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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Philadelphia Flower Show 2010 - Miniatures

 

miniature garden setting

There were two kinds of miniature displays, in addition to things like miniature gardens or terrariums which had only plants. The kind like the one above were open to view from all sides. I don't know quite what all the rules were, and why these were different.

miniature garden setting

But these were displayed with the terrariums and succulents. This one took second place, but Maggie and I liked it best. We liked the use of color.

miniature garden setting
This one took first place in this group. We could understand why. It had more variety of plant material, more total plant material, and made good use of three-dimensional space. But we still liked the colors in the other one!

miniature Spanish hacienda
The next group were all from the miniature room settings, and were displayed behind glass (plexiglas?), so there are lots of reflections. I didn't get a chance to see any of these last year, so I wanted to be sure to get to that section this year. I had a hard time choosing only a few to show you. I let variety rule, but I'm including the one that took 1st place, the one above, even though I couldn't prevent a lot of glare. It was a Spanish hacienda decorated for a wedding. There were rooms or balconies behind all the front spaces, with plants tucked everywhere, but the lighting was too soft to get a good pic.

miniature sewing room
This was very realistic- a two level sewing room, with miniature quilts, bolts of fabric, etc. I liked this one a lot.

miniature winter lawn
But then, I liked this one a lot too! The plants in the lawn were actually almost all tiny succulents, but covered with "snow" they looked very much like evergreens.

miniature garage and old car
Finally, just for the variety, here is this model of the greenery taking over a garage. It didn't win anything, and I know why, but I loved it anyway. It was made by a real modeler. The garage was fantastic... filled with tools and all kinds of garage junk. But for balance in the design at a flower show, they should have included about 1/3 of a garage and had the rest be the overgrown yard.

This was probably too many pictures, but I left some out, I really did!



14 comments:

John | Daily Photo Gallery said...

These are fantastic. One of them looks like the kind of place I'd love to live. It's a shame I'm not 5cm high! :-)

Secondary Roads said...

Wow! That's not what I'd expect to see at a flower show. But then I have had nothing to calibrate my expectations.

VanillaSeven said...

Wow! The interior looks like real! Very detailed!

http://vanillaseven.com/2010/03/10/sunset-at-labrador-park/

Jude said...

I've never been to a flower show so this was fun for me to look at all your photos in your below posts and I love these little miniatures, very creative and talented people, so thanks so much for sharing your experience.

Joanne Olivieri said...

Oh, I love miniatures and that garden is adorable. I want one.

Ann said...

I love these. I think I want to move in to that 2 story sewing room...lol Even though that last one didn't win anything I like it, I think it's very creative.

wiseacre said...

You saved the best for last. It had a realistic look. That landscape design is often seen around here too.

spinninglovelydays said...

I love miniatures! The images are all enchanting. :)

Sharkbytes said...

John- I know! They just make me want to jump in and explore.

Chuck- The "Standard Flower Shows" have a set list of categories that I am learning to recognize. Not all shows will offer them all if they don't think there will be enough entries. This year I didn't even get to the clothing and jewelry sections, although I showed some pix of those last year.

Vanilla- The detailing is what really makes them!

Jude- I'm having a blast sharing all this beauty. Thanks for stopping by.

Jo- me too, with a model train running through it!

Ann- Yeah, the sewing room hooked me too! In real life I can't keep either my sewing space or my plants looking that neat though!

Wiseacre- Yes indeed! That is the botanical form seen here most often too. Very stylish on back roads.

Ivy- I'll bet in a few years you and Marguerite will be building some of your own for her to play with in a doll house!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE these pics! I've always been a sucker for the Miniatures gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago and used to wish I was tiny to be able to live in those darling Dickens-esque villages set up at Christmas :) This is such a creative display for a flower show--no way that you posted too many pictures, I really enjoyed them all.

Rick (Ratty) said...

I think I like the model of the sewing room. To me it looks like it has a modern look. It looks likethe kind of place I'd want to live if it was normal size.

Sharkbytes said...

Colleen- Thanks for stopping by! Oh, I haven't been to the Art Institute. I'll have to keep it in mind.

Ratty- Yes, it is sort of modern, but not so much that it puts me off. I got stuck looking at the miniature sewing items and the use of blue and the plants, and never got to thinking about the style of the room!

Glynis Peters said...

Wonderful pics, thanks for sharing!!

Filipino Food Guide said...

What a work of art, the only time I was able to make a miniature house and design was with the use of Popsicle stick during my high school days. And boy it sure didn't look no way near as breath taking as the pic in your post heheheheh.