Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Motivate - Hort Couture

This is the most important part of a garden show because we need to be motivated to incorporate new ideas into our future gardening experiences. 

Many times these regional garden shows are over-the-top and we can't imagine doing anything they display in our gardens.  I felt the Chicago show was a bit more realistic this year with some obvious flights of fancy.







I like all of these ideas for planter boxes but know the ferns cannot take full sun.  House plants are still big this year for outside and this doesn't bother me if you can find them for a reasonable price.  Bromiliads are expensive as are the ferns, maybe extensive use will bring the price down like it has for succulents.

Try to incorporate some sculpture into your garden this year, something homemade, garage sale, found or from one of the outlet stores.  It doesn't have to be expensive to add interest to the garden.

Water plants can be put in small fountains.  I have mine in a smaller area than this, so there is no excuse not to have that pond you have always wanted but lack the room for an in-ground one.

Create a vignette outside (not quite this fancy)

I have a few birdhouses but these were special, modeled after vintage homes.  A birdhouse might be something new for your garden this year!

This is from the "try a new weird plant" this year category.  I do not have room for a plant this big but I hear it is a beauty!

Save all of your old tires for this display?

Some Hort Couture to wear in your garden!

Can you imagine setting a table like this on your patio?

A bedroom to die for!

The above is the bling part of a garden show, but there is a lot of work that goes into executing one of these events and hopefully there is meaning in what the producers are trying to say.

10 comments:

Reading Tea Leaves said...

The Chicago Show looks incredible Eileen. As you say not everything will be to your taste but what an eye-opener! We don't have anything like that over here.

I cannot believe it is in the 80s over there already - phew!

Jeanne
x

Lona said...

How wonderful Eileen. I can see little things in the displays that we all could put into our gardens. I have wood ferns in my shade garden bed. Thank heavens they were free and all I had to do was go down into the woods to get them.LOL! I hope you are enjoying this weather. Everything is just growing by leaps and bounds now. Have a terrific week.

Diana LaMarre said...

What a great show.

those tires are the most uniquely painted that I have seen.

Beth said...

What a great garden show! Love your header photo too. It's evident that spring has sprung!
Beth

Jennifer said...

Hi Eileen, I am not sure about the car tires or that last display with the bed. It is a bit over the top for my tastes. I prefer the plant displays in your previous post. Looks like it was an interesting show!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jeanne,

The show was better this year not so outlandish as last yeear.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Lona,

It was a much more gardener friendly show this year. Our weather has turned cooler which is good just so it doesn't turn too cold.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Zoey,

Those tires must have taken a long time to paint, not sure it would be worth the labor.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Beth,

The daffodils have faded fast with the heat, but it has turned cooler so maybe my tulips will stay around for awhile.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jennifer,

I am not sure why they think it is necessary to put things in the show like those tires, beds, etc. Gardeners are not interested in things that have nothing to do with gardening!

Eileen