Northwest Flower and Garden Show

It is amazing. They usally open it up for the npa open and also Bainbridge in bloom,. I would definatly go. If you go on the npa open carla watermans is also open. I would try to go in the middle of summer because they have so many cool tropically things. It is amazing how much they can plant in such a little yard. Where did you hear they were closing?

I will defintly go to the NPA Open.

I got on the phone and I guess little lewis sold their house. I would recommend you all go it is very cool. Jim I know you could do many cool things like theirs. And pixy I know you could do some of their beautifully painted mirrors.

When are they closing?
And whats the best time to go?

Duh . . . what's the NPA open?

I know that they bought this fabulous condo down in Mexico. They were showing photos of the place when I visited their gardens 2 years ago. Maybe they are moving down there. Geez, I hope whoever bought the place knows how to keep the gardens.
NPA - Northwest Perennial Association?

Ahhhhhh . . . I knew it would be something I should have known.

Northwest Perennial Alliance http://www.northwestperennialalliance.org/ I joined last year and really like it. They have local chapters that meet monthly.

So what is the NPA open? Is it an open house at L&L that they're hosting? Guess I'll just check out the site. I can do that.

Here is the link with information about the Open Days http://www.northwestperennialalliance.org/member_spring_fling.php

Heidi, I am definetly going to visit them before they close. I know I could do a lot of their work. but I'm not 30 anymore, so I would have to limit what I can take on. Hosta Hybridizing, and making Garden Spheres and keeping up the gardens here, is more than enough for me. Jim

I know jim I am sore moving my manure. We need to make the cool stuff forourselves first then if there are more sell or trade. There are gardens open almost everyweekend all summer in the pacific northwest. I guess when ciscos yard is on his is pretty cool plants and stuff everywhere. My kindof yard. They also have lots of speakers and events. Great for you all living on the other side of the pond. Well worth the investment.

Jim, I am constantly trying to figure out how to get that really, really smooth finish they do. More like stone than concrete. Do you have anything up your sleeve on this? Last time I visited them, I bought one of their ravens. I simply love it. It's my favorite garden ornament besides the cement leaves.
Here he is. Remind me to take the unsightly green ties off that trellis. It completely ruins the look. I wanted everything I saw, but this is all I could really afford. Shouldn't have done it, but never regretted it for a minute.

Heidi, okay you win, I want to go look at it. I want to make the mushroom waterfall that I saw on L & L's website. you wouldn't have a schedule of these weekenders? Pixy, I think they use a disk sander. I have been working on making several of my spheres smooth instead of textured. I'll probably have to buy one to accomplish it. but with my lung problems I have to wear a respirator rated for the dust. I wear one when mixing mortar or when I'm working with peatmoss. but I don't think it's enough protection. Jim

LIkely not. I've learned that I have to use a mask when working with those materials. It's not the lungs. It's the sinuses. Deadly. I guess a really good respirator is a necessary piece of equipment. I do hope I can get to doing some spheres for my own garden this year. I want to do one that is like a cracked egg. Also have a plan for an organic shape that is tall and slim and sits in an iron stand. Some day.
I also have plans for making a few more boulders out of large pieces of concrete rubble, and I have a cement chair in my brain that needs building around another large piece of rubble. That one is more complicated and will take time.

Pix, that raven is scary, I wouldn't go out at night with that in my yard. it might come to life. I wonder if anyone closer to you, is doing the spheres? I had a small workshop making them with 2 ladies, from my garden club. there's so many steps to it. and a lot of letting them dry in between. I wouldn't want to do it again. Jim

Veering back to the topic of the garden show....I have a question for those who have been to it before. How hard is it to get into the seminars if you don't have a pass to them? I think I would choose 2 seminars to get the pass for and then would like to attend some others as well if it is not too difficult to get in.

Hi Pixy and Jim, I think they make a reverse plaster mold. So when you pop out the concrete it is smooth like the plaster. My friend Robin made tons of cool concrete art and I think she carved her first peice out of clay then did latex . I know L and L do a latex mold. Bainbridge in bloom is usally the 3 rd weekend in July. Last year it was like the 18th. They are always open that date which is a weekend . I'll double check..

Mauryhill, it depends on the seminar. Some are 'sell outs' and some are not. You can always stand in the hall and listen if you cannot get a seat.

Jim, you think the raven is scary? I think it is fabulous! But, I do love ravens so maybe that makes a difference. I make molds as well, using latex. I figure that these kinds of sculptures are made using a mold.

Maybe there will be some good concrete art at the show.

There is a pair of ravens (live ones) that hang out around my place and the neighboring woods. They can be quite comical and appear very intelligent also. They pull the corn and beans out of the ground when they have just sprouted and still have the seed attached. The birds watch me plant, then wait until a little green has sprouted up so they know where to yank. I have to put insect barrier over the bed to prevent this. One of them was studying me intensely from the top of the trellis as I was spreading the cloth out and tacking it down after having lost my first planting to them. The ravens are bigger than they look from afar, as they periodically steal eggs from the neighbor's chickens and carry them away in their beaks. They fly over my garden and drop the eggs on the patio to break them. I'd consider them a pest except that I really like them and their deep, burbly call keeping me company in the summertime.

