Seattle Garden Festival Showcases Trends
The Northwest Flower and Garden Festival kicks off its 36th year running through this weekend in Seattle with immersive gardens, expert talks, and cutting-edge container gardening trends. Master gardener Ciscoe Morris advises Pacific Northwest gardeners to delay major plantings until cold snap threats pass due to unpredictable late-winter weather.
- The 2026 festival's theme is "Spring Parade," and it will feature over 20 display gardens and more than 115 educational seminars. - Founded in 1989, the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival is the second largest garden show in the United States, trailing only the Philadelphia Flower Show. - The event is a significant draw for Seattle, with past festivals attracting between 55,000 and 60,000 attendees over its five-day run. - A major trend in Pacific Northwest gardening is the increasing use of native plants like salal, Oregon grape, and sword ferns, which support local wildlife and require less water. - This year, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians is the festival's presenting sponsor and will feature a native gardening display at the entrance. - In addition to traditional displays, the festival hosts interactive events like "Container Wars," a live competition where designers create container gardens in under an hour. - Sustainable landscaping is a key focus for regional gardeners, with an emphasis on water conservation techniques like xeriscaping and the use of permeable surfaces to manage stormwater runoff. - Ciscoe Morris, a well-known local gardening expert and author, is a regular speaker at the festival and on local media outlets.
