The NW Flower & Garden Show, Feb 17th Seattle Convention Center We almost cancelled our trip, for Gwen had been sick with a virus that has hit Bellingham in a big way, and the van needed repairs too, but then she just became well rather quickly and the van was able to be repaired, so off we went. That's what I get for buying tickets so far in advance! 1) We get to the show and I take a quick photo of Gwen, just in case she tires easily and is too worn out later to want her pic taken! 2) We are immediately struck by the scale of things - several areas used bamboo that reached up to the ceiling, also many rock sculptures and palm trees in planters. 3) There are gardens to walk by and later to vote on. This one was cute. They were all pretty cool looking. One had a 20 thousand pound rock with a naturally carved concave in it filled with water and goldfish. It took two cranes to get it in there. It was for sale. It was about rib-cage high. Need it? 4) This one ended up being my favorite - I love waterfalls! And these rock shapes were very cool. I voted for this one. 5) The Bonsais were awesome!! The bent one in front is over 200 years old! This is one side of a two-sided display of them. 6) There was quite a variety - from asian influence, to Greece, to NW to southwest.. These gardeners are actually paid to do this, so they go all out. 7) Besides the large room filled with gardens to vote on, were two other rooms of displays from plants to plant-related jewelry 8-10) I got some great ideas from this display - this is my hobby, when I have time (time.. what is that??) 11-12) Gwen poses in front of a fern tree she really liked. I got a smile out of her on the second take. 13) Another beautiful bonsai. This was at a shop, I resisted the temptation to buy one. 14) We get a pic together 15) General feel for the place, not too crowded, they had cars on display too, that blue one over there to the left was the cutest lil electric car.. 16-17) This was Gwen's favorite garden. It was called "Marvelous Night for a Moondance" - a circle of Greek columns, a little courtyard with checkerboard granite, and little bench, very cute! 18) and a last pic of Gwen and the bamboo - the Bonsai gardener told me that a person on Mercer Island had a plot of land where bamboo had grown a while, he called a company and asked them to get rid of it for him. Just then the flower show called the same company asking if they knew of any really tall bamboo they could buy, and walla, demand meets supply. They got it for free. Quite a little miracle. Other highlights we enjoyed: hawaiian orchid display, air plants, ferns ferns ferns....