Scenes from the 2013 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show

In case you weren't able to get to the show this year, here are a few shots of the display gardens from the 2013 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show. I have to say I thought the gardens were pretty disappointing--probably the least inspired or inspiring display gardens I've seen at the show in all the years I've been going. The ones that looked nice--the kind of gardens that people might actually want to live with--seemed like the kind of thing we've already seen over and over again. And then there were the gardens that were more performance art than garden. And the Weeds garden? I don't even know what to say about that. An interesting concept perhaps, but not very well executed. Oh well, here are a few shots--judge for yourself:

 

 

 

 

Gardening Events on the Horizon

You know the new year has really started in earnest for gardeners when the calendar starts to fill up with not-to-be-missed gardening events. Well, that time has arrived. Here are just a few of the happenings in the Bay Area that I'm looking forward to in the coming months:

• The Pacific Orchid Exposition (Feb. 21-24) at Fort Mason in San Francisco. This is always a mind-blowing experience just for the sheer number and variety of orchids gathered in one place. But this year should be even more amazing due to the addition of a series of seminars running throughout the show. This will allow you to not just ogle the beautiful orchids, but really learn a good deal more about them. (Note: You can save a few dollars on admission by buying your tickets in advance online.)
• Daffodil Daydreams/Opening Celebration at Filoli (Feb. 22-24) in Woodside. Come to admire the profusion of daffodils and other spring blooms in the amazing setting that is Filoli. Stroll, attend lectures, sup in the cafe. It's a feast for the senses.
• Growing Organic Tomatoes talk at Evergreen Nursery (Mar. 9, 1 p.m.) in San Leandro.  I'll give an hour-long presentation on growing great-tasting, chemical-free tomatoes and will also be signing copies of my book, California Fruit and Vegetable Gardening afterward. The event is free and Evergreen Nursery is a terrific nursery you may not know about yet. Come join us!
• The San Francisco Flower & Garden Show (Mar. 20-24) at the San Mateo Event Center. This is the grand-daddy of all Bay Area garden events and a great opportunity for learning, shopping, and planning your next gardening projects. (Note: Save money on Early Bird tickets purchased before Mar. 11.)

I'll post more events as I find out about them, and starting in April and May there will be many garden tours going on, so keep your calendar open!

Oh To Be in England Now That the Chelsea Garden Show Is There

Check out this video from the BBC about this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show. I particularly love that the gardens are actually outdoors--I don't know of any garden shows in the U.S. that aren't mostly indoors with really bad lighting. My favorite part of the video is, of course, the writer's hut in the middle of a garden but I also really love the Caravan Club garden that brings Shabby Chic outdoors. The whole show looks amazing and one day I really hope to be there in person.

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