Mauryhillfarm, if you want to go to a seminar 11/2 hours prior you go stand in line for that seminar. tickets are free, limit 2 per person. the line is over by the, I believe, the south entrance, when they have given out the room capacity. that's it. seating for the seminar is 1/2 hr prior. good luck, Jim

Hi Heidi and all. I'm the other Katie here. I know Heidi from NPA (because I do the OG book). Little and Lewis did not open for us last year or the year before but I think if you can get a group together and call for an appointment they might open for you. It's certainly worth seeing. I'm sorry to hear they're moving but not terribly surprised. They have another property where they've been spending the winter months - I think it's in Mexico. Here's their website: http://www.littleandlewis.com/llhtml/

Hi Katie I think tit might be the garden conservancy that they open up for. I went through last year. Also Bainbridge in Bloom isn't advertised but locals know its open. I would definatly call and make an apointment. They get owly if you show up unexpected.. I know

You're right, Heidi! They did open for Garden Conservancy last year. Heronswood opened for the day and I understand George Ball was there. From what I heard, he got a hostile reception from some people. Did you go?

No I had my nursery open. Heronswood hired me to help in the gardens last summer to get ready for the open. I guess there was over 1500 people. I'm glad it was open alot of people just had never made it. It sure is pretty and badly missed. It was wild here at my place I finally got cleared out at 7:30 at night. It was a wild day. I guess one guy had that t-shirt that was on the cover of plants delights nusery catalog. The day the nurserys died with heronswood on it. I guess he kept standing in front of george with his t-shirt. Pretty funny

LOL! Yeah, I heard about that guy and his T-shirt too. Good for him! Glad you got lots of business from that! You deserve it. I love your place.
BTW, are you going to register for Open Gardens this year? Haven't heard from you yet. You want to open with Sundquist again?

Yes I do want to open with nils again. I'm not very good at writing those things so I put it off. Plus it has been so nice out the paper work backs up until it rains. Yes I want to be on the gardens open again I will get my rear in gear. It is always fun to meet gardeners from other areas.

Well, you'll both need to post here when that garden open is. We need a DG group to go on the tour.

Pix, count me in, on the tours. I hope they are not too early. I'm working on pollenating Hostas, June through Sept. It usually take me about 3 hours in the morning. if I plan it right, I can get my work done by 10am. then I'm free for the day. Jim

Early is tough for me, too. I'm NOT a morning person.

I just happened upon this thread - I read recently (Seattle P-I, I believe) that Little & Lewis also own the property next door to the one they just sold and are going to "garden" there. I'll try to find that info, but I suspect that for once I'm on top of tossing my newspapers.

They sure didn't seem to know when they wanted us there when Gwendalou contacted them last year. That was so strange.

So they've sold their original property and are moving to another close by. Seems to be a trend here. Hmmmmm. Still, I'm so sorry I missed ever seeing Heronswood in its heyday and I don't want to miss this one.

David owns the house and garden that everyone sees. next door their is a trail by the mushroom that goes to Davids house. There isn't much of a garden there they store some of their concrete spheres there and they have a huge tertapanax and thats pretty much it.

katie59, when I called them last year, about the open, they were very apolagetic about not being open. they were in the process of winterizing everything. so there wouldn't have been that much to see. I hope we can make a date with them this year. I really want to see it all before they close it down. Jim

Jim - I hadn't realized that. I just knew that there was some confusion about whether they were accepting or expecting a group. I just didn't get the sense that they really wanted anybody there.

So good to hear that they do want visitors in season. :-)

Sounds like we need to start a new thread for L&L 2008 to make sure we keep on top of it?

Maybe all you Seattleites know this, but I just discovered that Swanson's is having a spring sale from February 13th through March 2nd-just in time for the garden show for all us out-of-towners.

Swanson's Spring Sale
Wednesday February 13th - Sunday March 2nd.
Savings from 25% - 40% on a huge selection of plants. Refresh your containers, and add pizzazz to your garden with late winter and early spring blooming perennials, rockery plants, evergreen grasses, and bare-root and B&B ornamental trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees, and soft fruit.

Ohhhhhhh. Didn't know that. 25% - 40% off. That's a must-experience experience, for sure.

I love Swansons! Thanks for the info Susy!

I've been going to Swanson's since I was a kid, then shopped there as a young adult when my children were small, have continued to do so whenever I could - if there is any way possible, I would love to meet some of you there . . . and their solarium/gift shop/cafe is delightful so we could EAT and shop for fun stuff as well!!

Hopefully we can get into L&L this year as soon as they are back and ready to open. If I call them and explain about the unfortunate circumstance we had, hopefully they will be eager to accommodate us!

Wonder if they will put the place up for sale and leave altogether or just are going to live here less often and so not do the business end of it anymore.

I will call them toward the end of Feb and see if they're around and if we can plan something for as soon as they re-open.

Gwen