January 2007

January 2007

Sunday, March 6, 2011

CNY Blooms garden show review

This weekend was the much anticipated Central New York garden show in Syracuse, NY. I attend every year with my daughter, sister, and Aunt. We look forward to a day indoors, wandering through gardens full of blooming spring flowers while the weather outside is usually cold, gray, windy, rainy or snowy.  This year, we were a bit disappointed with the show. We enjoyed what was there, but some of our favorite vendors and landscape designers were missing. The garden displays weren't as large and there were vendors I don't care to see at a garden show. What do bathtubs have to do with gardening?  I don't want to listen to pitches for subscribing to a newspaper. I'm not interested in new siding or windows. If I was, I'd go to the Home show. There were also too many sun room dealers.  Perhaps the reason for the smaller, less impressive show is because they had to change venues this year. It was held at the War Memorial, which still has ice on the floor for hockey games. Of course, the ice was covered, but however they did it made the floor very uneven and hard to walk on. Many people were tripping and stumbling.  We can only hope the show moves back to it's regular venue next year. Although we were disappointed, we did find some interesting ideas and colorful flowers, as shown below.
A pleasant waterfall, although the dried ornamental grasses do not go with the spring flowers, unless the gardener has not cleaned up their garden yet from last fall.



I love this little arrangement. I'm going to recreate this planting in my yard but I think I will add some small chartreuse colored hostas someplace or maybe some lamium.


I fell in love with this terrarium. Now I need to look for a cake saver at yard sales this summer. I went to our Thrifty Shopper 2nd hand store yesterday and found a round cheese tray with a domed cover. I put a small clay saucer in it with a small plant and a ceramic Adirondack chair that I purchased at the show.

My favorite garden design, by Ballantyne Gardens in Liverpool, NY. This was a fairy garden. Fairy gardens fascinate me. I love anything miniature. They were selling miniatures to use in fairy gardens so of course I had to buy some for my indoor garden.

Close up of one of the fairy houses. I bought the table & chair set for my daughter to put in her indoor fairy garden.

This year's theme was Out of This World, thus the spaceship. It was pretty cool, there was mist coming out of it and the lights were blinking.

8 comments:

  1. My goodness Bonnie !
    That must have been a disappointment .. and the struggle to walk without stumbling or tripping .. they have to do better than that for you guys ! .. Ours is small but more decorative .. but I totally hear you about NONgarden vendors .. news papers, sunrooms, siding all that crap .. has no place at a garden show !
    Joy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my goodness I didn't see all of these pictures ! I love the terraium too and the space ship is PERFECT !! Now that is FUN : )
    Joy

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sorry to hear the show was not as great as last year. I absolutely love the cake stand terrarium. Adorable idea.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That cake stand terrarium is great. I've seen a number of these lately with tiny people and accessories but I like the cake stand as the lid is easy to lift off and care for the plants.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am so glad you posted the fairy houses. Our garden club is going to be building one and I never saw them before. I am not planning on helping, but at least I know what they are up to.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Have fun building the fairy houses. I think it would be a fun activity with children.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks so much for the tour , some wonderful ideas . Looking forward to seeing the garden you design similar to the one pictured..

    ReplyDelete
  8. I know what you mean about home improvement vendors at garden shows. Forget it. I like what you did get to see though.

    ReplyDelete