The new venue is quite an improvement over the former site, the Cow Palace.
Gone was the dark moody lighting and cave like feeling.
The new venue is light and bright and best of all, you can sit outside on comfortable picnic tables surrounded by lawn and trees and enjoy a lunch break between visiting the spectacular garden exhibits and shopping in the nursery concourse.
As always, all the gardens were beautifully presented but several were absolutely spectacular.
When casting a discerning eye towards the exhibition gardens I am looking for creative innovation, strong design direction , uncompromised quality craftsmanship and originality.
These are the elements that separates the seed from the chaff.
The garden designed by Rebecca Cole and company met all of the criteria above and then some.
From the custom designed fabric on the seating to the perfectly patinated metal planters to the intricately planted green walls she choreographed a multilayered symphony that delighted and ignited every cerebral emotion in ones body.
She and her team garnered the highest award given at the show, The Golden Gate Cup , and they deserved it.
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
There is much to be said about judging a garden on its authenticity of design and not by the authority of its past.
The craftswomen at Mariposa Gardening and Design embraced the time honored craft of fine stone masonry and gave us a splendidly rich contemporary garden that touched deeply into anyone's soul who can appreciate the art of fine hand wrought craftsmanship.
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
The design team of Studio Replica , Wendy Owen Design and Garden Fantasia deftly blended haute horticultural couture with rusticated elegance.
It was if Fred Flintstone hit the lottery and hired Wilma a brilliant hot new decorator.
Textures were rich, colors were harmonious and the forms were artistically exciting.
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
The ladies from Fiddleleaf Fine Gardening and Design along with Susan Fenelon treated show goers to a sublime retreat. Their delicate interstitial design was environmentally sensitive. One felt as if they were wrapped in a thick velveteen cloak of natural luxuriance.
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
Ripple Effect Water Gardens along with Eco Systems Landscape didn’t fall victim to the ubiquitous Japanese Zen Water garden theme that always seems to show up at the garden show every year.
Instead they demonstrated authenticity of design and extraordinary craftsmanship.
Their attention to detail showed in every nook and cranny of their sanctuary.
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
Mary Te Selle of Quite Contrary Garden Design artistically blended found objects into objects of art.
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
The Master Composters and Alane O’Rielly Weber were educational and inspirational with their vegetable garden.
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
Redwood Landscaping once again delighted the crowds with their garden ‘Paradise Lost and Found.
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
Tierra Seca wowed us with his contemporary design.
And although I have seen his lit cube of glass in a cage at a prior garden show, I still find it alluring.
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |
From San Francisco Garden Show 2009 |