Ideas from the Garden Show

My sister and I made our way down to the 2008 Chicagoland Flower and Garden Show this week to try to get a glimpse of spring and some inspiration for the year.

My favorites this year:

Hyacinths! I just love the bright color and the sharp fragrance of the hyacinth that were massed in the garden displays.

Succulents- Tiny cactus, jade, hens and chicks and other succulents abound this year. I'm going to try a container garden with these cute little plants.

I absolutely love this color combination with the brown pussy willow branches and yellow-green dogwood. Must be my favorite color palate this year, my favorite table design display was this ensemble of greens and browns, complete with fruit and feathers as accents!

Oxalis violaceae- huge purple leaves as pretty and showy as flowers.

Beautiful colorful butterflies- I could look at these displays all day, simply fascinating creatures.


This little mini-garden with wine corks and moss gave me an idea for what to do with the corks I just can't throw away!


Water features with systems that collect and recycle rainwater.