My Mpls (Home) and Garden Show Review; It's Not All Bad

Last year I wrote about my first visit to the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show. I went with high hopes and expectations, only to find big disappointment compared to other garden shows I've attended; especially with the Wichita Lawn and Garden Show (my old stomping grounds). I know, who knew?

That garden show is a bit of a sleeper and a big surprise to those who go. To think that flat flyover country can produce one of the top ten garden shows in the country never stops astounding gardening and non-gardening fans alike. This year was no different; with the theme "Gardens Out of Movies", those Kansas landscapers pulled out all the stops. And even without the enormous dinosaurs in the Jurassic Park garden, it still would have been no contest.

That said...I know a few things about garden shows.

However, the advance publicity described the show as improved while showing a tight shot of a waterfall, probably taken from a low vantage point. I bit and decided to give it another shot.

I'm glad I went. Things were better, a bit. Best of all, my fellow Master Gardeners are there giving solid, science-based presentations on lots of hot topics in gardening. If you go, be sure to stop by and hear them.

But in reality, the garden show is there to sell hardscape, the part of gardening that brings in the bucks. I understand.

There's always a place where you can vote on your favorite garden. Since I have my own soapbox, I'll give you my thoughts right here.

Lots of stone work and water features made this one a popular stop.

Unfortunately there were still lots of unimaginative and rigid scenes like this one.

Too much bare mulch, and stiff stands of tulips. Was it finished?

On the plus side, what a striking container planting. A red urn, how unexpected and fun.

This lovely garden fell short in the garden art category with these cheesy cherubs.

Simple but stunning. Good textures.

Nice combination of spring bulbs and begonia. The slightly flopping foliage actually charming next to stiff, soldier-like spring flowers in most displays.

This delightful vignette shows that big isn't better, and that the grand gardens don't have to be really grand to be successful. This tin roof and trough waterfall stole my heart.

I hate to use this reviled phrase but the Mpls show "is what it is". I think I should manage my thinking to understand that it has more of state fair feel than other garden shows around the country. And as long as it is driven by the construction and home industry it probably won't change.

Walking around, the demographics don't show the changing face of "gardening" going in the Twin Cities. This city is hell bent on horticulture but the show doesn't reflect that. More and more young people are taking up their trowels. Yet I didn't see any examples of edible landscaping. That is "the big thing" and will be only getting bigger.