Nesting the Journal

watering 101

Water •n wa·ter (waw-ter)
The state of being lighted or illuminated.

Why Water?

Water is the essential ingredient for healthy plant growth in the garden. It is also generally people’s biggest challenge. Consider that like humans, plants need water in order to live a healthy and full life. Every drop counts… play your part in helping the environment by watering effectively and preventing water shortages.

Irrigation Systems

If you have an irrigation system- thumbs up! It takes the guesswork out of watering. There are many different forms of irrigation systems. Depending on your garden, there are advantages and disadvantages to these systems. We highly recommend irrigation systems in general, as they eliminate the monotonous task of watering. They also take the guess work out of the age old question “Is it our watering day?” Irrigation systems offer water directly to the roots (where your plants need it most) making them more energy efficient than standard watering. We solely work with Kore Irrigation to custom plan an irrigation that best suits the design we have specced for your space. Every plant type and size has different watering requirements, so sophisticated irrigation systems that are well planned ensure water is distributed correctly and effectively.

Soaker Hoses

The second best option to a full-scale irrigation system is a soaker hose. These are easy to find & install and they do a great job of watering the roots. The downsides are, they can often get punctured and generally don’t add much in terms of curb appeal to your lovely new beds. We find soaker hoses work best for long spaces like hedges and bamboo.

Traditional Sprinklers

And… there is always the traditional sprinkler! Overhead watering with sprinklers is really fun for kids to play in, but not the most effective for water use. A lot of the water gets wasted, small spaces get soaked everywhere, and the plants tend to receive more water on their foliage then directly to the root. But if you cannot invest in an irrigation system and are able to set up a few zones of sprinklers to water direct to the beds, then this is better than nothing!

Hand Watering

Hand watering takes time but permits you to see what needs water the most. It is best used as a quick fix during any dry spells that may occur after your regular irrigation system is shut off for the season. A wand attachment delivers a lot of water, but softly, which is a good thing. If waiting on an irrigation system to be put in place, newly installed plants will do best with direct hand watering in the first few weeks of their new homes!

Rain Barrels

Rain barrels are also a great addition to any garden space. They are best installed against a house, shed, garage or greenhouse; under an area where gutters can reach the system. You can hook the barrels up to a hose or a small drip irrigation system, which then feeds water to your plants. Or you can simply use it as a tap to fill up a watering can. This is a great way to harvest water, as it will soon become as precious as gold!

When Should I Water?

Be conscious of the rain, use it where it falls and give your plants enough to nourish the earth. Watering first thing in the morning is most recommended. Night watering can harbor spots for pests and disease and midday watering in the summer can scorch some foliage and become a defeating chore.

How Much Should I Water?

The best way to tell when your garden needs watering is to look at it. If the soil is dry to a depth of a half an inch, it's time to water. How often you need to water varies greatly with the temperature. Normally, watering once a week will probably be more than adequate in the off season. When temperatures hit the mid 20s-30s you will need to water as often as every other day and every day for newly planted specimens (for the first few weeks). Keep in mind that all young plants require more frequent watering than mature plants until their root systems become well established. As well, many annuals and vegetables require regular moisture throughout the growing season if they are to bloom well or produce a good crop. When you do water, aim to soak the root zone of your plants. It is better to water thoroughly once every few days than to give your garden a brief shower every day. Keep in mind, you can most definitely water too much.

Too Much Water

Giving plants too much water can cause as many problems as supplying too little. The soil remains filled with water, and air is not available to the roots. The lack of oxygen makes roots susceptible to various water-mold fungi, which in turn can lead to rot. How do you know if your plant is drowning? Have you been watering only when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch? Is your plant looking light green and generally unhappy? One possible reason for this is over-watering. While both of these foliage indicators are symptoms of over-watering, the most common way someone figures out their plant is drowning is that the plant has wilted even though the soil is wet.

Seasonal Watering

Weather affects water needs as well. When it's hot, dry, and windy, plants use water very rapidly, and young or shallow-rooted ones sometimes cannot absorb water fast enough to keep foliage from wilting. Such plants need frequent watering to keep moisture around their roots at all times. During cool, damp weather, on the other hand, plants require much less water. Water needs are lower during winter as well, when the days are short and the sun is low on the horizon. To check the soil around new transplants and in vegetable and flower beds, dig down a few inches with your fingers or a trowel; if the top 1 to 2 inches are dry, you probably need to water. Leaves can also tell you when it's time to water. Most will look dull or roll in at the edges just before they wilt.

