Art in Bloom: The 2014 Northwest Flower and Garden Show

By Alex Carr, Digital Media Coordinator

Earlier this month, the Northwest Flower and Garden Show debuted the Garden of Artful Delights, a unique collaboration between the Arboretum Foundation and Museum of Glass that paid tribute to artist Ginny Ruffner.

Among the many display gardens, this recreation of Ruffner’s own garden at her Seattle home featured glass art created by Ruffner during her January Visiting Artist Residency at Museum of Glass.

Although many of the glass leaves hanging from wooden beams in the garden were crafted in the MOG Hot Shop, seeing the finished garden for the first time was truly fascinating. The Seattle Times’ Pacific NW Magazine described Ruffner’s home and garden as “a kaleidoscopic explosion of color,” and this recreation certainly captured that energy.

The flora provided a fragrant and colorful contrast with the glass leaves and flowers, yet the blend of glass and the different plants appeared very natural. 

While the presence of glass art in the Garden of Artful Delights was expected, the appearance of glass in other display gardens was a pleasant surprise.

Wandering throughout the Garden Show, it seemed that glass appeared amongst floral displays at every turn. From a bold chandelier to colorful glass orchids, the display gardens’ use of glass certainly enabled them to live up to the Garden Show’s theme of “Art in Bloom.”

Alex Carr is the Digital Media Coordinator at Museum of Glass. When she’s not circulating the Hot Shop floor trying to get the perfect Instagram shot for the Museum, you’ll find her baking at home, running at Green Lake, or exploring Washington’s wineries