MySecretGarden

U.S.A., Washington State. USDA zone 8b. Sunset climate zone 5

Northwest Flower & Garden Show - 2015: West Seattle Nursery Display Garden


The name of this display garden was 'Birds Do It... Bees Do It...'
As a person who had an uncle-beekeeper and spent many happy childhood days among beehives, I was naturally partial to this garden.
Back in those times, there was nothing more exciting for me than to find myself during a morning in a forest where dozens of beehives stood.
It was a magic place with no industry within hundreds of miles, where the sound of a creek, carrying crystal water, together with the songs of birds and the buzzing of bees were the only noisemakers.

Starting in kindergarten, we used to help  the adults harvest honey by carrying the frames filled with the thick amber treasure from the hives to the honey extractor.
We held the frames putting our thumbs under the frame tops before handing them to the people who operated the extractor and then watching how the pure sweetness flew from it into the bucket.
Once, I didn't notice a bee, and it got squeezed between my thumb and the frame. Of course, it stung me, but I couldn't drop the precious frame and continued to carry it. Ouch!
It wasn't the only sting that I got, but it never stopped me from enjoying that place.
Comb honey was our reward. I'd never ever trade it for all the candy and other treats of the confectionery industry.
Sweet memories.






This is what the creators of the display garden said in their show brochure:










"Scientists had struggled to find the trigger for so-called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) that 
has wiped out an estimated 10 million beehives, worth $2 billion, over the past six years. 
Suspects have included pesticides, disease-bearing parasites and poor nutrition. 
But in a first-of-its-kind study published today in the journal PLOS ONE, scientists 
at the University of Maryland and the US Department of Agriculture have identified 
a witch’s brew of pesticides and fungicides contaminating pollen that bees collect to feed their hives."  Source










 Some plants from the West Seattle Nursery display garden:
Louie Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus 'Louie')
Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica)
Cousin Itt (Acacia cognate)
Columnar Norway Spruce (Picea abies cupresinna)
Fuchsia (Fuchsia 'Delta's Sarah')
Winter Daphne (Daphne odora 'Maejima')
Brazilian Giant Rhubab (Gunnera maicata)
Bear's Breeches (Acanthus major 'Whitewater')
Rice Paper Plant, Paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Nanjing Gold')
Dwarf Flowering Peach (Prunus persica 'Bonfire')
Tulip (Tulipa 'Princess Irene')
Beartongue (Penstemon 'War Axe')
Hook Sedge (Uncinia rubra 'Belinda's Find')
Himalayan Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum venustum)





Cattail  bird feeders





















"This garden really is about the birds and the bees (in the literal sense), but a lush, grassy area accented by a subtle water feature provides a setting to form your own interpretation of romance. Blooming spring bulbs add splashes of color, but it’s also a setting where backyard gardeners grow their own fruits and vegetables.
Our lives intersect with birds and bees on many levels. An elevated live bee house is the garden’s focal point along with inviting blooming plants for our winged neighbors. Constructed using recycled materials and salvaged wood, the bee house spotlights the vital importance of bees in the production of food.
Our feathered friends aren’t left out in the cold with artistic bird houses providing shelter. And a decorative but functional “insect hotel” further underscores the importance of all the inhabitants in our eco-system.
“Take-home ideas” for your own garden: Plant selections that attract and support birds and bees"
 Source: NWFGS




Wonderful!
***
West Seattle Nursery & Garden Center website: West Seattle Nursery

***Copyright 2015 TatyanaS

22 comments:

  1. You managed to get some nice closeup shots of the details in this garden! It was one of my favorites too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alison, I think that I notice more details in the pictures after uploading!

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  2. I am glad they were not afraid to add some color. I do hope you will be posting more from the show.

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    Replies
    1. Les, I hope too! This year, the display gardens were very colorful!

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  3. Thank you for identifying the cattail bird feeders. I knew they had to be something significant and not just decorative.

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    Replies
    1. Jean, I thought in the beginning that they were just decorations. You should be close to them to notice seeds inside!

      Delete
  4. Yes, sweet memories! And what a great display at the NW Flower Garden Show. It's wonderful that they're educating about the need for pollinator habitat. And so encouraging to see Tulips this time of year!

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    Replies
    1. Beth, I also appreciate their effort! Well done!

      Delete
  5. Thank you for sharing your childhood memories of spending time with your uncle's bees. What a special time and place that was! This was one of my favorite gardens at the show and I'm looking forward to visiting West Seattle Nursery soon. You always find such interesting details too photograph! Happy new week!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Peter! I've never been to this nursery; maybe, you'll post about it!

      Delete
  6. I really like those cattail bird feeders! I think the display is fun and those bird & bee hotels..how cool!

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    Replies
    1. Jennifer, those feeders need a sign: Not For Squirrels!

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  7. Thank you for showing these beautiful displays, love all the colors!

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    Replies
    1. Spring colors are beautiful! Thank you, Klara!

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  8. Cracking pictures Tatyana.

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  9. Tatyana you really captured this garden display beautifully. I am glad that this display won as it certainly teaches folks how to garden for wildlife...creative, ingenious and stunning in a rustic way too.

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    Replies
    1. They showed some practical, easy-to-do things! Thank you, Donna!

      Delete
  10. Dear Tatyana, thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment!
    What I really like about this display garden is that they seem to have deeply thought about the environment and truly care about pollinators, especially bees and birds. They have come up with some easy doable solutions that the average gardener on a budget can copy and implement in his/her own garden to support wildlife as well, which I think is great.
    But do I like the way the garden looks? Actually, I don't! I can't get over the garish and dominant color of the bright orange/red tulips and the screaming and clashing color combinations (orange/red/purple/crimson) that they used are simply not appealing to me.
    There is one plant though, that I find quite fascinating: The light yellow flowering shrub in the container to the left of the shed. Do you know what plant that is?
    Warm regards,
    Christina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Christina and thanks for your comment! It's good that we all have our own taste; otherwise all gardens would look the same!
      The plant name is Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Nanjing Gold' (Paperbush). Isn't it beautiful? I have one blooming in my garden - long lasting, interesting flowers, a jewel in the winter garden!

      Delete
  11. What a lovely display! And what a great place to spend time with as a kid! I believe in teaching kids about the importance and preciousness of nature and the environment. And I hope the new studies and awareness will help bring an end to the common use of all these harmful pesticides.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by and for your comment! I appreciate your time! See you soon on your blog!

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