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!

24 comments:

Unknown said...

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.

Lona said...

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.

Karen said...

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.

Cher' Shots said...

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'

MARY ANNE said...

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.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

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

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Lona,

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

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Karen,

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

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Cher,

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

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Mary Anne,

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

EIleen

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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

Diana LaMarre said...

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.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

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

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Grace,

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

Eileen

garden girl said...

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

Rosie Nixon Fluerty said...

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.

Balisha said...

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

Tootsie said...

LOTS of inspiration on this post!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi GG,

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

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

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

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Balisha,

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

Eileen

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

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.

mrbrownthumb said...

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.