So I've been a little slow on the posting, but in my defense I still don't have an internet connection at my new place. So I'm also a little late with my
SF Flower and Garden Show post, but I went, I saw and I photo'd so I might as well share it here. Also almost one year ago (this Friday April 9th to be exact) was my very first blog post also about the show. So here's to my blog's one year anniversary.
At the show the lighting is terrible and it's hard to take photos. I did get a few though that I think are OK.
My favorite garden was the Salvaged Creole Jazz Courtyard designed by Dawn Engel. It was a pleasant little courtyard, one I could actually see having on my own property, and they spent a lot of time on detail.
Like this wrought iron fence in the shape of musical notes and staffs.
Or this hellebore hybrid named "Mardi Gras black" in a drum. There was also an aeonium "voodoo".
I also liked this Tuscan inspired garden.
And this treehouse like retreat.
More after the jump.
And these succulents hanging in these pots.
Now I know that this is a design show and some things are more for the sake of art or design, but it's obvious a lot of the designers are not gardeners. Some of the designs would promptly kill or cause suffering to plants. For example this wall.
The succulents in the wall would often be in the shade of the wall itself not the best idea for sun-loving plants.
Also we have this fescue lawn. Alright so far, but the cement halfpipe in the background had more fescue inside. Again, probably too much shade for the poor grass.
And grass on top, no room for roots, so it would need
a lot of water to survive. And I'm all for reinventing the lawn, but this too would just suck up a ton of water to even barely survive.
I preferred this Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue-eyed grass) "lawn".
Great round-up, Brad and happy blogiversary! I really liked the improbable stuff because it shows what's in the designer's mind which is not always something you'll be able to see anywhere else. (Although I wasn't a fan of the half-pipe, either!)
ReplyDeleteIn defense of the cubes, the students who designed that are from Arizona- perhaps they're for hotter climates than we're used to.
Can't wait till you're up and running with a decent connection- I've missed your posts!
Happy blogiversary! I agree, it was really difficult to take photos. And while it was sort of interested to see what the designers came up with, I prefer gardens that teach me something I can use. Or that are truly beautiful. But then, I'm also so grateful for the designers and all the other people who put the show together...and it was really fun!
ReplyDeleteI love viewing the different displays from these shows. I especially like the hanging succulents. The pots really show them off so well.
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogiversary Brad! I was conspiring with Christine that next year we need to set up a mini 'Blotanists Booth' at the SF Flower and Garden show to make it easier for us all to meet each other!
ReplyDeleteI loved the Jazz courtyard with the rebar fence. I also agree that I would much rather look at blue-eyed grass (this was the first time I'd seen it in bloom, in person) than plant fescue where it doesn't really want to grow! Nice summary of the show!
Thanks for the observations, Brad! I would love to see even more Blotanists at the show; we had quite a large semi-official 'Tweet & Blog Brigade' presence this year that made a big difference.
ReplyDeleteAbout the gardens, you note well that they are a mixture of conceptual and practical. In defense of Tyler Rineharts garden, if you read the description you'll see that it is meant to represent the tearing up of the traditional lawn (the 'half-pipe) to make way for native vegetation, not a new way to plant sod!
If you are interested in being more involved in next year's show, do become a fan of our Facebook page, where you can see many of your fellow Blotanist's posts as well! (fyi I'm the show publicist and also a Blotanist!)
Hi Brad, just dropping in to let you know we’ve bestowed the ‘Honest Scrap’ award on you. I know some bloggers don’t accept awards (I usually don’t), but at the very least I wanted you to know that we love reading Rooted in California. We're looking forward to seeing your new garden evolve!
ReplyDelete@laura: thanks for the info. And the correction. Serves me right for not reading the descriptions and shooting my mouth off.
ReplyDelete@curbstone valley: I usually don't accept awards either. But I appreciate. I enjoy reading your blog as well and have learned quite a bit about individual species. I now have an internet connection (much faster than before) and a backlog of photos so hopefully will be blogging more in the near future.