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Gardening in the Rainy Zone.
Fun Finds at the Tacoma Home and Garden Show
by Debbie Teashon
Vintage watering can with mosaic.
I enjoyed a day cruising down to the Tacoma Dome and walking through the show. The Vintage Market, a new feature this year, was my favorite. It was fun to walk through the vendors’ booths of cleverly displayed gems of the past, brought to us repurposed for today. I love vintage pieces for the garden, and there were plenty of items to make dreams of the past come true.
Although the show's garden section is on the small size, it gave me a fix to tide me over until the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. I found a few interesting do-dahs, plants from Northwest nurseries, and knowledgeable people sharing a wealth of information. I came home with a few plants from Bark and Garden Center, some bulbs from a few of the lily vendors, and a cement dragonfly from the artisans of Art of Stone to grace my wall in winter and fly in my garden in summer.
More images below.
Stay Away from the Dome Food
I dislike being negative about a place, but want to warn you about the food served at the Tacoma Dome. If you are driving, I would suggest you either bring a picnic lunch or drive to a nearby restaurant. You aren't allowed to bring food or drinks into the building, not even water. However, dining in your car is far better than eating the food they offer from a very limited menu of horrid tasting and expensive junk food. I tried to eat their chicken strips meal but ended up taking the awful breading off and giving it to the dog—with apologies to Kono—and tossing the rest away. There is nothing healthy on the menu, only gastronomical nightmares. If a place is going to exclude attendees from bringing in their own food, then they should offer some healthy alternatives. At the very least, they need to have something that tastes good and won’t wrench your gut apart later.
Meanwhile Back at the Show
Live Edge Woodworks constructed this attractive one-room cottage from salvaged wood finds. My favorite part about the building was the door with the peekaboo views made from the missing knots. For the show, they set it up on four blocks, but inside it felt solid as a rock. The workmanship put into the building makes it an exceptional studio, guest quarters, or office space snuggled into the garden.
I found a dragonfly at the Art of Stone booth that I thought was made out of clay. Turns out it is concrete and finished in a way that bears an uncanny resemblance to glazed pottery. It trailed me home and temporarily hangs on the wall in my family room. The piece also came with a stainless steel rod that you push into the soil so that the dragonfly can be mounted on top. When displayed, it appears as if it is flying. With about a two-foot wingspan, it will either look impressive or scare the “bejeebies” out of visitors!
More concrete whimsical pieces by Art of Stone below.
Whimsical leaf woman.
The Art of Stone's frog knows.
The Vintage Market
The sign says it all, but between the lines it says, and hurry!
How appropriate is this vintage setting in the garden—a handless clock for a timeless space?
Even though bee skeps are no longer used for bee keeping, they still are wonderful accents in the garden.
No danger in using concrete shoes—an indestructible boot for planting your succulents.
Down Under Pots
We've seen the plastic made, upside-down pots for tomatoes that are so cheap looking, you hide them in the vegetable garden. Here’s the same concept, only instead of ugly plastic pots, these are attractive containers made of clay. C. James Nursery shows some of the ways you can use them. The possibilities are endless for your upside-down display. The pots are so beautiful you don’t want to cover them up with trailing plants, and you won’t.
The first image shows the pot upside down holding a newly planted geranium. The second image shows an established cyclamen dressing up the bottom. Put in creeping plants such as mint and watch it grow out to the top too.
The Tacoma Home and Garden Show started on Wednesday, January 25 and ends on Sunday the 29. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday 11am – 8pm, Friday, and Saturday 10am – 8pm and Sunday from 10am to 5 pm. For more information and downloading a two-dollar discount coupon, visit the Tacoma Home & Garden Show website.
