Wake up Seattle, it’s NWFGS show time. All those lucky guys exhibiting, speaking and visiting the NWFGS, enjoy. How I miss it. In fact, it is simply not fair to run the show without me! From 2001 – 2008 I was involved in the show one way or another. I exhibited and spoke at the show, at first I was sponsored by a large US plant propagator, then I went to the show under my own steam, speaking and selling hundreds of books. Then the recession happened and I went through a period of illness that has not quite left me, but I am beating it …
I have the best memories of my life so far at the NWFGS show. I remember my garden design being surrounded by people, four deep – all loving the design I had created, then going and buying my books, especially ‘Black Magic and Purple Passion’ and in the latter years the books on colour too – gold foliage (Gold Fever), silver foliage (Silver Lining) and those gorgeous green flowers (Emeralds). Don’t miss out on the new fourth edition of ‘Black Magic and Purple Passion’ only available here. It contains 650 plants NOT in any other edition of the book. So black plant lovers don’t miss out on this. The craze for black plants was simply incredible and had just gathered momentum since then. When I created my black plant garden we had lines (queues) for black plants and the black plant book. It was a fantastic time for me and I am grateful that it happened.
Apart from that I made some very good friends out there, and I love the city itself. I love the NWFGS show, I love Seattle. People always say the weather is bad in Seattle but although it could be chilly throughout the seven years I came out there, it never snowed when I was there and the sun usually shone. I remember fondly watching the sun, looking down to the waterfront from the windows of the Convention Centre. Seattle is a beautiful city.
Great memories in Seattle include the NWFGS show of course, this is the best flower show in the world, I have no doubt of that. How that show buzzed. Much better than being nose to back at Chelsea, squashed and hit by umbrellas. Other great memories include my first Monorail ride, being driven around the city by my friend Linda, another trip to Kingston to go to that famed Heronswood nursery – yeah I really did that, going to the Art Museum in Seattle and meting Charlie, who was very good at finding Yixing teapots for me, going up the Space Needle with fellow garden writer Debra, meeting so many lovely people. Talking plants with people who knew what was what. The reaction to my work with black plants in 2001 was incredible. The wonderful people, who in subsequent years said I had inspired them, thank you. Black plants then gold plants popping up everywhere in the garden designs after my successful garden showing black and gold plants. Walking through Capitol Hill and finding the best tea shop in town and so much more. Enjoying a glass or two of Snoqualmie Syrah – that is heaven. The only thing I did not like was the long haul flight and how I suffered from jet lag.
So I thought I’d put together a few photos, good memories to share with you of the last time I was in Seattle in 2008. Here are some of the sights, gardens and plants that were at the show that year. You can also take a look at my digital art of Seattle over on yarnsandfabrics just click on ART on the left hand side. All the best to everyone at the show this year and the guys who work so hard behind the scenes. I always appreciated all you did. Thank you Seattle. One day soon I’ll be back.
All photos copyright Karen Platt 2012.
