![salmon swimming down stream](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_dc7a5669077144bca6aaa679939ecb35~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_dc7a5669077144bca6aaa679939ecb35~mv2.jpg)
salmon swimming down stream
Now that the Northwest Flower and Garden Show has come and gone we can look back on some of the highlights of the show. I think the quality of the display gardens was as good as it has been in several years. The judging is done on a point system so it is easy to tell the quality just by the number of gold and silver awards.
![very cool plantings](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_aa80e0de7f4c4146a07076492a0047a2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_aa80e0de7f4c4146a07076492a0047a2~mv2.jpg)
very cool plantings
Besides the display gardens the numerous market place vendors would keep anybody busy. They had offerings from plants, garden tools, garden ornaments and art. Then there was the whole vintage market, which for a picker like me was quite fun. I did find a few things that I just had to bring home.
![Winning Display from Sky Nursery](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_e03ce5580d58459899a2d9f46f501e88~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_e03ce5580d58459899a2d9f46f501e88~mv2.jpg)
Winning Display from Sky Nursery
In the entry there was a floral competition which many local designers take very seriously creating some amazing displays. On the sky-bridge there was a container, vignette competition which is always very creative and diverse.
![Greg, Karin and Barbara](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_83a3c698cb8d4f68a70f9e6bff0e94c4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_75,h_56,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_83a3c698cb8d4f68a70f9e6bff0e94c4~mv2.jpg)
Greg, Karin and Barbara
I spent most of my time in the resource area. It is the area to find booths to answer a lot of your gardening questions. There were groups specializing in everything from day lilies to roses and public gardens to native plants. I was working at the booth for the Northwest Horticultural Society and the Pacific Horticulture Society. NHS is the one of the largest education non-profit organization. We do a series of education events including monthly lectures, symposiums, tours, classes and plant sales. PHS produces the finest gardening magazine in the country which focuses on the west coast. PHS also has a wonderful tour program and a series of educational events.
![color galore](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_0c6082d33bca46fc814e6161f0ebd0f7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_0c6082d33bca46fc814e6161f0ebd0f7~mv2.jpg)
color galore
For the serious hort-head the lecture series is unbeatable. There were three separate stages with lectures on each running from morning until night. It’s no wonder this show is so popular. In fact it is the second largest in the country so for those of you from out of the area it might be a good winter break next year.
![Best plant material](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_2b566e2abfb24a438a19f0bc7b4af390~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_2b566e2abfb24a438a19f0bc7b4af390~mv2.jpg)
Best plant material
![glass pitcher plants](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_8fd0f08891134068835736e7a9dcdef2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_8fd0f08891134068835736e7a9dcdef2~mv2.jpg)
glass pitcher plants
![glass in the garden](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_20d0a33fd4434abd8b3d1884b8d804a1~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_20d0a33fd4434abd8b3d1884b8d804a1~mv2.jpg)
glass in the garden
![ground covers and stone](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_8bfe50f1de134d62ab49686c836a7f83~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_8bfe50f1de134d62ab49686c836a7f83~mv2.jpg)
ground covers and stone
![green wall](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_3d241686c3d244d1bf19f0c369561120~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_3d241686c3d244d1bf19f0c369561120~mv2.jpg)
green wall
![stone water feature](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_736b5a5cf62949e4bbc59b0d328393ae~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_67,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_736b5a5cf62949e4bbc59b0d328393ae~mv2.jpg)
stone water feature
![Founder Cup Winning Garden](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_3c87bf0180464e9bb3893659945c35ba~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_3c87bf0180464e9bb3893659945c35ba~mv2.jpg)
Founder Cup Winning Garden
![bird houses in the garden](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_5cc0f97a4b6244a89dd5a7efba30e1d4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_75,h_56,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_5cc0f97a4b6244a89dd5a7efba30e1d4~mv2.jpg)
bird houses in the garden
![white formal garden](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_6ea3f1dccbad43dfb629ed40f67a2535~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_6ea3f1dccbad43dfb629ed40f67a2535~mv2.jpg)
white formal garden
![patio and metal fence](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_89640bfe6d894b01a29d411da22452ea~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_75,h_65,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_89640bfe6d894b01a29d411da22452ea~mv2.jpg)
patio and metal fence
![metal fence](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_cebefe111f814e66bf9c802f1805876b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_196,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_cebefe111f814e66bf9c802f1805876b~mv2.jpg)
metal fence
![Urban Garden with shed](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_2941b1bdc803441cae6b16a4e45645bc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_2941b1bdc803441cae6b16a4e45645bc~mv2.jpg)
Urban Garden with shed
stone in the garden
![art in the garden](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_8a109995066e4a04933e3352c401183d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_8a109995066e4a04933e3352c401183d~mv2.jpg)
art in the garden
arch and formal walk
![color in the garden](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_90c2abb5e6f349358569933b2592e234~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_90c2abb5e6f349358569933b2592e234~mv2.jpg)
color in the garden
![metal - stone and glass](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/91ad85_fac13d3744574f209fc7b27e08d3256c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_56,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/91ad85_fac13d3744574f209fc7b27e08d3256c~mv2.jpg)
metal – stone and glass