We are beyond thrilled to announce that Relish Gardens has made history by securing the Ethel Moss People’s Choice Award at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show (NWFGS) for the second consecutive year! This remarkable achievement underscores our commitment to innovative garden design and our deep connection with the gardening community.
Photo from Left to Right: Stevie & Claire from Relish Gardens stand next to Lloyd Glasscock, Garden Coordinator at Northwest Flower and Garden Show. Claire is holding the 2025 People’s Choice Award for her “Zone 9” Garden design.
For our third year at the NWFGS, we embraced the opportunity to push creative boundaries, showcase sustainable practices, and engage with fellow plant enthusiasts.
Seattle’s recent shift to growing zone 9a has presented new challenges and opportunities for gardeners. Our 2025 garden, titled “Zone 9,” was an experiment in adaptation and resilience. We explored the viability of plants like Agaves, which, while previously uncommon in the region, they can be grown here with proper siting and care.
Photo left: Claire from Relish gardens stands with Bryon Jones.
Photo right: Agave Parryi from Bryon Jones personal collection.
Drawing inspiration from the rugged landscapes of Northern California where I grew up, and the vibrant and energetic environment of Seattle, we created a space where natural beauty and city life converge. Our goal was to inspire gardeners to think creatively and work harmoniously with the evolving climate.
Photo: Murals by Keaton Hanna
Art played a crucial role in shaping the garden’s identity, infusing it with bold colors, movement, and texture. Bold mural panels painted by Keaton Hanna were hung to mimic a city’s skyline, blending vibrant colors with organic forms to craft an environment that felt both structured and fluid.
Photo: Fiber Art by Bee
Additionally, we worked with local artist Bee who created a stunning fiber art installation using a salvaged wheel from Earthwise Architectural Salvage, adding rich texture and an unexpected pop of color to the garden.
Sustainability was at the heart of our design. We repurposed materials in innovative ways, such as using vintage metal milk crates we found on Facebook market place to construct a gabion wall that doubled as a bug hotel and space for beneficial insects. We also created benches and a succulent table from salvaged cedar rounds sourced locally. All of our wood for our potting bench, and border seating came from an old cedar deck off Buy Nothing, and the roofing tiles came from a 100-year-old teardown in Anacortas. This approach not only reduced waste but also demonstrated that sustainable design can be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
We believe gardens should be immersive and interactive. Our design encouraged visitors to step inside, explore, and engage with the space. The layout invited movement, allowing guests to appreciate the textures, colors, and intricate details up close. Whether marveling at the striking agaves or examining the murals, the garden was crafted to be experienced fully.
Photo: Relish Gardens team + some of our volunteers who helped build, and take down the garden this year.
Winning the People’s Choice Award two years in a row is an honor beyond words. It reflects the passion and hard work our team pours into each project and the incredible support from the community. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who visited our garden, shared their experiences, and voted for us. Your encouragement fuels our dedication to creating spaces that inspire and resonate.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to exploring new ideas, embracing sustainability, and fostering connections through the art of gardening. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for behind-the-scenes and how-to videos on how we brought this garden to life.
