Re: Garden Show impressions

I didn't make this show, but I've had a  similar ambivalence about past shows.

These shows are an excellent marketing tool for the exhibitors and 
can showcase construction techniques and materials, but showing 
regional plants is a problem. The show is indoors, so the plants must 
be in disguised containers and be able to withstand the strange 
environment of the show.

I don't think this lends to creating a regional, practical and yet 
beautiful garden that is realistic for most peoples' conditions. Also 
(I know I'm stretching it here, because I missed this as well as last 
years show) it seems many exhibitors are returning to dramatic 'stage 
sets' that are philosophically removed from responsible regionalism.

On that note, I've read more articles in the paper recently about 
local and global water problems. There is a serious drought taking 
place in the Mid to Eastern U.S. And there are more serious water 
shortages and water pollution problems around the world.

Here in N. California, a well-financed company recently proposed 
shipping water in large floating bags from the Gualala River (N. 
Cal.) to San Diego.

It seems to me to be very important that all of us interested in Med. 
gardens should continue our experimenting with low water use gardens. 
This is the wave of the future, and to ignore the water situation is 
irresponsible.

I think we can make low-impact and beautiful - even fun - gardens 
when we use our imaginations.

Steve French


>Our local San Francisco Flower & Garden Show came to an end this 
>past weekend, a huge event attended by thousands from around the Bay 
>Area.  My wife and I always help out at the Pacific Horticulture 
>booth and this year I also gave a talk (on the mediterranean 
>climate).
>
>Each year I feel more and more ambivalent about the large garden 
>display created for the show.  In discussions with others who are 
>part of the show or who attend each year, it is still unclear to me 
>what these garden displays are intended to do for the general 
>viewing public.  I am all for creativity, drama, impact, and feel 
>that the show requires this in the displays.  But so often these 
>gardens are so far removed from what is possible under out local 
>conditions that I find it somewhat nauseating.  One of the most 
>beautiful (to my eye) this year was a huge display with giant golden 
>seated Buddha surrounded by lush tropicals, including many huge 
>specimen bromeliads that clearly came from southern California and 
>were no doubt greenhouse grown.  I think we should be experimenting 
>with more bromeliads in the garden as they are often very 
>appropriate, but these were not in this category.
>
>All to often the plant material used in these display is arranged 
>for color or impact and represents combinations that would be nearly 
>impossible to grow in a garden in the same arrangement.  Also, 
>designers must choose from what is currently available as these 
>'plantings' show.  Too often the plants used are not from the more 
>interesting collections of innovative growers who are more likely to 
>have climate appropriate species.
>
>Two years ago, our local branch of the MGS created a 'vignette' 
>display (small garden displays for non-profits) at this garden show 
>that received lots of good reviews, not only for its climate 
>appropriate plantings, but also because it felt like the kind of 
>garden many people coming to show would like for themselves.
>
>I am curious to hear from anyone who might have gone to this 
>particular garden show regarding what they feel they'd like to see 
>in the big, main floor display gardens.  I'd also be interested in 
>hearing about other garden shows, in other places, and how 
>regionalism or climate appropriateness was addressed in those.
>
>Regards,
>Seán O.
>
>No. Calif. Branch of the Mediterranean Garden Society
>Seán A. O'Hara - Branch co-chair
>(510) 987-0577; fax (707) 667-1173; sean@support.net
>710 Jean Street, Oakland, California 94610-1459, U.S.A.
>http://www.MediterraneanGardenSociety.org/branches_CANo.html
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