Top 5 reasons to attend Seattle’s Northwest Flower and Garden Show

The first week of February means it is time to celebrate the return of the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. This spectacular show indoors at Seattle’s Washington State Convention Center Feb. 9-13 has been inspiring gardeners and delighting beauty seekers for more than 30 years.

For all the details on the show and to order tickets, go to www.gardenshow.com

Here are the top five reasons to attend the show this year.

1. Garden design inspiration

You can see, smell and touch the amazing show gardens put together by top garden designers from our region. Most plants are labeled and your camera can capture the great ideas. There will be show gardens designed around living rooms, gardens for nature, and gardens packed with color.

2. Container garden inspiration

Let your patio go to pots or grow more edibles in containers. Every day from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. you can watch professionals compete for the best container garden ideas using plant material from local grower Sunnyside Nurseries. Learn what to add this month to your containers or how to punch up the color in pots this summer.

Insider Tip: I will be hosting Container Wars every day and have lots of give-away gifts for the audience. Sit up close and show some enthusiasm to the front to win cool stuff!

3. Gardening knowledge inspiration

All seminars are free to show-goers and experts will teach everything from pruning to potting. Check out the seminar list online to learn more.

Tip: I am speaking at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, opening day. Stay for my talk on “Lessons on the changing garden – and gardener” to learn tips on hydrangeas for a warmer climate, tools for the maturing gardener, and dealing with more shade as your garden ages.

4. Retail therapy inspiration

From plants to pots and gifts and garden supplies, you will find hundreds of vendors with great deals at the show.

5. Fantasy and flowers inspiration

Visitors describe “Fleurs de Villes” as “stunning,” “awesome,” and “unbelievable” as mannequins are turned into artistic displays of fresh flowers. Much more than a shot of spring, these displays are more like a cannonball of color that celebrate the end of gray winter days.

Marianne Binetti has a degree in horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of several books. Reach her at binettigarden.com.