California’s drought was on everyone’s radar at the 28th annual San Francisco Flower and Garden Show.
The show, the nation’s third largest, drew an estimated 35,000 visitors to the San Mateo Event Center, where new owners Sherry Larsen and Maryanne Lucas paid particular attention to current topics such as water-wise plantings and sustainable design.
Their collaboration with author and ornamental grasses expert John Greenlee resulted in an overhaul of the main Expo Hall’s design, including the installation of the Grand Allée, which boasted olive trees, California natives and other drought-tolerant plants.
A shuffling of stages, a greater emphasis on flowers and floral design, and a concerted effort to connect edibles and food systems to the show’s Garden Fresh Stage, which featured chefs and cooking demos, was also part of the new layout.
Larsen stopped long enough to talk to us during a busy Friday afternoon and was thrilled with the response. “We achieved what we wanted as far as the core of the show,” she said. “We wanted to upgrade the gardens and bring back their theatrics.”
One of the 20 show gardens that met the owners’ theatrical expectations was the over-the-top garden designed by Nathan Beck of Clearwater Designs. His garden, “Vulcania: An Oasis for the Soul,” was built around Nautilus, a Burning Man art car that evokes memories of Jules Verne’s famous aquatic vessel.
Lots of trends were spotted during the five-day event, including edible and ornamental backyard foraging for bouquets demonstrated by experts including floral designer Max Gill and landscaper Stefani Bittner; organic and non-GMO seeds for Bay Area climates from the Living Seed Co. ( www.livingseedcompany.com); and an organic mustard meal fertilizer from Farm Fuel Inc. ( www.farmfuelinc.com).
Here are more highlights and trends spotted this year:
Low-water gardening
Besides his Grand Allée promenade, Greenlee created a meadow garden that dramatically anchored the garden space, with its sweeping design showcasing the wide variety of ornamental grasses available for low-water-use gardens. As water-thrifty gardens continue to trend, Larsen predicted that gray-water gardens will increase in popularity over the next five years. She was particularly impressed with New Leaf Landscapes’ “Hydro Literate Landscape” garden that utilized a fully integrated water catchment system.
Agaves
Succulents have earned their place alongside other mainstay perennial plants, and there was a greater emphasis on agaves. Like other succulents, agaves are perfect specimens for a low-water-use garden. Several varieties were on display, including the spineless Agave attenuata and the mescal-making, slow-growing Agave parryi. Arizona State University’s “Agave,” Academy of Art University’s “Urban Mixology” and Clearwater Designs’ “Vulcania: An Oasis for the Soul” had very different themes, yet demonstrated that agaves work within a wide assortment of garden styles and make a striking addition to arid, urban and tropical landscapes.
Best in Show
The Best in Show garden award went to South San Francisco’s Terra Ferma Landscapes ( www.tflandscapes.com). Their design, “Vintage California,” was singled out by judges from Sunset and Pacific Horticulture among others who appreciated their craftsmanship and use of water-wise landscaping. “We had a great reception, this being our first time participating, and feel that our garden was well received because of its timeless and classic aesthetic and plant palette,” owner Brian Koch said. The design’s centerpiece, a 12-foot-diameter woven grapevine orb, was constructed from collected spent vines that would have otherwise been burned. The orb, which visitors passed through and sat inside while admiring a water feature and recycled wine bottle flooring, referenced an earlier Napa Valley era.
Native seeds
The Heirloom Expo booth was a hub of interest as Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. ( www.rareseeds.com) founder Jere Gettle and seed explorer Joseph Simcox passed out free seed packets and spoke about the importance of keeping native seeds alive through sowing and education. Gettle’s ‘Florida Green’ and ‘Arkansas Green’ colored cotton samples caught the attention of fiber enthusiasts, and though he didn’t officially have any seeds on hand, he did take one local cotton spinner aside and share his coveted stash of these rare plantation-era seeds. “It’s fun giving out seeds. I’d rather give them out than sell them,” Gettle said.
Aquaponics
Less than a year old, Watsonville’s Viridis Aquaponic Growers ( www.viridisaquaponics.com) is turning conventional greenhouse growing on its head. This 8-acre commercial farm was at the show to promote its operation and introduce visitors to aquaponics, a closed-loop type of farming that cycles nutrient-rich water from fish tanks that house sturgeon and other freshwater fish to trough-like soilless planting beds. Nathan Kaufman, who handles outreach and education, said, “We’re producing about eight times more per square foot than conventional soil-growing greenhouses and using about 95 percent less water.” The company has a small modular greenhouse kit in the works, which will house a fish tank, a solar-run battery to cycle water, and planting beds for both deep-rooted crops like beets and tomatoes and shallow-rooted plants like lettuce and spinach.
Sophia Markoulakis is a Burlingame freelance writer. E-mail: home@sfchronicle.com
Speak Your Mind