Guys, I’ve been knee deep in wedding stuff over here.  We are getting down to the final stretch!  Lots of projects and details are on the horizon…woohoo!  But I can’t share them until after the wedding so I’d like to give you a little garden inspiration today.

Sunflowers always make me happy.

As you may recall from last week, the Philadelphia Flower Show was in full bloom.  I have rarely missed the annual event since I was in high school.  I really love plants, floral design, gardening and landscapes.  Fun fact, my first job ever was in a flower shop!  Which led me to pursue a technical program in horticulture in high school and then a Bachelors degree in Ornamental Horticulture in college. While I am not quite doing anything professional with the Horticulture degree, the education has certainly been a backbone for me in my career.

I love to visit the educational exhibits at the flower show.  My Alma mater, DelVal, featured a spin on Sherlock Homes: The Mystery of Dr. Black’s Garden which allowed you to walk through the exhibit and identify invasive species.  Their interactive exhibit won best achievement in plant education.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society hosts the show and typically displays sustainable ways to garden in small spaces.  Sticking with the English theme of “Brilliant”, PHS put together a vertical garden displaying the Union Jack flag.  I was delightfully distracted by the wall of lush green plants and didn’t even notice the flag until I took a step back.

There are so many details like that throughout the show.  So much thought goes into these displays.  For example, this quaint potting shed seems to have it all including a wood burning stove!

And the stacked wood outside of the shed is so satisfying.  Sigh.  I think I’ll work on making my potting shed this quaint and inviting.  Every year I say that right about now.

There were also quite a few repurposed ideas popping up in the garden displays.  One of my favorite displays was from event floral designer, Petals Lane.  They never disappoint and this year their display included lots of vintage furniture and treasures in a mad tea party setting.

I simply can not get past the use of vintage trunks…as planters.  Amazing!  You know how I feel about trunks, right?  The repetitiveness of the trunk planters made a huge impact.  However, before you go and plant a trunk this season realize that this would definitely not hold up to the elements outside.  This is a great idea for an event though.

How did they do this?  Wheelbarrows stacked 7 or 8 deep in another display.

And for a simple repurpose idea…I like how these barrel trash cans double as planters.  Great for a small area.

Notching a fallen log as pictured below makes a great business card holder.  I am filing this idea away for future ways to display marketing collateral.

And while we’re on the subject of trees, I found this life size sketch to be so striking.

And this abstract display depicting rain in London was just massive!  I love how the designers used tropical flowers and props to represent the rain.  I can’t even imagine how difficult it is to suspend all of those umbrellas.

And finally…these bright Gerbera daisies were just calling my name in their happy metallic pots.

Did you go to the flower show?  What was your favorite exhibit?