-

-
Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

The Tacoma Home and Garden Show: Part the Second



The good news about the plant sale part of the show was that there was a lot of space to walk around the tables.  The bad news is that the reason there was so much space is that there were fewer plant vendors this year.  This event used to have a whole separate huge room for the plant vendors; now they're just in a corner of the one space.  While the number of plant vendors was disappointing, the ones that did come brought some lovely things.  This is a very busy time in the horticulture industry and it's difficult to be loading up trucks of plants to take to events if  you're already busy in  greenhouses, receiving plants, planning for the year, etc. so I'm grateful for the vendors that did come and hope that the organizers of this event will do something to entice more participants to next year's event!




This one was new to me.  How fun to discover a new place to visit!

Agave "Blue Glow" seems to be popping up everywhere round these parts.  Has anybody tried growing it outside in the PNW?  Tony Avent places it as being hardy to zone 8b but I've always brought it inside for the winter.

Shy and sweet Hellebore.

These were cool but where would I put them?

Another great use for pruned branches of contorted filbert. 


Baby Dicksonia antarctica in four inch pots.  How long do you suppose it would take these to grow big enough to walk beneath?


Pinus contorta var. latifolia 'Chief Joseph' doing it's golden winter dance. 


I was too busy buying plants here to take pictures.  Bless their hearts for coming all the way from Stayton!  I just potted up the Hymenocallis bulbs and daylilies that I got here. There were also some tempting Oriental and Asiatic lilies but I must wait to see where the bulbs I planted last fall come up. 


Alison also found some treasures here!

The good folks from Lael's Moon Garden brought some great plants including three unusual  teeny dwarf conifers that came home with me.  I've bought great things from Lael's at various sales and always vow to go see the nursery.  Hooray, another great destination to visit this spring/summer! 


B&D lilies always has a great selection.  Their sign reading "Sun to Shade Lily Bulbs" intrigued me. They'll also be at the NWFGS and I'll definitely want to learn more about lilies for shade!

In contrast to the smaller number of plant vendors at this year's show, it seems like the Vintage Market perhaps had even more participants.  The Urban Gardener sharing a space with Millesime Designs.  Didn't get a picture but Millesime Designs had some gold-painted Monkey Puzzle tree branches in vases.  Brilliant! (And a fun idea to steal.)  If gold's not your thing, how about white, chartreuse, or black paint?

Ah, nostalgia is a wonderful thing!  

There was a pay phone with a rotary dial in one of the spaces.  It's interesting to think that there is a generation of people who would have no idea what that object was.

 Alison and I both thought this face was cool. 



Another punch cup chandelier.  I keep meaning to make one of these myself but never get around to it.  I sort of wish I'd just bought this one.

This vendor had some very nice American pottery including an unusual  McCoy vase that I thought was the bees knees and was reasonably priced but I have too much stuff already! (That doesn't usually stop me.)

Marianne Binetti yucking it up with Ciscoe Morris  as they broadcast his radio show.  Looks like they had as much fun as Alison and I!





21 comments:

  1. Lilies for shade...do you think they were referring to Martagon Lilies? And, do you know...I never thought I'd hear the words, "another punch cup chandelier.." Ha! Thanks for taking us along to the show.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Martagon Lilies are the only ones I know of that tolerate shade. I admired a punch cup chandelier at the show last year and liked this one even more. What a fun and creative way to use the cups. I haven't seen a punch bowl and cups used at a party in a long time (I don't get out much) but still have my set in the cupboard.

      Delete
  2. Plant vendors will show up if sales warrant it, so keep buying plants at the show!

    I almost quick-scrolled past the vintage photos because I wasn't in the mood, but then I saw the smiling "robot" sculpture -- glad I didn't miss that one! :)

    p.s. I'm not a fan of the golden conifers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right and I did buy from the vendors at the show.
      I'm usually not a fan of spray painting any plants and have my very own monkey puzzle tree branch that is beautifully brown but something about the ones in vases in this space was really striking.

