this year’s theme – “Once Upon a Time… Spectacular Gardens with Stories to Tell.” Just imagine the possibilities and the artistic interpretations of this theme!!
What makes this year’s event even more special to me is that I got a chance to volunteer during the setup of the WSNLA garden titled ‘Cook’s Endeavor Returns with Treasure.’ The garden is based on the book ‘Stowaway’ and depicts a plant-hunting expedition scene. I spent all of yesterday with the garden creators Megan Pulkkinen, Kirsten Lints and Kate Easton, helping them in all the ways that I can. I planted groundcovers, covered the nursery containers with compost, spruced up the plants, spiffed up the leaves and had them looking their best. As I worked between the gigantic black bamboos and the Cryptomeria, I had a surreal moment, as if I was transported to an exotic jungle in some faraway land.
The plant collection on display was thoroughly impressive – such a treasure trove, literally. As one approached the garden, the New Zealand flax (Phormium ‘Pink Stripe’) created a wonderful focal point and drew the eye to colorful plants clustered around them. Megan, one of the garden creators , told me that the team has been working on the design and creation of this garden since June last year. I was awed by the hard work that has been put in. I saw it, all culminating together in this spectacular garden. As I finished up for the day, I couldn’t wait to come back during the show and enjoy the visual treats in all the display gardens.