Perennials

Keep a close eye on all newly planted perennials during the first growing season. The soil around their roots should be moist, but not soaking wet, for the first two weeks. For the next two weeks or so, water when 2 inches below the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. To establish durable and deep rooted systems, water slowly and deeply rather than frequently and shallowly. If you are growing perennials or evergreens in containers, be sure they are well watered before storing or covering them for the winter. Evergreens are especially vulnerable to winter desiccation if soils dry out during the winter.

Trees and Shrubs

The soil surrounding the plant’s roots, called the “root zone,” serves as a storage tank from which the plant draws moisture and nutrients. Most trees and shrubs shed rain water to the “drip line,” much like an umbrella. The most active water absorption area is at the drip line and beyond, not close to the trunk. This is where you should water. Most of the roots spread 1 1\2 to 4 times as wide as the plant’s canopy. If you are watering by hand, water each shrub about 2-15 minutes, depending on its size, and each tree about 20-60 minutes. During the winter, irrigate only if there has not been any precipitation for four to six weeks.

Tips for Containers

Check Moisture Level - Before watering plants, check to see if your plant really needs it - the top of the soil can look dry, even though just below the soil line it is still moist. Stick your finger into the soil all the way to the second knuckle. If it feels dry at your fingertip, your plants need water.

Water Deeply - The most important thing when watering plants is to give them a good, long drink - optimally, until water runs out the hole in the bottom of your container. You do this because, depending on the size of your pot, many of the plant's roots will be down towards the bottom and you want them to be able to get water too. Water the Soil, Not the Leaves. Water droplets can act like mini-magnifying glasses and burn your plant.

Know Your Plants - Most plants prefer to live in moist soil, not wet, just damp. As a rule of thumb, flowering annuals don't like to get too dry and require water daily in the summer months. Succulents (annuals in our climate) like to be fairly dry and thrive off drought-like conditions. Perennials really vary depending upon species. Watering every other day in the hot months is ideal, and then 1-2 week in the cooler months if it hasn’t rained well. Consistent watering is critical – not letting them go bone dry and then soaking them till they’re drowning – this on/off cycle is hazardous and sometimes fatal to plants! (which is why most people say they don’t have a green thumb). Along these lines, with containerized tree/shrubs/hedges, being larger plants, ensure your drip irrigation system (or hand watering) provides enough water for larger-water-drinking species.

Water Restrictions

Before any watering takes place in the dryer summers, be sure to check the City of Vancouver website for any water restrictions that may be in effect. Assure you are properly watering within the guidelines that allow for both humans and plants to drink!

 

modern home tour- white rock

Its Vancouver Design Week and there are some awesome events going on around town. We had a great time on thursday night at the Western Living Awards, raising a glass to our colleagues Measured Architecture for receiving the 'Architect of the Year' award. 

As well this past weekend we ventured south to check out the White Rock Modern Home Tour. Lots of inspiring work inside and out. Got us thinking how lovely it would be to live near the water…

This is the month to get re-inspired by all the amazing creators out there, making our world that much more beautiful. Looking forward to IDS West this coming week. Get out there and enjoy!

 

 

water smarts

We are so thankful for the recent rainfall after the previous weeks of smoking hot weather. Still, we are heading into our hottest month and we wanted to test your water smarts. The BC Alamanc predicts a long hot August and potentially a drier/warmer than average Fall as well, lets be ready for it! 

Don't water in the heat of the day
Don't plant hedges, large trees/shrubs until the Fall
Don't use fertilizers 
Don't water or cut your lawn and don't worry about it either, it's not dead it's dormant - brown is the new green!

Do know the restrictions 
Do consider water-wise plants that don't require a lot of watering
Do save all grey water in the home
Do consider investing in an irrigation system
Do move plant pots to the shade
Do apply a 2" top dress of composted bark mulch to help retain moisture
Do invest in a rainbarrell, we all know the rain will eventually come back!

You know we are big fans of summer and kinda love this California heat, so join us and take a dip in the ocean, splash in a waterpark and plunge into a pool. Stay cool!

