We mice volunteer, explore - the SF Flower and Garden Show

So - here is our report from the SF Flower and Garden Show. The 2013 theme is "Gardens make the world go round." We volunteered in the CNPS booth (see end of post) and visited the gardens and vendors for a fun day out.

And yet -- less garden fun than last year. It being the afternoon of the last day when we visited, maybe some things were gone already? The gardens were not so many or so varied or so spectacular.

"Wanted Weeds" -- NOO! Don't Do It! English Ivy in California is BAAAAD!!!

Now -- What's with this weeds display by Urban Hedgerow?? People praising weeds - ye gods! I'm doing such battle with them I'm almost spluttering in protest! I mean, supporting the underdog is one thing, but weeds that take over your yard are hardly that. Well, it was supposed to be a thought-stimulating exhibition. The featured country was "England." Hah! Those sasenachs!

(Did not catch the name of this exhibit)

Succulents in tubes - we differed in our opinion of this one. I quite liked the ability to create different sorts of walls with succulents this way. Ms T. Mouse was not so impressed.

“Harmonious Visions” - Town Mouse cocks her ears in puzzlement

Ms Town liked the Academy of Arts University installation more than I. I just didn't get it I guess. It was a two roomed Chinese inspired "yin/yang" type of garden. I thought it would be more at home in SF MOMA, but what the hay. We were both baffled by what kept the suspended rocks in constant motion.

Showing the other of the two rooms - plants in burlap bags hanging upside down over mirrors that looked like pools of water.

Our favorite garden was by Mariposa Designs and Greenlee Associates - John Greenlee the Meadow guy. I do so hope he pays attention to invasiveness of grasses. He got quite heated last year when we asked him that question. And yet -- we all can bend the truth to suit our ends, and his ends are so truly lovely - the low and soft grasses feathering against the marvelous stone work. A few shots below...

"Glade" exhibition garden - inspired by Ireland

(Does the above remind you of Andy Goldsworthy?)

(I WANT to do this!)

Then there is whimsy. I am a sucker for whimsy as in the below doggie.

Country Mouse and Recycled Mouse

Above -- me with a bit of mouse whimsy, and a cute cow in the corner. I'd really like something like the cow made of an oil can in my garden.


The big thing this year was this succulent globe but it didn't really do much for me.

And overall, the place felt less than half filled with exhibitors. What happened to them?

We mice love to visit the children's miniature garden area - and this year our favorite was...

Here it is:

A Weird Lighthouse in The Weird Sea

But of course our raison d'etre at the show at all was to volunteer in the California Native Plant Society booth for a two hour stint - and later to help Ellen pack up and get home to a well deserved rest (I hope).

Ellen center helping a new member sign up.

Each year I detect an uptick in interest and this year was no different. Native plant gardening is now much more of a mainstream interest - which is a very good thing!

Us mice -- Country on the left, Town on the right. Like the honkin' great loppers I bought at the show!?

The redoubtable Ellen Edelson of the Yerba Buena chapter deserves homages, encomiums, and sainthood at least. She works the entire show ceaselessly and with tremendous attention to detail and enthusiasm for bringing in new people to CNPS and giving out information to all comers. And she's a lovely person besides.