THE SHOW GARDENS

The display gardens are the heart and soul of all world-class flower shows. The garden designers that competed at the 2013 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show are listed below.

(If you want to know more about how these gardens come to life see “The Show” page.)

GARDEN CREATORS 2013

CHINA

“Harmonious Visions”

This Garden illustrates the subtle and powerful uses of simple elements of nature to create a place of serenity and contemplation: a place where both literal and figurative space is left for the imagination to wander. The ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism is used as inspiration in showcasing the characteristics of seemingly opposite but ultimately harmonious relationships of form, color, texture, and proportion. The use of recycled/repurposed materials will be used whenever possible.

“Harmonious Visions” is a garden which embraces the Taoist philosophy of opposites in nature working together to create harmonious relationships. Be it the subtle beauty of a hanging willow branch seen against a statuesque boulder or one’s own reflection in a still pool of water, the elements found in the Chinese landscape have created a rich source of inspiration for artists and designers throughout history.

Academy of Art University
School of Landscape Architecture
Helen Clendenin
San Francisco, CA
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www.academyart.edu 

WONDERLAND

“The Tomorrow we were promised Yesterday”

This Garden emerges from a whimsical, imaginary place - the tomorrow we were promised yesterday.  It is intended as a fun, colorful and creative experience, representing all that a garden can be. A variety of materials and colors emerge and provide a sense of movement and energy throughout the space, inviting interaction and allowing us to imagine the ideal of a better tomorrow. We embrace this opportunity to learn and grow, as we experiment with evocative plantings and sculptural forms.  We hope to inspire others to reconsider what is possible in the sustainable garden and to embrace art in the garden.

Arterra Landscape Architects
Gretchen Whittier, Kate & Vera Gates
San Francisco, CA
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http://arterrallp.com/

MEXICO

"Inside Out”

"Inside Out” is design using inspiration from urban Mexican culture and architects such as Ricardo Legorreta & Luis Barragan. A combination of elements, differing in size and function, not only provide the user an appealing outdoor room, but are practical for nearly anyone to construct. Introduction of new plant material, original lighting strategies, and sculptural water use showcases the innovative functionality and showmanship intimate residential gardens can possess. This outdoor space achieves the comfort of an interior and sparks intrigue due to its modular & placement of elements to be discovered, not simply seen.

Arizona State University
School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
Tempe, AZ
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THAILAND

Inspired by the Buddhist temples of Thailand, our garden is intended to evoke the tranquillity and simplicity of an ancient meditation space. Ecological gardening techniques featured are salvaged and re-purposed materials, locally sourced materials, and water efficient plantings. The garden features only California native plants to demonstrate that water conscious, climate appropriate plants can be used to achieve nearly any garden theme or motif. All Redwood logs were sourced from two downed trees salvaged from the Santa Cruz hills. Another water-smart feature about our garden is the recirculating aquaponic vegetable beds. This is inspired by the flooded rice fields of Thailand.

Bay Maples: Wild California Landscapes
Alan Hackler
San Jose, CA
408-531-9044
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www.baymaples.com

HAWAII

Many homeowners are creating “stay-cations” where they can enjoy the luxury of staying home for much needed “R & R.” We are proud to introduce a unique and individualistic style of construction for this year’s show. Our innovative process captures a true look of cliff rock bringing resort style water features into the residential market. Using our proprietary system of material components and rock molds, we build the essence of “natural rock” facade. With the combined use of outdoor living BBQs, firepits, palapas, and tropical flora, we have created the aura of Hawaii’s “Valley Isle”.

Cummings Masonry & Landscape, Inc.
Lee & Connie Cummings
Byron, CA
925-437-4828
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www.cummingsmasonry.net

AUSTRALIA

A garden designed to illustrate the use of mediterranean-climate plants such as those from Australia.

Envision Landscape Studio
Navid Mostatabi & Colin Miller
San Diego, CA
800-414-1860
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www.envisionscapestudio.com

THE ISLAND OF FLORES

“AQUA VITA”

HEALING WATERS OF THE AZORES

In the hills of Fonte’ Vermelha Flores of the Azore Islands, there is a legend!  It is a story of healing waterfalls that run down through beautiful and lush hillsides.  The locals swear by the beneficial attributes of these aquifers and it has been said to be a fountain of youth. “Aqua Vita” (water of life) is the name of my garden, and the title Azoreans give to these healing waters.   We are representing the cascades of Flores with an interactive, lush garden, natural style water features, boulder seats and natural stone pathways.