4th of july

Happy independence day to all our yankee folk, friends and family down south. This year we started, what is going to be, an annual tradition at our friends "new house". A pool party with the yummiest bbq potluck this side of the border. 30 degree heat, kiddos squealing and pie. Thanks for the midday dip and awesome-ness to our dear friends. 

earth day dig in

April marks the month of national volunteer week and this week the well-celebrated earth day. We’ve made it a priority this month to get our team involved and give back to the community. This year we helped Ian Lai at the Terra Nova Schoolyard Society. Most of the aloe team was in full force, with kiddos, babies and grandparents to boot. 

It was a fun day for all the family. Our handy man-boys helped build a better infrastructure for the honey bee gardens. Constructing basis for the bee homes so the harvesters no longer had to break their backs. We were so stoked to off load some beautiful cedar end cuts that were collecting dust in our storage workshop/parking stall!

The muscles also helped till soil and harvest sunchokes.

The kids were put to work sorting gloves and matching pairs, organizing seed planting containers and setting up the irrigation line ties.  

We finished the morning off with a celebratory picnic lunch in the sunshine. It was so awesome to reconnect with this magical place and the amazingly dedicated volunteers and staff that make this program and garden possible. 20 degree weather also helped! 

When we launched Aloe 10 years ago (eeek we are old!) we knew we wanted to build a brand that was design minded, but also dedicated to the practice of sustainability. A decade later, these principles are just as relevant, and push us to strive for positive environmental change each and every day. How are you giving back this year? We’d love to hear your ideas for sustainability and reducing our impact on Mother Earth. Together we can make our communities–and the planet–a little bit better.

easter brunch

Happy Easter. Posted 2 weeks later, but who's counting. We were blessed with another sunny year in the back yard. An annual tradition with our good friends and their littles. Some of which are not so little anymore and don't even think the easter bunny is real… It was a lovely morning and afternoon spent sipping prosecco, indulging in some amazing dishes and basking in the sunlight. And then the meltdown's started. All due for a long lazy afternoon nap. 

 

The gang. Such little monkeys.

 A few of the ladies. looking lovely in pink. 

Our centrepiece. We used double blooming daffodils and quails eggs. 

The meal- all care of mrs martha stewart. 3 types of devilled eggs, fresh fruit and yogurt, carrot cake muffins, crouque monsieur's with broccolini and bubbly. 

Bubble blowing pow wow. 

The goodie bags. Bunny envelopes that Lu helped make stuffed with seeds and chocolate. As if they needed any more of that! 

Our little bunny in her sweet "sundays best dress".

world, meet lily piper black

Giving birth to a child is one of the craziest, most beautiful, raw, overwhelming, humbling, emotional things you can be blessed enough to do. I’m so honoured to be mother to a new little one. World, meet Lily Piper Black.

Lily was born fast and furious at 3:45 am on October 23, and is the sweetest little button you've ever met.  With two little girls to love now, life will sure look different. It already does. Some days I feel like my heart is going to explode. The love I hold for a new child rushes over me all over again, wonderful and scary all at once. To care for someone so little, so dependant, is exhausting and at times suffocating. But I see the world a little deeper, fresher, fuller now.

With sleepless nights I hold you dear, Lily Piper, the smell of your sweet warm breath, close to my heart, knowing how fleeting these moments will become. I think about the future, and know that soon, you will be big, and no longer able to fit into my arms. I dream and think of all the years ahead with you and your sister. Running through sprinklers on a warm summer day, dripping with popsicle juice, giggling the night away. These moments, I imagine, and all the memories yet to be born....

Gah- I can’t wait. 

the last time

In prep for bebe #2 and reflection on our wonderful lives so far with our sweet little Lucie (above at 4 months old) I share this with you:

From the moment you hold your baby in your arms,
you will never be the same.
You might long for the person you were before,
When you had freedom and time,
And nothing in particular to worry about.
You will know tiredness like you never knew it before,
And days will run into days that are exactly the same,
Full of feedings and burping,
Nappy changes and crying,
Whining and fighting,
Naps or a lack of naps,
It might seem like a never ending cycle.

But don't forget...
There is a last time for everything.
There will come a time when you will feed your baby
for the very last time.
They will fall asleep on you after a long day
And it will be the last time you ever hold your
sleeping child.
One day you will carry them on your hip,
then set them down.
And never pick them up that same way again.
You will scrub their hair in the bath one night
And from that day on they will want to bathe alone.
They will hold your hand to cross the road,
Then never reach for it again.
They will creep into your room at midnight for cuddles,
And it will be the last night you ever wake to this.
One afternoon you will sing "the wheels on the bus"
and do all the actions,
Then never sing them that song again.
They will kiss you goodbye at the school gate,
the next day they will ask to walk to the gate alone.
You will read a final bedtime story and wipe your
last dirty face.
They will one day run to you with arms raised,
for the very last time.

