It’s hard to believe, but the Northwest Flower & Garden Show opens one week from today! That means the show garden designers are scrambling for last items before they start building fantasy land in the Seattle Convention Center this weekend. The insanity starts on the empty convention floor on Saturday morning and continues until noon on Tuesday when designers are herded out the doors. Then, the judges enter, awards are made, and the spaces take a bit of a rest before the Arboretum Foundation gala later Tuesday evening.
Mossy Carpet Incubates Ferns & More
I’m a card carrying member of the Seattle Arboretum Foundation, so along with all the other members I received a notice today asking for donations of moss for their show garden. Without giving away too much fact-behind-the-fantasy, I’ll just say that moss is used to help give a finished look to the “ground” of the show gardens.
If you have moss that you’re wondering what to do with — and I know many of you do — consider taking some time this week to hand-remove it and donate it to the Arboretum Foundation.
Put those Moss Out! bags back on the shelf. Leave the chemical aisles, and enter the garden. Moss is easy to remove from rooftops, lawns, hanging from trees, and shady cracks in the patio. Just take a rake to the lawn, a flat shovel to the garden beds, a trowel or hori-hori to the patio cracks or a push broom to the rooftop, and watch the moss roll away. If you have hanging mosses, gently lift it from branches. Do not peel lichens from branches or you may disrupt the tree’s cambium. Do take care removing large “sheets” of it from forest floors. Moss forms an important part of the forest ecosystem and acts as a sponge for water that helps the forest floor stay cool and moist. If you remove some from these areas, please don’t take it all!
Here’s where to drop your moss donations:
- Moss deliveries may be made to the Seattle Park Arboretum between 10am-4pm any day this week. Place moss in the two large wooden cold frames beside the weather station at the west end of the main green house next to the Graham Visitor Center at 2300 Arboretum East Drive. Saturday, February 14th, is the last day to drop off donations until noon only. For more information contact the Arboretum foundation at 206-325-4510.
Interested in joining the Arboretum Foundation, attending the gala or the 2009 Northwest Flower & Garden Show?
- Learn here about the benefits and about joining the Arboretum Foundation
- Purchase Arbor Eden Gala Tickets Here
- Purchase Northwest Flower & Garden Show Tickets – February 17th is the last day to get the early bird discount tickets to the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, so don’t wait!
Earlier this year, I had the special opportunity to meet Nori Burnett and get a personal tour of her moss garden in Richmond, Virginia. Over 30 years ago she began the process of incorporating moss into her garden in place of lawn. She had tried to establish lawns, but in her woodland setting it was a losing battle. Taking an “if you can’t beat’m then join’m attitude” she began researching the types of moss in her garden (no small task) and cultivating its growth to create vast swaths of rolling green.
These photos were taken at the end of winter. She shared printed photos and magazine photos of the garden (yes, the garden is somewhat famous!) throughout the year, and take my word for it, the space is stunning. Nori will be the first one to admit that moss doesn’t make a great “lawn” for dogs and children, but in a more adult-oriented space with lots of shade, it makes sense! The birds and squirrels may peck up some patches, but they’re easy to refill. The look of the moss changes throughout the year and provides a quiet, inviting, soft space to tread upon.
