2025 Display Gardens

Celebrate Creativity and the Dream of Spring

Each year, inspired and innovative Garden Creators from around the Pacific Northwest put their heart and soul into crafting showstopping garden displays. These temporary and stunning works of art, constructed in under 72 hours on the show floor with over 30,000 forced plants and blooming flowers, are the cornerstone of what makes the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival a world-renowned source of garden design inspiration and innovation.

This year’s Garden Creators are the best of the best with more color, plant variety, interactive opportunities, and more, exploring intriguing themes such as peaceful retreats, game night, romance, burnt wood art, edible botanicals, and of course, PNW nature and lifestyle. Stroll through the Gardens on the main show floor to imagine their beauty in your own outdoor space and for the ultimate backdrops for show selfies.

Honoring Chief Joseph

Celebrating history and design, this garden features three stunning 40+ year-old Chief Joseph Pine trees, a colorful dwarf lodgepole pine discovered in the Pacific Northwest in the 1970s. Named in honor of historical PNW patriarch Chief Joseph, these trees have a rich history in the area and are honored by Adam Gorski Landscapes in this display that beautifully demonstrates how to create a space around one central plant or garden focal point. In this case, the three trees at the center are bold in color, texture, and scent, perfectly emulating the many unique natural atmospheres of the Pacific Northwest.

Designed by: Adam Gorski Landscapes

Rejuvenating Waters: A Journey to Vitality

Enter an oasis that replenishes, reinvigorates, and reconnects. Wander through lush exotic and native foliage, finding solace and serenity in the embrace of the shaded ‘leaf’ canopy and the tranquil sounds of pooling rainwater. A blend of conservation and restoration elements, this biophilic design enhances and energizes a healthy harmony between people and plants. Renowned landscape designers Robin Parsons and Smitha Navda fuse functionality with luxury to create bold, beautiful reflections of one’s connection to the outdoors. Whether foreign inspiration for the traveler or a peaceful retreat for the homebody, this garden is a sanctuary for the spirit. Embark on the path towards sustainable water management and emerge transformed and connected to nature. 

Take-home ideas: Implementing water conservation practices for the preservation of our fragile ecosystem for sustainable yet strikingly scenic and sensory spaces.

Designed by: Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLDWA)

Collaborative Design with Nature

Elandan Gardens has participated in the Festival for over 30 years, showcasing a unique blend of bonsai artistry and natural beauty. At the heart of their display is a stunning Japanese Black Pine, grown from seed and trained by Dan Robinson over the past 60 years. Large stabilizing stones ground the garden and pond, harmonizing beautifully with the Pine. Rare mature specimen plants, along with water features and stone sculptures by artist Will Robinson, enhance the serene environment. Seasonal flowers add a vibrant touch, all contributing to Elandan Gardens' interpretation of this year's "Spring Dreamin'" theme. This thoughtful combination invites visitors to experience the tranquility of nature and artistry in perfect harmony.

Take-home ideas: Emphasize nature’s tranquility with stone and water elements, even in small spaces.

Pollinator Paradise

Great Plant Picks has proudly participated in the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival for 24 years! This year, their garden is designed to attract essential pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, emphasizing their vital role in our ecosystem. The display features a stunning array of exceptional plants suited for maritime Pacific Northwest gardens, including GPP-recommended perennials, shrubs, and trees showcased in attractive containers. Informative displays will guide visitors to the GPP website, where they can find detailed information on each plant's outstanding qualities, growth habits, and cultural needs. This initiative enhances the exhibit's visual appeal and educates the public on cultivating these remarkable plants in their own gardens.

Take-home ideas: Promote a healthy ecosystem by welcoming pollinators into your garden.