The thing is, you won't ever know it's the last time
Until there are no more times, and even then,
it will take you a while to realise.

So while you are living in these times,
remember there are only so many of them and
when they are gone,
you will yearn for just one more day of them.

For the last time.

From the: themabooks.blogspot.ca

falling into fall

To say that I have dropped the ball on blog posting lately is an understatement. But as I head into a year of mat leave with bebe number 2 en-route, I am really excited at the possibility to get back into picture taking and journal writing. I hope to be able to share more on nesting, for this reason. All that spare time I hear one gets when they have two widgets to look after (ahem)!

Here is a little post on fall and the coziness that it brings. I always tend to resist putting summer and all its glory away. And this year we have been graced with an extra special long summer harvest. But today marks the first official feeling of fall. So, as I pack away the flip flops for a season of boots, I welcome the crunch of leaves beneath our feet, cozy sweaters, crisp air, warm teas, spices & stews, canning, farm strolls and most of all nesting. What are your favourite fall activities? Please share.

sweet little video

  

 

Landscape design is essentially a visual expression, and we've been wanting to document and share our work in a way that allows people to really experience the spaces we create. Enter our good friend Corbie, videographer extraordinaire. In under three minutes, he’s managed to capture what we think is the essence of Aloe: expressing what we do and how we do it. This sweet little video showcases some of our favourite projects to date and reminds us why we are in business for ourselves. We’re truly so proud of these designs and the video shares them in such a magical way. Thank you, Mr. Corbie Fieldwalker, for your incredible work. Check out one of our fave's he has also done for Pizza Farina! 

As summer begins to come to a close and a new season emerges, here’s hoping for the privilege of working with many more amazing families, couples, spaces, gardens, landscapes and homes for years to come. 

la getaway

Last post I shared our highlights of dwell on design LA. Here are some shots from the rest of our trip- which was more than dreamy. We arrived late thursday evening and checked into a super fun hotel from the Starwood collection called SLS Beverly Hills. To say we were out of place at midnight in our tanks and shorts is an understatement. The scene was totally LA, and I swore Kim Kardashian was going to pop around the corner at any given moment. We really like starwood hotels though as they never disappoint. And waking up to this rooftop pool the next morning, was pure indulgence. 

Morning-hair-Owen here and I sat by the pool till late afternoon soaking in the sun and poolside yummy's. 

The furniture and wacky decor was all part of the fun of this place. 

In the late afternoon we took a stroll over to our favorite neighbourhood- Abbot Kinney Boulevard, where there are quite possibly the best boutiques in town. This amazing new en plein air garden store had us poking about for over an hour. I pretty much want to move and work here. 

The store is called: Ilan De Venice and it had an amazing selection of outdoor home and garden goods. And the light was spectacular as it was all open to the outdoor elements. 

 I just love this over-sized steel urn on casters for an olive tree. 

 

Even Alternative Apparel has a great store front garden space. I love the use of reclaimed pallets acting as a place hold for a green wall. 

 Spotted: my current obsession- a mini old us mail truck to cart around town to do clients planters in. 

 Asparagus ferns growing wild in a store front planter. The green of these plants are so electric. 

Peaking through a fence of a private residence in Santa Monica on a morning walk. I love this eclectic use of pots and sculptural plantings. 

This view! It will and forever stay in my memory as my place where heaven exists. This is where we stay when we visit- our good friends/ families home. We have known them since I was little and their home is beyond words. It is tucked onto a quite Morton Bay Fig lined street about 20 blocks from the beach, and overlooks the Rivera Golf and Country Club. Their entire house is flooded with light and open windows & doors that spill onto the outside. It is quite. The air is clean, and their is always an abundance of fresh fruit on the counters. We sleep deep, lounge in the pool, spend hours on the patio in great conversation and dream...

These are our friends- Patti & Mark. They are both angels. She is an incredible artist full of life and always up for anything. He is a very content, retired incredibly smart and always curious fella. He reads when he walks on the beach and people know him by this. They are still so in love and so respectful of one another and have such an incredible energy and personality that you cant help but love them the minute you meet them. We feel honored and lucky to be in their lives and to continue to visit them over the years. 

I love this building in Malibu. So simple and serene. 