      Delete
  3. Sure looks like an interesting place to spend some hours!
    Nothing happening here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes nothing happening is a good thing. When there's still snow on the ground, it's difficult to get very excited about buying plants. Spring is just around the corner!

      Delete
  4. Marianne and Cisco do look like they were having almost as much fun as us! I didn't realize that you were taking a photo of me, I would have looked up and smiled. I was tempted to buy one of those two yellow McCoy hands. The Vintage Market always has such interesting stuff, but then I start to wonder what I would really do with it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those hands called to me too but I wondered the same thing you did. You know, Antique row in Tacoma has lots of fun vintage shops. Perhaps next winter or later this winter we could check some of those shops out together.

      Delete
  5. Your post has solidified a fear I already had...that the NWFG Show plant vendor selection will be smaller too, and the vintage market will be bigger. Don't get me wrong, I like vintage, but not at the areas largest GARDEN show. It's not like anyone is sneaking plant vendors into antique sales.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your comment made me laugh! Sneaking plant vendors into antique sales...Hilarious! I hope that there will be lots of plant vendors at the Seattle show! Bark and Garden's absence will certainly be felt. Here's a link to the list of exhibitors: http://www.gardenshow.com/the-show/exhibitor-list/

      Delete
    2. Your comment made me laugh! Sneaking plant vendors into antique sales...Hilarious! I hope that there will be lots of plant vendors at the Seattle show! Bark and Garden's absence will certainly be felt. Here's a link to the list of exhibitors: http://www.gardenshow.com/the-show/exhibitor-list/

      Delete
  6. Valid concerns there from Loree, and I'm sure you'll treat us with a peak of your plant purchases.

    I'm fascinated by how so many of your plant shows are in winter and early in the year, hence have to be indoors. The large flower show in Philadelphia springs to mind too, such a cold place for a flower show in early March but I suppose it doesn't matter when indoors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, I'll definitely share what I've bought. I'm hoping to snag a few more tillandsias at the show among other things. I love outdoor garden shows but here it seems like most of the shows are, as you mentioned, in the winter or spring and indoors. Perhaps it's part of a marketing scheme to get people in the mood for plant shopping earlier.

      Delete
    2. Oh yes, I'll definitely share what I've bought. I'm hoping to snag a few more tillandsias at the show among other things. I love outdoor garden shows but here it seems like most of the shows are, as you mentioned, in the winter or spring and indoors. Perhaps it's part of a marketing scheme to get people in the mood for plant shopping earlier.

      Delete
  7. I agree with Loree as well and love the idea of sneaking plant vendors into antique sales!

    Now that you have a green house I hope you bought Dicksonia antarctica. In particular I'm curious to see the dwarf conifers you purchased. I took home a Hinoki Cypress Chirimen which I'm totally smitten with.
    And finally, I will not be surprised if you have a punch bowl set in your basement screaming to come out and be repurposed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I passed up the Dicksonia antarctica but may buy a larger one this summer. They're such lovely plants! I love Hinoki Cypress Chirimen and have a small on in a pot by my back door! I'll have to post about the three dwarf conifers I got. They're so tiny and cute!

      You know me too well! There is a punch set in a high cupboard in the kitchen. I keep thinking I'll use it again one day but the cups like the ones in the chandelier in the picture are available at thrift stores for fifty cents apiece.

      Delete
  8. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to visit that new source and report back to us asap. After the Fling, I definitely want to add more lilies. I know there will be a nice selection at the YG&P Show.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I accept the mission, rickii! The YG&P Show is only a month away! Hooray!

      Delete
  9. Well, that was fun! Makes me excited for the upcoming NWFG show,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I so thought of you when I saw all the McCoy & other pottery! NWFGS is only a little over a week away!

      Delete
  10. Lael's Moon Garden is a great nursery. Lots of cool plants!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.