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Feb
18
Posted by Kathleen Cragun
We have been told that this will be the LAST Northwest Flower and Garden Show unless a buyer is found by March 31. This Flower and Garden show has been annual event since 1988. It has a world wide reputation of one of the best, but Duane and Alice Kelly, founders, who have been putting on the show want to bring down the curtain to go on to other interests. SOMEONE OUT THERE, PLEASE come forward and continue the show.
I had the pleasure of going to a MEDIA ONLY SNEAK PREVIEW of 26 full scale display gardens of the show today. We were allowed in at 10am and had 2 hours to get an up close and personal look at the 2009 Display Gardens. Landscapers and designers and their crews were still putting the finishing touches on many of the displays. A tour was led by Steve Lorton, former editor of Sunset Magazine and also involved Duane Kelly. Every one, including the landscapers had to be done and out by noon.
If this year is the last, it may also be the best. If they go out, they want to go out on top. You won’t want to miss it. The show opens Feb 18 and runs through Feb 22. Wed-Sat 9am to 8pm, Sunday 9am-6pm, at The Seattle Convention Center. 7th & Pike.
This years theme is “Sustainable Spaces. Beautiful Places” - Here are some sneak previews of the gardens: Photos by Ashley Kyser of Irresistible Photography.
Duane Kelly, the shows founder and producer answers a few questions.
This is one of the 4 Seasons (Summer) in the Patchwork Garden. Botanicals are the inspiration for the quilts and the quilts are the inspiration for the gardens. Quilts by Susan Webster, Gathering Place Quilt Shop in Woodinville and the Gardens, designed by Tom Quigley of Olympic Nursery.
Creative glass sculpture combined with Plants. A element of one of three Gardens designed for urban dwellers who may just have a patio or deck. The picture below shows another of these urban gardens. Skyline Sanctuary, Octavia Chambliss and Elliot Bay Landscape.
One of many inspiring views at the Gardens
New Leaf Creations, Steve Haizlip of Issaquah was the creator of Nature’s Classroom (above). The focus here is in fact a classroom with black board illustrations in a shed complete with a roof teaming with plants. Steve talked about how much the horticulture students at Lake Washington Voc Tech helped him and many other exhibitors at the show. Below is a sculpture in the same garden named “Sprout”.
This is just a very small sample of the Display Gardens. There is so much more than the gardens, like 110 FREE Seminars and workshops, and all in all, 350 exhibitors in the show. There is even a scavenger hunt for children in the gardens, with prizes! The website can tell you more. www.gardenshow.com
It is astounding how much work and effort go into this event. The Garden creators have only 3 1/2 Days to turn a flat, cement space into a garden paradise. Would you believe: The weight of rocks and boulders placed by Marenako’s Rock Center is 415,000 lbs. It took 60 dump trucks of dirt and mulch. 300 people work night and day to set up the show. 60,000-80,000 visitors come to see the show. There are an estimated 3,951 hotel rooms booked as a result of the 2008 show. There are $6,600,000 total purchases made from exhibitors. Thousands of dollars are donated to the Washington Park Arboretum from the Preview Party.
This is not something Seattle and the Greater Northwest can afford to lose.
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Jun
20
Posted by Kathleen Cragun
Bargains galore. It’s the semi-annual IH Garage Sale. 9AM-4PM. You don’t want to miss it.
Now it is 1:05 PM. There are three more hours. Lots and lots of homes still have stuff.
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Jan
06
Posted by Larry Cragun
I was speaking with a man who had taken his family to all of the major Seattle stores for a day of Christmas festivities. His comment was without a doubt the Bellevue Square Snowflake Lane was the best of them all. We actually did both the Snowflake Lane show and the after Christmas Celebration Lane. My new years resolution is to take kids and grandkids to both next year. To add to the fun, Bellevue Square itself if a fantastic place on its own. A tip – A Bellevue Square gift certificate can be cashed at any store there. Be there for Christmas or be Square.
Tags: Snowflake+Lane, Bellevue+square
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Jul
12
Posted by Larry Cragun
Click Here For Renderings of this exciting new shopping center, due to open in 2009 - yes its a long time - but we have waited 8 years already:
It looks like we are finally going to go ahead with the Issaquah Highlands shopping mall. We have heard about it for a long time and now it’s going to happen. In an article by our Issaquah Press on June 27th there is much information about this retail center. This is a big deal. When completed it will be as big as Bellevue Sq or Redmond Town Center. That will benefit all of us in Issaquah and surrounding area. No more running into Bellevue for major shopping. The mall will be built east of Highlands drive. There is much activity there already.
Watching it take place will be interesting. One of the things I enjoy is having new stuff happening all around. Good stuff, that is. But somedays in the Highlands it will be nice not to have construction noise and dust and dirt flying into my house. Right now I understand that the roads, curbs, sidewalks and the like will be going in. Still haven’t heard anything about when, where or who our grocery store will be! Now that will get me excited.
It won’t look like this much longer! More at www.issaquahhighlandsundressed.com Posted by Kathleen
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May
10
Posted by Larry Cragun
What to get for your Mom. A few ideas. Below a $300 dollar basket at Molbaks!?
Or maybe a do-it-yourself garden present like a shovel - Well, it is a cute shovel! And cheaper.
How about a bird house or maybe an Orchid?
I call this the Darth Vader Orchid. It looks like it might eat your Mom. Kinda scary! Good Luck! Posted by Kathleen
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Jan
10
Posted by Larry Cragun
Bellevue’s 25th Annual Homeshow is Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday at the Meydenbauer Center at the corner of NE 6th Street and 112th Avenue NE.
Does your house look a little dull now that your Christmas decorations are put away? There will be new and exciting ideas here as well as new products and designers that can make you excited about your home. There is always a wealth of info. It will be another warm and interesting way to spend a day. Key Bank has some guest passes.
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Dec
05
Posted by Kathleen Cragun
Only a few miles from Issaquah is a primo shopping mall, Bellevue Square. Each year for much of December at 7:00pm each evening there is a show you shouldn’t miss. It only lasts about 20 minutes and you can get back to your shopping. It really gets you in the mood of the season. Come early. There is lots of parking, but lots of people too! Check it out at http://bellevuesquare.com/index.php Snowflake Lane goes through Dec 24. For a larger view double click a picture.
The people begin to gather……..And the drummers arrive………………………
Snowflakes appear on the buildings… and snow begins to fall……..fake snow that is, our usual kind………..
Christmas songs and the beat goes on………..and on……….which is the real drummer??
The snow sticks and the drummers retreat…………………..or is that the ghost of Christmas past?
Sky bridge into Lincoln Square, more shops and good restaurants….(our vantage point) and even a Chihuly Chandelier. To learn more about Lincoln Square Click www.lincoln-square.com
