Yesterday that sweet husband of mine drove me up to Seattle for the 2018 Northwest Flower and Garden Show. And let me tell you Bob, the displays did not disappoint.
Honestly though, I think my husband is regretting taking me to the show because his summer project list now has about 5 more “to do” items on it. And building a fire pit is one of them. Doesn’t this look amazing? And so easy to build…. I mean c’mon, how hard can it be to group a bunch of bricks into a square? I bet it will only take him an hour or so to level the area and stack the stones. Easy peasy, right?
Recreating a Bob Bowlings garden shed or chicken coop though, that could take a while.
I spotted these glass garden plates last year at the garden show and I was happy to see them back again this year. They were a BIG HIT and drew a huge crowd. I also think the night stands and buffet’s they used as a base to hold the garden art was pretty clever.
This re-purposed shipping container was my husband’s favorite display.
I was more into the elevated patio area and globe lights. At our new place we will have a small back courtyard that I think would look marvelous with a few strings of patio lights. But I don’t think there is an electrical outlet in that spot so maybe erecting some poles {and building a picnic table} out in the back garden area would be a better idea? Maybe hiding an extension cord in a piece of plastic pipe just under the grass would work. See what I mean about those summer projects adding up? Attending garden shows can be dangerous!
Garden patio idea for the city slicker with a balcony.
And then there were these Pot Incorporated Leo Wall Planters. Talk about seriously cool looking. The prices on these babies range from $85 to $165.
Gardening season… It’s just around the corner. And I AM SO EXCITED about it!.
Have a wonderful Thursday everyone, and if you are in the area, the Northwest Flower and Garden Show will be at the Seattle Convention Center through this Sunday.
~Mavis
E in Upstate NY says
Re all those gorgeous glass “flowers.” Where does that artist find all those colored glass? I’m a regular peruser of second hand shops etc, and I’ve never seen enough glassware to put together one or two, let alone a display of that size. Do you think they are made specifically for this use? With Chuhuly [sp?] in your neck of the woods, that may be a reality.
Mavis Butterfield says
From their website: “Our intricate glass blooms and nodding buds complete with stamens and calyxes are carefully created from layers of recycled and repurposed glassware.” My guess is thrift stores, ebay, auctions, estate sales. But I rarely see glass in those colors. So I’m not really sure.
Tanya says
My guess is they use glass paint for the colors you don’t normally see very often (like yellow and orange.)
Null says
Paint them with glass paint and bake them. Will last forever.
Sandy says
I have many made up in my basement but the few I put out they quickly fell apart. Is there a way to get them to stay together without drilling the glass? I’m thinking of just propping them up on the ground. I even have rebar to use but not having any luck.
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! Check out this tutorial my friend Heather did: https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/how-to-make-upcycled-glass-flower-yard-art/
Kara says
The website also says this: Each bloom is fitted, drilled, hand tinted, fired and threaded into a one-of-a-kind embellishment for your garden.
Elisa says
You don’t find it at the thrift shops because a handful of people have grabbed it all up for projects like these. I also suspect it’s not all “vintage” glass but instead something thats ordered in bulk because much of it is exactly the same and like you said you just dont find that amout of items in a thrift ship not to mention duplicates… And yes it’s painted with a baked on glass paint. But still a fun project happy hunting.
Carol says
You do not need your hubbie to build that fire pit, leveling the soil or adding a gravel base! You can do it! I did and it was easy and I am about 25 years older! The stone is heavy but quite manageable for this project and there is a lot of satisfaction when completed.
Mavis Butterfield says
Ahh yes, I but I have zero desire to build the fire pit. 🙂 I’ll be too busy gardening. Ha!
Julie says
I thought I had to have a fire pit. So, before we went to the expense and trouble, we purchased a cheapy free standing one to see just how much use it would get. In the year that we’ve had it, we’ve yet to fire it up. Glad we didn’t invest in the project.
Teri says
Those flowers are so beautiful! Do you have the name of the business? I’d like to try to make one. Looks like there was lots to see and dream about! Glad you went!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, the link to their website is under the first picture.
Teri says
Thanks. Didn’t see that the first time!
Mavis Butterfield says
I think they are beautiful and I’m going to try and make one.
