From Attendee to Speaker: My Garden Show Journey (NWFGS Part 1)

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Long before I was a designer at the Northwest Flower and Garden show, I started as an attendee, marking up my catalog and planning my day around seminars and show gardens. I then became a volunteer, shadowing Lloyd and helping out wherever needed. Eventually, I stepped into designing show gardens, and this year I’m doing something new again. I’m speaking at the event for the first time and competing in Container Wars.

Today, I want to talk about my journey through the show and the important role it’s played in my life since moving to Washington. This episode kicks off a series we’re doing as we count down to the show. We’re about four weeks out, and over the next month, we’ll be sharing conversations with other designers, the people working behind the scenes, and reflections from our team as we prepare our next garden. If you’ve ever been curious about what the Northwest Flower and Garden Show is all about, or what it takes to create one of these gardens, this series is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

  • How the garden show became my annual escape from winter and what drew me in as an attendee
  • The pivot during COVID that led me to reach out to Lloyd on LinkedIn and start volunteering
  • Reflecting on my journey as a show garden designer, the inspiration behind the themes, and winning People’s Choice.
  • Why I love show gardens as opportunities to educate people about different gardening perspectives and cool plants they might not otherwise see
  • A glimpse into our 2026 design theme, and what I’m doing differently this year as a first-time speaker and Container Wars competitor

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Until next time, I hope you find something in your garden to truly relish.

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