Monday, March 14, 2011

Not A Trend In Sight

Each year I try to attend the local Wannamaker's Garden Show just to see what they do with this space in an attached greenhouse.  It was a blustery day so it was a treat to go inside among the plants and ponds.

They are known for their supply of colorful containers and there are hundreds more on racks outside.  I do see lots of tall containers, maybe I do see a trend!


Do these remind you of the sculptures at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show? 

The show is small and draws in local people from surrounding suburbs.  Wannamakers is about twenty miles west of Chicago and is an easy ride on the expressway from the city.

They bring in some well known vendors like Proven Winners, Baileys and Monrovia.  There are many others who represent garden equipment, small growers, seed companies, ponds and barbecues.


Self-contained pond (operates like a fountain but you can grow plants in it)




This is the only type of deer we would enjoy seeing in our gardens.


This is a new annual Phlox called Intensia Blueberry from Proven Winners


Sunsatia Nemesia (improved variety stands up to summer heat) from Proven Winners


I did spot some tropicals in the Monrovia display, but the rep didn't seem to know this was a new trend.  The prices are high because these containers are gallon size ($20)


Croton


A variety of succulents from Monrovia in smaller containers so maybe the pricing is more appealing.


On the way out I stopped in another area to select a trellis (they were on sale just during the show) as was just about everything else in the store.


Obelisks


Trellises

Resin Containers






Spring is definitely around the corner!
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24 comments:

  1. UnknownMon Mar 14, 10:18:00 AM 2011

    I am on the look out for tall narrow planters this year and love the ones shown in the photograph you posted. The cost, of course, will be the issue.

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  2. LonaMon Mar 14, 10:26:00 AM 2011

    They certainly have some colorful containers Eileen. I like the tall ones but not sure they would fit into m country garden style. This must be the year for wild animals at the garden shows around waterfalls.Is the larger wild animals going to be sold at all of the nurseries now? I will have to look for this at our local nurseries. I do not know what that dark foliage shrub is at the front of the picture but I love it. And tropical plants too seem to be the thing. I am sorry but they are not practical for my gardening and I have not place to overwinter them.It looks like a fun showing.

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  3. KarenMon Mar 14, 11:52:00 AM 2011

    Eileen, what would I do without your intrepid reporting on garden shows and what is new for the upcoming season? What caught my eye the most was the pond and waterfall with the beautiful rock work. I don't want bears and caribou/elk/moose or even deer in my yard though--at least not the real thing. I do like the tall containers, it's nice to get the floral arrangements up closer to eye view.

    Thank you so much for your excellent field reporting, Eileen.

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  4. Cher' ShotsMon Mar 14, 01:36:00 PM 2011

    I love the 'natural' look but some of those tall colorful planters are stunning! Love the ponds and waterfalls and all the foilage!
    thanks for sharing
    'hugs from afar'

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  5. MARY ANNEMon Mar 14, 05:26:00 PM 2011

    EILEEN:

    THANKS FOR SHARING THE TREASURES.
    RIGHT IN OUR OWN BACK YARD.

    SO GOOD TO BE HOME! THE PRESSURE IS ON..........A HOUSEWALK AND A GARDEN WALK.......I HAVE QUESTIONS...M.A.

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  6. Gatsbys GardensMon Mar 14, 06:40:00 PM 2011

    Hi ONG,

    Their planters are pretty reasonable. I have a few tall ones, you have to fill the bottoms before you add soil, with paper, plastic, etc.

    Eileen

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  7. Gatsbys GardensMon Mar 14, 06:42:00 PM 2011

    Lona,

    That dark plant was a Rhodie. It was a great pond sans the animals.

    Eileen

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  8. Gatsbys GardensMon Mar 14, 06:43:00 PM 2011

    Hi Karen,

    Those animals were a bit much, but the pond was beautiful.

    Eileen

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  9. Gatsbys GardensMon Mar 14, 06:44:00 PM 2011

    Hi Cher,

    The planters were great. They have the best selection in our area.

    Eileen

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  10. Gatsbys GardensMon Mar 14, 06:46:00 PM 2011

    Thanks Mary Anne,

    It is great to find garden resources nearby, too many have gone out of business.

    EIleen

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  11. Jennifer@threedogsinagardenMon Mar 14, 08:41:00 PM 2011

    Hi Eileen,
    I so hope that you are right about spring being around the corner! After days and days of rain, we finally had some sun today. There was a light kiss of warmth in the air that seemed to suggest spring is not far off.
    The nursery you visited in this post seems to offer a quite a nice selection of garden accessories! I was also admiring the Pholomis russelina in your last post.

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  12. AnonymousMon Mar 14, 10:41:00 PM 2011

    Thank you for taking us along on your trip. I love the colorful pots. The obelisks and tellises look mouthwatering too. Hurry up spring!

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  13. Diana LaMarreTue Mar 15, 04:23:00 AM 2011

    I love the colorful containers. My Home Depot has them. I have been looking at them for a couple of years, hoping to catch one of the tall ones during a good sale.

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  14. Gatsbys GardensTue Mar 15, 04:45:00 AM 2011

    Hi Jennifer,

    I really liked the pink pholomis but it was so floppy. I think the yellow is an older variety, shorter and stronger. We'll see.

    Eileen

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  15. Gatsbys GardensTue Mar 15, 04:46:00 AM 2011

    Hi Grace,

    With their special sale, the trellises were a good buy. Usually, they are pretty pricey.

    Eileen

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  16. garden girlTue Mar 15, 10:09:00 AM 2011

    That pond is wonderful (I could do without the animals!) Love the little fawn though.

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  17. Rosie Nixon FluertyTue Mar 15, 10:41:00 AM 2011

    I like tall containers but they need so much compost. Sometimes I fill the bottom of the tall container with polystrene and then compost on top. I could have a field day at that show -so many things that we don't see here in the UK.

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  18. BalishaTue Mar 15, 06:10:00 PM 2011

    The colors are gorgeous this year. I must get my little fawn out from under the blue spruce.My tulips are up...Balisha

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  19. TootsieThu Mar 17, 10:22:00 AM 2011

    LOTS of inspiration on this post!

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  20. Gatsbys GardensThu Mar 17, 03:47:00 PM 2011

    Hi GG,

    There were lots of huge animals this year. I like the smaller ones that don't look scary in the garden.

    Eileen

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  21. Gatsbys GardensThu Mar 17, 03:48:00 PM 2011

    Hi Rosie,

    They do say you can pack the bottom of those tall containers with some type of ledge in the middle, small pot, etc. It looks like a challenge.

    Eileen

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  22. Gatsbys GardensThu Mar 17, 03:49:00 PM 2011

    Hi Balisha,

    I do have a few tulips poking through but mostly daffodils.

    Eileen

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  23. Catherine@AGardenerinProgressFri Mar 18, 10:37:00 PM 2011

    I'd go crazy at place like that. I've never seen so many choices of trellises and containers.
    I have to say I'm becoming more and more interested in succulents this year. I'd never really paid that much attention to them, but they might be my new trend this year.

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  24. mrbrownthumbFri Mar 18, 11:35:00 PM 2011

    Wow, those sheleves of pots looks impressive. I have to go to this show one day if only to look at the selection of pots. If you are ever near City Escape (on Lake Street underneath the Green Line) it has a lot of pots too, large ones! Not as impressive as these but worth looking into.

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