From Pussy Willows to Dahlias, Glass Art to Garden Sheds: Shop the Show

Once you get past the delights of the display gardens at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show (which runs through Sunday at Convention Center) be sure and check out the booths. The marketplace is divided up into three locations. The main display garden area is flanked by market areas - one is large with a huge variety of booths, and the other has more artisans, but also a nursery or two.

Then across the skybridge is the Plant Market, the Children's Play Garden, and new this year, the Vintage Market. But here's the thing - there's no rhyme nor reason (that I can figure out) as to what is located where. The Lily Pad (fabulous lilies and daylilies) is located by booths that mostly have books and objects ....while B&D Lilies is across the skybridge. Go figure. I don't know if it's better to meander through or to look for specific booths or items - I saw many people studying their maps today, but most, like me, seemed content to wander.

New this year is a Vintage Market (across the skybridge) packed with unusual finds. Friends scored fabulous bedsprings, ideal for a 3-dimensional garden sculpture or for planting with...whatever. Beware temptations from old hand-lettered signs to vases and baskets...lots of patina going on here...

Speaking of patina...Bob Bowling is back with his charming garden sheds composed of repurposed materials, and some pretty cool birdhouses...

Also from Whidbey Island are the dynamic duo of Marie Lincoln of Chocolate Flower Farm and Maureen Murphy of Bayview Farm and Garden, teaming up for the first time. Follow your nose to the booth wafting the scent of chocolate...you'll find special plants and garden accessories..

Artist and vegetable gardener Del Webber presents his productive Vee Garden scheme - check out the video he has continually running in his booth for a reminder of summer harvests.

The show is about the hard-working, knowledgeable, plant-passionate people you meet, as much as about what they're selling - so take advantage of their expertise and stop for a chat...

 I admit I succumbed to some of these rusty birds - as well as a few new lilies (fragrant peach-coral Oriental 'Red Hot', and black/red 'Mambo') double purple poppy seeds (from B&D Lilies), an outdoor broom, some fabulously plump pussy willows from Ravenna Gardens...and, oh dear, it's only the first day of the show....I haven't yet made it to Flora and Fauna Books, which is always a wonderfully dangerous destination....

 

 

Comments

[Chris]

Oh, I love those birds...do you have a link to the person's shop that sells them? Great photos!

[valerie Easton]

Hi Chris,
No surprise - the link is http://www.rustybirds.com/
...now I wish I'd gotten a quail too. They have stands on the bottom so you can bolt them to the top of a fence or the edge of a windowbox or even windowsill...
Val

[Chris]

Thanks Val! I was able to open the link but nothing came up when I clicked on the calendar, which I believe you can only buy their birds at events??