Tonight, with a full belly, I’m writing from Seattle where I’ve just returned (a few hours ago) from my first visit to this year’s Northwest Flower & Garden Show. The theme is ‘Romance Blossoms’, and overall, I think that it made for some really inspired ideas.

My visit to the show today was shorter than I’d hoped because we’d left Portland a bit late. Our kitten escaped overnight and spent the night outdoors. I was terrified he’d be gone for days, but after briefly calling for him, he ran to me, and before we knew it, we were on the road to Seattle.

Right now I’m just posting a few pictures of things I found interesting. I plan to follow up with some more in-depth information tomorrow.

I think that it’s safe to say taxidermy has made it to the show this year.

These pottery pieces really stood out to me as I hurried past them.

Of course I immediately ran to see what a friend had put together for the show. You follow these things online and then of course you want to see how they turned out.

Part of me feels like I’ve seen this painting before, but that’s beside the point. I really like it. Exterior paintings looking a bit like botanical billboards is a good idea—at least to me.

Mirrors in gardens are great and I liked this folding screen design.

Some gardens are just too pretty not to love. I could cuddle up here for hours with a good book.

After attending a talk given by Lorene Edwards Forker I had to dash out to get back to the hotel. (We had dinner reservations.) Her talk about gardening with nature really highlighted the importance of pollinator-friendly gardening.

This vendor also had gotten into the theme and I liked this lighted piece but I think I’d only have it with the word LOVE written all over it. Love must always guide the way.

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Returning to the Fairmont Olympic Hotel is always a bit dreamy for me. This is only my second stay here but the wonderful discount offered to show visitors is simply irresistible. We had such a great stay last year that we had to come back. Luckily, my husband really enjoys visiting Seattle too so we like coming up here together. (In full disclosure, he does not visit the garden show with me everyday.)

After a little surprise dinner at Loulay we returned to the hotel again, admiring the huge floral arrangement, and now I’m left to dream about how delicious my semi-deconstructed dessert was…

See you back here tomorrow!