Ani says
You can find YouTube videos on how to make them. A friend makes them from thrift shop and garage sale glass, paints them with glass paint, uses silicone glue and bakes them. For the back she uses clear tubular salt/pepper shakers and puts them on rebar for stakes, spray painted green.
Ann Kendrick says
Teri, I have been making them for about 5 yeas now. I drill mine as I do not use any glue whatsoever. If you need help, let me know and I;ll try to walk you through it. You can reach me at atkendrick@yahoo.com and please put ‘flowers’ in the subject line. thanks
Brianna says
Those patio lights look cool – you can always add an electrical outlet if there’s not one where you need it. My husband added two new electrical outlets to our garage, and it’s not too hard if you know what you’re doing. 🙂
Mary says
I love it all, too, but those heart pavers! I gotta make me some of those. Just darling in my new backyard, I can already see them! Thanks for sharing this ’cause I know I’ll never get up there to see a show like this and I don’t think they do this around here. Happy Gardening everyone!
Tracy says
I second the other poster who suggested adding electrical outlets to your back patio area. If you plan on living in your new home for more than a few years, these are the jobs you do right when you move in. Make a list of all of the desired electrical work you think you need throughout the house, out buildings if any, garage, etc., and just pay a good electrician to do them on day one. Same with major grading or hardscaping. You will never regret it, and if you decide to wait, you’ll never do it and be irritated every season that you didn’t! One year, I just bit the bullet and added outdoor outlets where there were none, bright flood lights I could snap on if needed, motion detection lights where needed, and proper grounded lighting in my garage where my glorious potting bench is. I have never regretted doing it “right” once, even though it was so expensive at the time and I use every one of those lights off and on all year long.
Laura T. says
Those flowers are beautiful! I can’t wait to go to the Flower & Garden show in Chicago! I need it now! We’re supposed to get 8-14″ of snow starting tonight!
Mavis Butterfield says
Please send me your snow!
Diane says
Mavis,
Thanks so much for showing the F&G show! Due to illness in the Family I won’t be making it this year and was feeling a little grumpy about missing it.
So glad to get a taste of the show thru your eyes and of course you stories and comments.
You are the best! I’m also looking forward to getting my garden started.
Thanks again:-)
Lace Faerie says
We love our fire pit! We haven’t used it this past year as the prevailing breeze took the smoke towards my rabbit hutch and terrified the poor BunnyBoys. My sons moved the heavy heavy giant 2 story hutch and attached run to the side yard this past fall, so I am looking forward winding down in front of a fire this summer!
I suggest you don’t build the sides up too high or your feet and legs won’t get any heat from the fire. We learned that with our first fire pit.
Nancy D says
Lace Faerie-Thanks for suggesting not to build the fire pit too high if you want your feet/legs warm!! So obvious, but hadn’t occurred to me during the plans to build ours this year! 🙂
Laura says
Just go to Pinterest to get fire pit ideas. Lots of different designs that will get your creative juices flowing. That said, we did the standalone firepit thing for a couple of years (brother and his wife were ditching it so we got it from them free). Used it exactly once in three years. Summers with wildfires limits the ability to make fires in the summer and it is too wet outside the summer to bother. So, still haven’t made my own but I did do research to decide what I wanted, which was fun despite not ever getting made!
Dawn B, of Delaware says
Hello and I love your blog. Will you be in the Northeast by the first of March? That would be super because the Philadelphia Flower show is March 3rd thru 11th this year. You can get even more ideas for/from this neck of the woods. I look forward to the Lucy pic every day. My co-worker has a puggle and it reminds him of his during our long work day.
Carol Brault says
No hockey pucks here in North Carolina. I save and reuse my empty bottles like soy sauce, hot sauce etc. Unless they have flat sides, I assemble the flower first, Then lay it face down and glue on the bottles. Make sure the rebar is going to fit through the bottle opening. I also rescue lamps from various thrift stores on their 49 cent day, disassemble and use the rods instead of rebar. I then use the bases, reglued together to make bases for short bird baths and feeders with those oversize serving platers and plates that no one wants anymore. I ensure they don’t tip over by also using rebar through the hole left in the bottom. I only use E-6000 glue and have not had a problem with them falling apart in the milder winters or the scorching heat and humidity here in N.C.