We spent the last day in Malibu at El Matador State Beach. It was so incredibly rejeuvinating sitting on the edge ofthe pacific ocean, snoozing and listening to the waves.

Owen- in relaxed mode. I love this. 

A bittersweet goodbye to a fantastic 5 day getaway. Definitely ready to snuggle our little Lu when we returned, but could have soaked up more LA goodness. Till next time.   

dwell on design la 2014

We recently enjoyed a trip down south to LA where we attended Dwell on Design. One day was spent exploring east LA on the modern home tour, and the other day was spent at the convention center- trade show. We explored the modern home tour a few years ago on the West side, and much preferred that one. Unfortunately the homes were really sprawled far apart (which made for lots of fun freeway on and off driving). The homes were also just not as impressive as we imagined them to be. Except for this one on the hill. The views of Silver Lake and the valley were pretty incredible. 

Trade shows can often be crazy tiring- especially for pregnant folk! But Dwell does it in style. much like IDS West, no sham wow dudes at this event. Pure filtered design services and products that make you inspired to change up your space. Be it landscape or interior there were so many amazing resources to explore and learn about. 

I love this combo of subtle moss inset in varied pavers. 

This is an incredible architectural precast concrete paving stone that we have been wanting to use on projects for quite a while. These narrow modular pavers come in many sizes and dimensions- made by Stepstone.

Love these colors that were dotted throughout the main center of the show. And this arrow by Bendgoods. 

Custom glossy painted plywood planter full of juicy succulents and grasses.The large landscape central courtyard was all designed by Shades of Green, a well known Landscape Architecture company based in Marin County.

I love the combo of colors and textures in the various sized custom planters. 

Fermob, from europe makes incredible landscape accessories and furniture. I especially like the color palette you can pick from. The green rod in this picture is a sleek outdoor shower. Would love to use this line on a project that required bursts of color. 

This is another fabulous line of furniture which is local to the usa- Loll, with an inherent concern for the environment and the impact of sustainable products. How ingenious is this chair with an inset for a resting wine glass.

I am currently obsessed with yellow/grey and white combo. Especially for a poolside retreat or a space with lots of light bright architectural features. This Lollygagger line (love the name) was insanely comfortable... as in, I couldn't get up. 

A row of cute custom bird houses, also by Loll. World Reclaimed was in awe. 

A sweet little modern dog water dish, also by Loll.

Glamping at its finest. The Hutte Hut aka teardrop caravan was too cute and beautiful for words. Apparently slotted to be on the cover of Sunset magazine soon!

Some other great lines we saw (but didn't get any decent shots) were:

Galanter & Jones

Stickwood

Letterdrop

Asteck Inc

Dodocase

Glass Cathedrals

Architectural Numbers

summer pickin'

Happy first week of summer! I cant believe how busy the year has been so far. Last I posted was the first week of spring- eeek. A total of 3 blog posts to date for 2014... I think it is safe to say that instagram has officially taken over the world of regular blogging. But it is summer, and my SLR is dusted off, and I am inspired again to capture sweet moments. 

I have a few fun posts to do over the next week (our trip to LA namely), but before I do, I wanted to share the amazing first "true day" of summer we had here. Despite the afternoon rain shower that is.

My dad and Lu and I explored an area that is new to me- Westham Island in Ladner. If I had it in me to be a farmer... It is such amazing fertile country land, so close to the city. Lots of berry farms, and veggie roadside stands. We enjoyed picking strawberries at Emma Lea's and popping in and out of the farms along the way. I can't wait to head back in a few weeks with my two buds for blueberry season! Here are some shots of our sweet day.

 

Fresh Walls

 

Happy first day of spring! Its a glorious, crisp sunny one here, and we are loving the idea of the new season ahead. This winter with the help of a grandparents sleep-over, and a few growlers of 33 acres beer, we tackled a big job in our house- painting the main living room and hallways. After alot of grey/beige debate we settled on a great color- Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore. We have been in our place now almost 8 years, so it was nice to add a fresh coat of paint to the walls. But more exciting- re- hanging art and putting up some new pieces!

We have been collecting eclectic pieces over the years. We love this way of decorating, as it feels a bit more organic and more personal. Often when we are traveling we will stumble upon a print or piece that  we love. And then every time we pass it at home, we think of that place, and our trip.