Designed by: Elisabeth Miller Botanical Garden – Great Plant Picks

Worlds Within Worlds

Step into an oasis that transports you to the heart of a jungle. This garden invites visitors on a winding journey around a central hill, where glowing terrariums emerge like precious gems from natural stone settings. Lush landscapes feature vibrant tropical plants, with blooming orchids in extraordinary shapes and sizes stealing the spotlight. Designed to capture the artistry of urban gardening, the "macro" jungle demonstrates the natural beauty of popular indoor plants, while "micro" terrariums showcase the intricate possibilities of cultivating rare species in compact, controlled spaces. Custom mechanical terrariums by In Situ Ecosystems and rare orchids from AGE Tropicals elevate this display, blending innovation and nature. This garden offers an inspiring escape, celebrating the beauty and versatility of tropical plants in modern living.

Take-home ideas: Explore diverse indoor plant environments that mimic their natural habitat.

The Flavor of New Orleans

Bothell’s own Fancy Plants Gardens brings the lively energy of New Orleans to Seattle. The handpicked greenery, individual furniture, and decor pieces emulate a calm morning in the city before the chaos of Mardi Gras and jazz musicians fill the streets. The display offers a fusion of styles ranging from New Orleans’ historic Garden District and Uptown neighborhoods, which pull inspiration from Victorian architecture. Specifically, their poignant centerpiece is a replica of a Victorian Camelback House from Faubourg Delassize. Fancy Plants shows how to pull inspiration from other cities and cultures to amplify outdoor spaces.

Take-home ideas: Draw inspiration from your past and future travels to transform your garden style and decor.

Designed by: Fancy Plants Gardens

Fancy Flora

Immerse yourself in a vibrant tapestry of spring colors and fragrances. Showcasing the latest floral innovations and timeless classics from local nurseries and greenhouses, find inspiration in an abundance of blossoms. Discover a harmonious blend of textures and hues, from delicate pastels to bold, vibrant blooms. As you wander through this enchanting space, explore the art of aesthetically pleasing garden arrangements, from romantic cottage grounds to modern minimalist designs. This floral display celebrates the serenity of spring and the power of plants to transform your outdoor space into a luxurious retreat.

Take-home ideas: Make your spring garden dreams come true with exquisite floral arrangements that elevate and embellish your outdoor space.

A Moment of Peace

With a goal to promote moments of relaxation and an escape from life’s inevitable trials and tribulations, GMC Landscapes debuts “A Moment of Peace” showcasing their expert craftsmanship and design skills to create a tranquil outdoor space. Various structures of mixed materials create visual depth and physical layers, offering a variety of relaxation spaces. To tie the display together, a bubbling river trickles throughout the setting. Guests can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and natural sounds of the water passing by, reflecting a family-friendly space that can be enjoyed with loved ones or to relax on one’s own.

Take-home ideas: Make use of different structure types and sounds to diversify a space.

Designed by: GMC Landscapes

Small Space, big Dream

Inspired by Seattle’s iconic hills, the Hello Garden display offers attendees a fresh perspective on turning their garden dreams into reality, no matter the size of their space. With its striking multi-level design and captivating archways, this display invites exploration and celebrates creativity and self-expression. Highlights include a hidden-cut flower farm nestled within the landscape and innovative modern urban orchards, showcasing how to make the most of limited space. Thoughtfully designed, the garden also emphasizes areas for play and collaboration, making it a perfect blend of functionality and beauty.

Take-home ideas: Attendees will leave this display inspired to think big and be inspired to make their out-of-the-box ideas come to life!

Finding Sanctuary in Evergreen Oaks

HomeGrown Organics’ garden celebrates the timeless beauty and resilience of evergreen oak trees, a cornerstone species that thrive in even the toughest conditions. Winding paths lead to a serene central patio, where a custom spiral outdoor shower offers a refreshing connection to nature. The planting areas showcase three distinct styles: the dry garden with drought-tolerant plants, the Mediterranean garden with adaptable species, and the lush monsoonal garden, thriving with regular summer water. These vibrant landscapes highlight near-natives from Oregon, California, and Mexico, alongside stunning plants from around the world. Decorative sculptures by Vashon artist Mike Leavitt honor the wildlife drawn to oaks, crafted from Garry Oak branches salvaged from one of Washington’s last savannahs. 

