The Northwest Flower and Garden Show - A Pre Preview

The Northwest Flower and Garden Show is only days away and excitement is building.  What will the demonstration gardens look like this year?  I visited Windmill Nursery last weekend and sneaked a peak in one of the back greenhouses where seasonal plants are located in the spring and summer. Windmill is one of several places where plants are kept before the big show.  Here several houses are kept fairly warm and given special additional lighting to trick plants into thinking it's summer.  Here are some of the plants we might see at the show.

There were even larger trees so tall that they were stored on their sides.  These should start showing  color just in time for "A Taste of Spring," the theme of this year's show.

I know which exhibitor many of these plants are being held for and they are located quite far from Windmill.  I wonder how people choose where their plants will be held.  Do you suppose it's a matter of which houses have space with the right conditions for particular plant effects?

I asked a very nice Windmill employee , fellow plant addict, and fan of the show but she wasn't quite sure either.   She did mention that there was a great demand for forced bulbs this year.

Blooming calla lilies and beautiful brugmansias are not easy to make happen in February in this area.

Healthy and happy looking abutilons. 

Look at that great foliage!

 Impatiens.

Columbine 

Pelargonium (geraniums)

All bound for the show!  I'll be looking closely to see how many of these  I can spot there. 

I'm so looking forward to playing spot the plant!