Collecting art and filling your walls can often seem like a daunting task, as it can be expensive, and overwhelming on where to start. A common mistake people make is they want to fill the walls fast, and don't have much of a budget, and go too small. It is better to go slower and always go bigger than you think. It makes for better impact. There are lots of great DIY type things you can do, as well as etsy and local community college art fairs. Antique stores, garage sales, In laws basements, and museum gift shops are also great resources. And it always helps to have a great framer who is open to simply matting a basic Ikea frame and doesn't blow the bank! Here are some of the pieces in our home. 

This is a small vignette I did in our bedroom above the dresser. I originally wanted to get a bunch of old photos from both sides of the fam and blow them up and frame them. But that idea sat in the closet for about a year, till one day I realized some washi tape and the simple images themselves, raw on the wall looked just as good, if not better. Less forced and more natural. I love waking up to this in the morning, putting on jewelry and thinking about the amazing history and family we have. 

Our most recent purchase (our christmas gift to each other). We've never bought art online before, but we love this photographer- Max Wagner- and new it would be perfect. Its called County Line, and its a shot of surfers waiting for the wave. It was so fun to receive months later in the mail and frame.

This is an old print drawer that we got in portland at a salvage yard. We use it to hold little nature finds and bits in Lucie's room. 

This is a wall in Lucie's room that used to be her changing table area, and is now her bed nook. It's always challenging to think of something to decorate a wall above kids heads that isn't dangerous. I got the idea to get dollar store butterflies and paint them neon green, from a really neat installation Kelly Deck did at one of her show homes. The lil swimmer mobile is paper and is from Hatch- a cute little boutique at the end of our street. 

This is another really special piece by a local artist, client and sweet friend of ours Fei Disbrow. 

This is a cluster of prints in our main living room. I love the bright cheerful colors. These prints were all very reasonable and easy to frame. 

This is a fun vintage aluminum sign that we found at Napiers Antiques in Langley. And the funny thing is Myers was actually a garden hose company back in the day. Pretty fitting for us gardeners!

This is a vintage window that we got at a garage sale. It sits above our mantel piece and makes it really easy to swap out the mantle with different vignettes based on the season!

This is also a real inexpensive piece- it was a hand towel that I found in the sale bin at Anthropologie one year. I love hits of yellow, especially in the kitchen. 

This is a print of paper airplanes by Emilie Madil that Owen got for me at A Walrus art show as a gift when we moved in. It reminds me to travel, and also how much I love our neighbourhood and the great stores and communities that are created here. 

This is a bit of an unconventional print that we got in little italy in NYC. It is actually a rifler's target. Fitting for the hunter history in the family!

This is one of my favourite prints that we got in LA. We have it right in the hall and it is the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. A great message to remind us to be at peace with things at the end of a stressful/long tiring day. 

seattle garden show 2014

This has been year 7 of visiting the annual Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle. The show is always a great way to get re-inspired by the spring ahead in our gardens. The theme this year was Art in Bloom. I don't know if it is, that we have been coming to this for so many years, or that this year just simply wasn't as inspiring as the previous. Needless to say the "Art in Bloom" theme felt, well, a bit cheesy. The other component that seems to becoming less and less refined is the market place. That's right, lots of sham wow types creeping up more and more. And just to add to the grumpy rant, the kids zone is usually so much cuter- perhaps this year they were just short of creative volunteers. Or maybe these tired parents of a demanding 3 year old, just need to take a year off and check out a new region or trade shows... Dwell on Design LA here we come!

Some of the highlights:

There seemed to be a real trend towards architectural evergreen plants. We are really into pines, redwoods, hemlocks and firs right now. Edgeworthia, Helebores and small white flowering Rhodo's were also used in almost every display. Loving all of these right now!

Terra Cadence- The Rhythm of Earth: This was by far the BEST of the display gardens. Angles, viewpoints and a mass use of greens, greys and whites, made this set up beyond soothing and vast. 

In the marketplace our favourite vendors were Portage Bay Grange- Feed & Mercantile & The Heirloom Seed Company owned by Farmer John. These guys are authentically garden related and full of great products and inspiration. 

The Re-Store and Seattle Tilth always team up to do a great set up. A welcoming addition to the kids zone. Always so inpired by what they come up with for re-use in container ideas. 

The Small Space Showcase area, where real outdoor light filters inside the convention center is always a great thuroughway. And it was super great running into our colleague from Vancouver Todd, from Pot Inc. Beautifully arranged set up of suuculents and drool worthy containers.