Designed by: HomeGrown Organics

A Tale of two gardens

Showcasing the potential harmony of practicality and beauty, “A Tale of Two Gardens” offers design and layout inspiration for those looking to maximize their outdoor space. The display is made up of two useful spaces: a bright outdoor kitchen for hosting and gathering, and a shaded woodland area serving as a quiet nook for relaxation. Gorgeous flora and fauna were mindfully chosen to enhance the experience of people enjoying the space, but also promote sustainable gardening practices through the use of mini meadows, water management features, and native plants. J Szabo receives support from sponsors: Greenhome Seattle, Rock Mountain Products, FX Luminaire, Plants Northwest, Oxbow Nursery, Rich’s Home, Marenakos, Mutual Materials, and T&L Nursery.

Take-home ideas: Having dedicated areas for entertaining and relaxing allows outdoor spaces to achieve maximum usage.

The Gathering Garden- Where Friends & Family Come Together

Uplift, unwind, and unite in an outdoor oasis with areas for all ages to enjoy. Cozy fireside chats, refreshing dips in the pool, or basks in the sun -- there is something for everyone! The purpose of this design is to build memories and bonds amidst an abundance of beauty. Featuring a pool, fire pit, patio, and plenty of plants, this PNW paradise brings to life a garden worth gathering in. The melding of modern hardscapes with whimsical art creates a retreat reflecting the family’s personality while remaining practical. Between residential gardens and elaborate estates, Kismet Design’s gardens feature a fusion of elements for all families to foster togetherness. 

Take-home ideas: Combine purposeful and practical to generate a garden that encourages loved ones to gather, share stories, and make memories. 

The Makers’ Meadow

Gardeners, herbalists, floral designers, and outdoor lovers will delight in inspiration. Combining artistic expression with ecological responsibility, Lacewing Fine Gardening and Botanical Design delivers an intrinsic outdoor experience that heightens the senses. “The Makers’ Meadow” highlights sustainable design, with mindful displays of evergreen grasses, colorful perennials, and various Manzanita varieties. Similarly sustainable, the garden features multiple drought-tolerant plant varieties emphasizing low-water options for creating a stunning garden. To complement the greenery, flora, and fauna, artfully chosen decorations, an insect pollinator hotel made from reclaimed materials, and a gorgeous centerpiece structure built with wood treated in the traditional Japanese Shou Sugi Ban style.

Take-home ideas: Incorporate climate-friendly planting practices into your garden, selecting specific plants that will thrive in local conditions and support other wildlife.

Designed by: Lacewing Fine Gardening and Botanical Design

The Salish Retreat

This display is a heartfelt tribute to the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest who have cherished and preserved this land for centuries. It celebrates the region’s natural beauty, inspiring visitors to create their own native landscapes and rustic outdoor spaces. At its center, stands a custom-designed wood pavilion, complemented by a striking weeping water wall and core-drilled granite boulder, creating a soothing sensory experience. Lush native greenery, vibrant floral displays, elegant stone pathways, and inviting seating areas encourage exploration and reflection, creating an immersive experience and highlighting the harmonious blend of nature’s beauty and thoughtful design.

Take-home ideas: Feel inspired to learn about PNW roots and how you can pay homage in your own garden.

Eddillio Immersed in Beauty 

Step into a backyard retreat where modern elegance meets the serenity of the Pacific Northwest. A tranquil waterfall and stream flow gracefully around three sides of a sleek patio, creating an immersive sense of calm and connection to nature. At the heart, lies a faux fire pit and a striking driftwood moongate, blending natural organic elements with contemporary design. The soothing sounds of water enhance the intimate atmosphere, inviting visitors to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscape. This Northwest-inspired garden masterfully balances modern materials with a lush, natural backdrop, offering a peaceful escape that feels both grounded and refined.

