Come on Summer!

I'm skipping Spring Fever and going straight for Summer.

It's around this time that I almost have myself convinced that the sun is never going to shine again and it will rain in Portland 362 days a year. I just got back from Los Angeles and Palm Springs with a fantastic stop at the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. Just the feel of the sun on my skin was worth the cost of the airfare!

Another reason why I am longing for summer is this book: Sharp Gardening

But for now, we only have glimpses of Spring in the crocus flowers and plum tree blossoms. Many gardener's favorite season is Spring, but mine is summer. I do love the cherry blossoms, but my heart truly aches for big bold leaves of tropical plants and hot colors of summer.

My friend Tracy sent me this Spring-inspired photo today which might be the only time I have ever enjoyed pastel colors. (Except Superwonderful Pink, of course)

(photo by Tim Walker)

YGP Show Slideshow

YGP Show Build Out

The display is finally up and the booth is ready. Seeing all of the massive display gardens really makes me wish I would have dropped the tens of thousands of dollars that something like that costs to build (for 3 days!). Maybe next year.

My location isn't the best - I'm near the back next to a silly sun hat company with their tower of sun hats totally blocking the view of my booth, and my neighbors across the isle are a vinyl window company and a skin cream company that claims their cream will end acne, eczema, sunburn, etc, etc. *ugh*. Why couldn't I be next to Pistils Nursery or somewhere with a good view? Okay. End rant.

I got to walk around and check out the other booths today, and there are some really lovely displays. It's amazing what some can do with a 10'x10' square. The big, slick designers are there with their big, slick design samples and it's exciting to be in the same arena as them. As always, with a unique business name, and hot pink logo colors, I feel like I am a bit different than other landscaping companies and my display is quite different than most others too. Hopefully that will be to my advantage. I know my current and past clients think so. I hope I can woo some new ones too. Portland Spaces, the local design magazine that I absolutely love (forget Dwell!) has a great display. They built a 'living room' using a lot of the same ideas and materials as I did (plywood, recycled doors and windows, patchwork patterns), and they are right around the corner from me, so I'm happy about that.

Okay, can you tell I'm nervous and over-thinking this whole thing?

See you this weekend!

Save the Date!

February 27 - March 1st at the Portland Convention Center.

Just in time to plan your summer oasis in your backyard, Superwonderful will have a booth at the show and will have free herb and flower seeds for those that stop by.

Look forward to seeing you there!

A Valentine's Day Project - not in the mud.

This has nothing to do with gardening, but does have everything to do with two of my other favorite activities - baking and eating.

I swear, those crafty DIYers! How do they find the time? I envy being able to make things, take photos, give gifts, sell your art, blog about it, etc. etc. but how do they do it?

The crafty folks over at Twig & Thistle have created a lovely valentine's day project for you to make for your sweetie - A Sweetheart Brownie Valentine.

Every year Matt makes me a valentine by hand and they are all carefully displayed around the house. This year I am going to give him some love baked up in brownies and sweets in this sweet little bag and call myself crafty! (for a day)

Superwonderful's First Trade Show

The application for exhibiting at the show sat on my desk for months. The price tag for exhibiting wasn't getting any cheaper and my bank account wasn't getting any bigger, but I took the plunge and paid for a little booth at the Yard, Garden & Patio show.

I am planning the booth design now and need to get cracking on building the 10'x10' space. I won't be building one of the huge display gardens, but I want to make my booth as lovely as possible and I'm hoping to have a few specimen plants on display as well as photos and design samples. I'll finally get to feel what it's like to move into a convention center for 3 days and self promote. Ha! Please come to the show, drink some wine by local vineyards and stop by and keep me company. Dates are Feb. 27 - March 1st.

A New Design is Finished

It's funny creating garden designs while watching big flakes of snow fall out the window. Yep - it's snowing again in Portland, though this one is not supposed to last. What I picture in my mind when I'm creating designs is a hot, shady, colorful, lush garden with people lounging around laughing with cold drinks in their hands in pretty sun dresses and sandals. I think it actually helps my mental state in the winter to always be thinking in warm weather time.

This newest design is for a century old farmhouse in SE Portland. It is a complete remodel of the front and back yards including a new stairway and deck from the kitchen to the back yard. I cannot wait to see it completed. The owners are going to do a lot of the work themselves so it might be a two-year project.

Next up is a backyard design for Daniel Paisley and Mieke Clark for their St. Johns home complete with veggie garden, fruit trees, and a chicken coop!