GBBD: Wishful Thinking

Once again it's time for the monthly event that all garden bloggers look forward to--Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, hosted by our creative hoe-stess Carol of May Dreams Gardens. And no, these daffodils are not blooming in my garden--they were part of a display at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show last week.



Instead, these are the only "blooms" I have in my garden right now--tulip and daffodil shoots beginning to emerge from the muddy ground. It's definitely beginning to feel like spring here in the Midwest, but there's not a crocus or snowdrop in sight in my little corner of the prairie. Zip, zilch, nothing. So instead of showing you more bare dirt, I hope you don't mind if I cheat a little today and show you some blooming scenes from the Chicago Garden Show instead. I'll try to avoid chatting too much so you have plenty of time to visit other Bloom Day posts today.

The theme of this year's show, which good friend Beckie and I attended on Monday, was "Cultivating Great Performances." You had to stretch your imagination a little to see the connection to the theater in some of the displays, but this one made sense. "Bye, Bye, Birdie" emphasized "consideration for wildlife" with an over-sized birdhouse entry and birdhouses everywhere. Wouldn't you love to have your spring bulbs all appear at the same time to create a colorful vignette like this?

And, of course, no theatrical exhibit would be complete without homage to the greatest playwright of them all, William Shakespeare. I think Shakespeare might have been a gardener at heart.

Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,

Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,

Whiles, like a puff'd and reckless libertine,

Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads

And recks not his own rede.

(Hamlet)

The exhibit was interesting, but not outstanding. I think it would have been much more helpful if quotes from Shakespeare's plays with the references to the specific plants or areas would have been staked in each part. Not criticizing, just suggesting . . .

I didn't see many children in attendance, but there were several displays that would have appealed to them. "Lanie's World," sponsored in part by American Girl, featured a charming backyard including her very own "pizza garden."

We were really impressed with the elaborate exhibit created by the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences and the friendly students on hand eager to explain their work. "Great Performances Through the Eyes of a Child" featured scenes from several fairy tales, including "The Three Little Pigs." Looks like the Big Bad Wolf has already blown down the first Little Pig's straw house, but not to worry . . .

. . . the Three Little Pigs made good use of all that leftover straw in their vegetable garden:)

Another exhibit "Alice's Wonderland" wasn't quite so kid-friendly with a pretty scary-looking Red Queen presiding over the display. But there were some whimsical touches like these glass mushrooms.

And a replica of the famous croquet game. Now this is the best use of pink flamingo ornaments I've ever seen--sorry, Monica:)

A big part of what I enjoy about shows like this is finding new ideas to use in my own garden. Last year's show featured lots of spring bulbs, but this year's seemed to favor cyclamen, oxalis, hydrangeas, and using ornamental edibles. Large cabbages like this one were everywhere, including container plantings.

The most unusual edible had to be this flowering kale. I've never seen it grow this tall and flower before. (Thanks, Rose R. for identifying it.)

How's this for a clever window box arrangement?

Here's another novel idea--a lighted pillar made out of fast food drink holders! I wonder how many trips through McDonald's drive-through it would take to create one of these:)

Not so practical for adaptation at home, the "Theatrical Tablescapes" nevertheless were beautiful to look at.

Doesn't this rose "sundae" look delicious?

There seemed to be quite a few more exhibits than last year, though many of them were smaller in size. The most elaborate of this year's offerings had to be "Miss Saigon: A Garden for the Day and Night" with tons of rock incorporated into the large water features.

Bloggers aren't the only ones who'll try anything for a good photo:) Then again, she might be a blogger I haven't met yet.

This shot is for Monica--The entry sign for "Jekyll and Hyde" called this "a quagmire of buckthorn" :) This was part of a prairie restoration exhibit and actually one of my favorites.

The display itself wasn't particularly attractive as it showed invasive species first that were then cut down to create a prairie planting. But the guide at the exhibit was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about answering all our questions that I learned quite a lot about the subject. I didn't know, for example, that there was actually a company that specializes in creating these native restorations.

"Our Town: Your Garden" was another surprising favorite. Sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation, this exhibit featured not only pretty plantings but also displays of ergonomic tools and suggestions for gardeners with disabilities like this raised coldframe. Good ideas, too, for us Baby Boomers with aching knees and creaking backs:)

One of my favorite exhibits at last year's show was the Japanese Garden. No Japanese Garden this year, but "Great Performances: The Art of Bonsai" brought a little Zen to this year's show. Beckie and I both fell in love with these horticultural works of art.

We had a great day, and despite a harrowing drive home through dense fog, the Chicago Flower and Garden Show was well worth the visit. This may become an annual expedition for the two of us.

I will be off-line for several days, but I hope to visit everyone as soon as I return. In the meantime, be sure to visit Carol for other blooms from around the world. And don't forget, you have until midnight tonight to comment below if you'd like some free seeds and a cookbook!