Take-home ideas: How to create a destination patio that draws into the garden.

Designed by: Nature Perfect Landscape & Design

The Garden of Vows

Discover a captivating PNW forest garden where a glass greenhouse from France anchors an intimate sanctuary of transformation. A majestic "wishing tree" invites visitors to hang their wishes or prayers, while a Corten steel moon gate frames the ceremony space with rustic elegance. Understated pavers wind past a bubbling stone, revealing layers of native plants, edibles, and medicinals selected for climate resilience. This "cottagecore" haven, adorned with slow flowers and repurposed materials, offers a space for vows and healing. Thoughtful details like "bug snugs" and bird habitats foster a thriving ecosystem, creating a landscape that celebrates connection—with nature, ourselves, and each other.

Take-home ideas: Creating a multi-layered, eco-friendly sanctuary with whimsy and meaning.

Designed by: NW Bloom - Ecological Services

KOKORO

Soothe your senses and tap into tranquility. This garden embodies "Kokoro"—where mind, body, and spirit converge in elegant simplicity. A modern interpretation of traditional Japanese design, it offers a sanctuary of balance, inviting meditation and connection. A dramatic “Niwaki” style black pine reaches skyward, dancing with a contorted Japanese maple, while a weathered copper corten water feature cascades like gentle rain. Bonsai trees anchor the space with their timeless grace, nurtured by the owner’s expert hands. Large boulders breathe stillness, and a screen fence frames contemplative moments. Mounding evergreens and ground covers create a minimalist plant palette, embracing negative space—a visual respite for overstimulated minds.

Take-home ideas: Find harmonious design through use of negative space.

Designed by: Redwood Builders Landscaping

ZONE 9

Combining inspiration from Seattle’s dynamic environment, and Northern California’s vibrant sunkissed landscapes Relish Gardens blends creative inspiration, a passion for art, and horticultural innovation in their stunning garden. A vivid collection of 20+ year-old agaves alongside various edibles, drought-tolerant plants, murals by local artists, and decorations made from repurposed materials are visually striking yet create an inviting atmosphere intended for relaxation. The space is designed to be inclusive of gardeners and plant lovers at all levels of passion and expertise. Low-maintenance plants and DIY are at the center of this project and its design.

Take-home ideas: Select a vibrant mix of ornamentals and edibles to create a striking garden in a smaller space.

The Fiery Blossom Bar

This display is a dream for entertainers, thoughtfully designed to create the ultimate gathering space for connecting with friends and family. Featuring a vibrant color palette of red, orange, and yellow, paired with warm, inviting lighting, the space radiates comfort and charm. Surrounded by stunning container-grown blooms, it offers a welcoming ambiance for any occasion. A standout feature is the unique glass “leaves,” artfully crafted to mimic yucca and other spiky plants, adding a touch of creativity and intrigue to the design.

Designed by:  Washington Association of Landscape Professionals

Creating your dreams into reality

Step into a garden where vintage charm meets Pacific Northwest natural design. At its heart, a 1978 Toyota long-bed pickup has been reimagined as a cascading water feature, blending nostalgia with innovation. Surrounding the pond at the base of the creek-styled cascading falls are lush displays of ferns, bamboo, pansies, mushrooms, and moss, creating a vibrant, woodland feel. Elements like Grizzly Flat and Alpine Granite boulders complement a dimensional Pennsylvania Bluestone patio and path, seamlessly integrating stone and greenery, and low-maintenance Dream Turf provides an evergreen, water-free lawn, adding year-round beauty with no upkeep. This space celebrates the art of recycling, turning a vintage truck into a centerpiece— a nod to Seattle’s passion for sustainability. 

Take-home ideas: Utilize natural logs to create lines, habitats, and space breaks with natural stone and simple planning.