Pop HortiCulture: We’ll see YOU, at the Movies!

Spring is nearly upon us once again. It’s become a tradition for a wild assortment of my garden variety pals to pilgrimage to Philadelphia and see the Horticulture Show. (Read about past excursions here and here) This year the theme was “Celebrate the Movies” but with a particular Disney-Pixar bent. I was really so excited to go. I needed more foliage for my 19th floor urban garden and I really needed an inspiration get away. Road Trip!

 

Upon arrival, it really was more packed than I have ever seen the show. It’s good for the show but I felt a little like the “Princess and the Pea”. I didn’t see “Frozen” and I haven’t actually heard the song, but I had to just “Let it Go“. My nieces will have to fill me in on all that I missed.

I did get a few exhibits, here are a few of my favorite, favorites.

 

The deep purple/black of those tulips make me want to commission O.P.I for a bottle of my own. We could call it Ursula!

 

I love this spiky leafed plant with flowers and fruit at the core of the stem, reminded me of The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe or even Sleeping Beauty.

 

Have you ever had a bed tent? You should really build yourself a bed tent. Home improvement idea #37.

 

 Rather quickly I found myself in Princess land. I’ve never really been a “princess” girl except perhaps I might like “Brave” which I also have not seen. (It might be a secret that I love Beauty and the Beast?) I get Belle like a sister from another mister.

 

Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by an enchanting menagerie of succulents in glass bubbles accompanied by a symphony of bird cages and tea pots? Studio thinking corner improvement idea #23.

 

 

Sleeping Beauty’s Maleficent Angelina Jolie style is something I can really sink my teeth into. If I had a Victorian bed and breakfast in Savannah I’d totally make this a breakfast table center piece.

 

 

 Then there was wine tasting, not as much wine variety as in past years. The trend this year was flavored liquors, which is not my cup of tea. I liked this theatrical label of Pinot Noir. What can I say? I’m a red head. ;)

 

 After which, in a dizzying spell of fun and happy people I headed over to see Gene London’s Hollywood Costume Collection for some good old Fashion inspiration.

 

Oh, how I do love a gorgeous gown, intricately constructed and beautifully embellished. I use to watch these movies with my dad after a long day of work in the summers. Belle Starr, Gone with the Wind, Every Day’s a Holiday, it’s all a part of my fashion schooling before I went off to school.

 

Time was getting late and I still hadn’t accomplished my mission of getting some new terrariums for my Octopus’s Garden in green and purple. I ran over to the marketplace to hit up my favorite vendors and see what else was trending in all things Home & Garden. I found lots of beautiful things, It seemed terrariums were less plentiful this year but plenty of air plants and garden decor. Here are a few of my favorite moments of inspiration.

 

 Can I tell you how much I want a garden full of these ceramic fish by Fish in the Garden? This will be on my list of “gift giving like a designer” *hint*.

 

 

   

 

 

So what did I buy for my studio in the sky? I headed over to Twig Terrariums out of Brooklyn, they always have something to delight me. I got this turtle planter whom I have decided to call Lonesome George.

 

Twig made me a giant, custom terrarium with jasmine and mint to help me acquire that glass bubble thing I talked about earlier. I love jasmine, it’s my favorite flavored green tea and it’s the amazing smell that perfumed my late night studio days at the SCAD fashion building Eckburg Hall. We must, after all, surround ourselves with the things we love. It’s just proper Feng Shui.

 

I got another Hanging Water Garden but in a different shape from the last two with a spider plant. Last year’s Ivy did not appreciate my love and care.

 

I also bought oodles of air plants, three in sea shells, a set in a purple barnacle and three long grassy ones to add to my collection.

   

There were so many arrangements to inspire and delight. Things I may try next year, things I would love to see at events and parties and weddings. For example, imagine these hat arrangements as center pieces at a wedding…

   

Or this at a cocktail party.

 

..or these at an Oscars Party!

 

 There are so many ways to fill your space with inspiration and and dramatic effect. If all of life is a show, you’d better set the stage, and it doesn’t hurt to call wardrobe!

 

 

How do you bring beauty and inspiration into your daily life? Share comments, photos or links below.