Goulart Designs
Benjamin Goulart
Hayward, CA
510-410-0445
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www.goulartlandscaping.com

BABYLON AND ASSYRIA

THE NETHERLANDS

“Tectonic Rift—Pangaea Future”

This garden demonstrates the forces at work that have shaped the surface of our world. Boundaries being irrelevant to plate tectonics - this garden symbolize the ephemeral quality of landscape and its delicate plantings on the earth’s active outer layer. The inspiration for the garden begins with the idea that as we shape our environment we only utilize our narrow perception of time, when in fact, taken literally time should be the dominating force in the landscape. The materiality of the garden is meant to be pliant and resilient to the forces of nature, but useful for the rich and warm environments that they create in the landscape. Lastly, inventiveness is a structural component of the garden using fauna as an unpredictable intensity that can shape and affect the spaces we inhabit.

The Groundworks Office
Brennan Cox
San Francisco, CA
415-845-9745
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www.groundworksoffice.com

PHILIPPINES

Our Garden will show the beauty of a tropical paradise with simple elements. An easy going loyal people reflect the country they reside in. San Francisco Flower & Garden Show attendees can see how focal points can be easily and beautifully incorporated in any yard.

Landscape Restoration by Dan Pozzi
Dan Pozzi
Sebastopol, CA
707-206-8404
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IRELAND

"GLADE"

An adoring tribute to the union of giving and strength. 

Walk the path, and feel the mystery of a meadow glade. The edge created by the dry-laid leaning flagstone walls and the conifer trees creates an opening.  Inside is a grassy meadow full of color, light and texture. The garden brings to mind a place out of time and space that is universal. All over the planet, one can find a grassy meadow glade.  A meadow glade that is lovingly balanced with stone is a magical place where one can find hope and nourishment, the promise of a seed.

Mariposa Gardening & Design            Greenlee Associates
Andrea Hurd                                           John Greenlee
Berkeley, CA                                           Brisbane, CA
510-325-2064                                         415-468-1961
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ICELAND

"The Hidden People"

Like the hidden people of Icelandic folklore, we too can take comfort living in homes of hill and stone. Our garden utilizes natural landforms to create a cool and comfortable living space suitable for any bay area outdoor dining, leisure or play space. The high earth walls regulate temperatures and provide a feeling of weight and whimsy. The use of earth friendly materials and drought tolerant, native blends of grass will control erosion and create rolling green space.

McKenna Landscape
Leslie McKenna
Los Gatos, CA
408-356-1842
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www.mckennalandscape.com

SOUTH AFRICA

"Djuma Safari Lodge"

The dream of Africa...the vast grasslands, the long, hot, dry season, the revitalizing monsoon. You have come to see it all, but this afternoon you rest in the garden to escape the heat. The shade is cool, the water calms. You have come to this lodge that lies in the heart of the veldt, the great grasslands that flow through the continent of Africa. Inside the garden, water flows alongside the grass; water and grass, the two great forces that sustain the veldt meet in this garden and reflect the natural world; the heartbeat of Africa.

Outdoor Environments
Anna Riordan and Randy Shadrick
Cotati, CA
707-795-0605
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www.outdoor-environs.com

ITALY

Bel Giardino, Alfresco

We intend to feature elements reminiscent of ancient Roman style pleasure gardens, including the courtyard and kitchen garden. We will create a garden ideal for entertainment. We will showcase of landscape with an abundance of fruit and shade to imply orchards and vineyards. We will use beautiful Italian cypress and olive trees, gorgeous lavender, boxwood, and espalier fruit trees. We will use pergolas and Italian styled furnishings in our dining courtyard. And in true Roman style, we will incorporate a central water fountain.

Seville Landscape
Moses and Jacob Guillardo
Sunnyvale, CA
408-732-2867
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www.sevillelandscape.com

THE GLOBE "A WORLD OF SUCCULENT GARDENS"

The world's largest living and rotating globe will weigh in at 2800 pounds with 31'4" circumference. It comes together for the first time at the 2013 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show! Planted with over 30,000 cuttings from eleven varieties of succulents which depict the lands and seas in living color. The Globe has 8 sections assembled in a 15' tall frame and will rotate under a median arch at a 23 degree angle - just like our planet.

Succulent Gardens
Robin Stockwell
Castroville, CA
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http://sgplants.com/

CHINA

A riff on a Chinese gardens by the students of the School of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning.

UC Berkeley
Yaeji Myung
Berkeley, CA
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ENGLAND

“WANTED WEEDS"

This garden provokes and inspires conversation, questioning our values around European invaders. The garden will be mobile as beds of weeds roll around the expo floor. When we think of weeds, we think tenacious, invasive, opportunistic…all negative judgments. However these villains can be virtuous host plants, nectar sources, and medicinals. We place our natives on a pedestal; we have a somewhat pious attitude about what should survive and thrive. Do we desire a pure white nature? Perhaps this fantasy is not worth perpetuating? Maybe changing our attitude about weeds is the answer and the nature that we should look towards.

Urban Hedgerow
Lisa Lee Benjamin
San Francisco, CA
970-846-8228
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www.urbanhedgerow.com