Kirkland participants at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Feb. 5-9 in Seattle

Opening Next Wednesday (Feb. 5)

 Kirkland participants join line-up of spectacular display gardens, over 100 how-to seminars and glittering Marketplace at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, February 5-9 in Seattle

 The 26th Northwest Flower & Garden Show  provides imagination and inspiration with its magnificent showcase of gardens big and small, over 100 free seminars, “Play With Friends” for families, a big line-up of exhibitors in the Marketplace and more, next week (February 5-9) at the Washington State Convention Center.

 “Art in Bloom” is the show’s theme for 2014, with the region’s top garden designers and landscape firms embracing a festive tribute to art in over 20 colorful and dramatic display gardens. It’s a rich palette of color and light, with thousands of blooming flowers and exotic plants giving showgoers a sneak preview of spring.

Fena Flowers is a participant in the Floral Competition. Area businesses showcasing their products and services in the Marketplace include Lake Washington Institute of Technology Horticulture; Modular Organics LTD; and Scandinavian Garden Pavilions, LLC.

 Complementing the eye-popping display gardens, the “Small Space Showcase” presents innovative, idea-generating small space and container gardens for those seeking inspiration for gardens on their deck, patio and terrace. The artistry of the area’s top floral designers is spotlighted in the “Floral Competition,” with lavish displays of artfully arranged blooms.

 “Seminar Series” offers tips for gardening newbies to lifelong gardeners

 The show boasts a big line-up of 110 seminars presented by top-tier experts, all free with admission to the show. It’s a great way to jump-start your gardening experiences--and learn about trends that not only beautify but are practical, too.

The “Garden to Table” cooking demonstrations return with top-notch presenters, including co-executive producer of Growing A Greener World TV Theresa Loe, TV host & kitchen living expert Coryanne Ettiene, and author and 425 Magazine style editor Alexandra Hedin.

 The popular “Gardening 101” series for the new gardener runs all five days of the show this year. Speakers include local luminaries Ciscoe Morris, Marty Wingate, Marianne Binetti, Debra Prinzing, Rizanino Reyes, Bill Thorness and many others. For a complete schedule of seminars and book signings, visit http://www.gardenshow.com/seminars/.

 “Play With Friends” and Treasure Hunt provide fun and interactive activities for children

 Friends of Waterfront Seattle is playing a lead role to champion the community’s new vision for 22-acres on Seattle’s Central Waterfront.  At their “Play With Friends” interactive family activity area at the show, children and parents are encouraged to imagine the waterfront’s “post-Viaduct” future.

 With children 12 and under admitted free to the show, it’s a fun-filled environment where children can touch, play, learn--and take something home. Children can create fish, sea creatures, cranes and other structures with robotocized Legos, make stop motion animation videos with figures and drawings they create, and contribute to a Waterfront mural.

 Children can also participate in a show-wide treasure hunt, sponsored by Swansons Nursery, with entry forms available in “Play With Friends” and show information booths.

 The “Marketplace” spotlights new and distinctive garden products, thousands of plants and one-of-a-kind creations

 The bustling Marketplace is a shopping destination with over 350 exhibitors offering the hottest new tools and other gardening gear, plants, and unique art for the home and garden. The ‘Vintage Garden Market’ returns with repurposed and “shabby-chic” treasures for the garden and outdoor living spaces by local vendors.

 Specialty nurseries will be introducing new and exotic plants—as well as old favorites—in the Plant Market.  The “Garden Gallery” display and competition spotlights skillfully-crafted garden art pieces in a variety of mediums. They are available for sale by the artists at the conclusion of the show.

 Show sponsors active participants in massive production

 Show sponsors take very active roles in this event, starting with the move-in process the weekend before the show.  Marenakos Rock Center (Issaquah) and Sawdust Supply (Seattle) literally provide the foundations for the show gardens and other attractions. Over the past 25 years, Marenakos has moved over 30 million pounds of rock in and out of the show, and this year alone Sawdust Supply will deliver an estimated 90 truckloads of sawdust and mulch to the Convention Center.

Subaru (www.subaru.com) embraces the show’s theme with its art-meets-function garden on the Skybridge. The “Native Renaissance” display in the South Lobby showcases an artful rainwater collection system side-by-side with a 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid. Visit Subaru’s Skybridge display from 12:30-1:30 each day and check out Joe Lamp’l, the Executive Producer and Host of the award-winning national PBS series, Growing a Greener World®, with his special presentation “The Hi-Tech Garden.” 

Fine Gardening joins the line-up with special offers and a seminar presentation. Stop by their booth at the show to meet members of their staff—and enter to win a great prize package.

Hours & Admission

 Show dates and hours are Wednesday through Saturday (Feb. 5-8), 9am to 8pm; and Sunday (Feb. 9), 9am to 6pm.

Adult “Early bird” discount tickets ($17) are available up to Feb. 4, and can be purchased by visiting the show’s website or at over 75 participating nurseries and retail outlets in the region. Visit www.gardenshow.com  for online purchases and complete listing of ticket sale outlets. Phone orders can be placed at 800-343-6973.

Regularly priced adult admission tickets are $22; and $5 for youth (ages 13 – 17). Children 12 and under are admitted free to the show.