Closet Canuck: British Columbia represented at Seattle's 25th Annual Northwest Flower & Garden Show

The Dining Room Restaurant at The Butchart Gardens in springtime. Sue Frause photo.

Very fun to see British Columbia represented among the 350+ exhibitors at this year's edition of the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, February 20-24 at the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle.

The BC exhibitors include Gardens West, a popular Canadian gardening magazine with three editions across the country (Booth 2166); Salt Spring Island Cheese Company (Booth 2417); The Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island (Booth 1313); and Tourism Vancouver Island (Booth 2371).

Salt Spring Island Cheese Company's Farm Shop is located near Fulford Harbor. Sue Frause photo.

I don't have the numbers on how many Canadians attend the popular show in Seattle, but it has to be a big draw for garden lovers north of the border. While my hubby and I were on Maui earlier this month, we met a couple from North Vancouver who were planning to fly back to Seattle and spend a few days at the show before heading home to B.C.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this year's theme is The Silver Screen Takes Root ... Gardens Go Hollywood. The Hollywood theme will be carried out in 23 Display Gardens scattered over six acres. Teams have come up with such creative themes and titles as A River Runs Through It; Audrey's Roman Holiday; Honey, I Shrunk the Yard; On the Road to Oz; and Renewal: Enchanted April in the Northwest.

There will also be more than 120 seminars during the five-day show that feature a number of gardening "luminaries" sharing their latest trends and how-to information. The Play Garden returns with hands-on fun for children and their parents, and in addition to the 350+ exhibitors in the Marketplace, there is a new Vintage Garden market shopping area. This special market spotlights repurposed and shabby-chic treasures for both the garden and outdoor living spaces. Small space gardening will be spotlighted in themed container garden displays and there will be performances by local musical groups at several venues in the convention center.

Adult Admission: $20 one-day | $29 two-day pass | $65 five-day pass. Youth Admission: $5 (13-17), Children 12 and under are free. Special Hotel Packages are available if you're planning on spending more than a day at the show. And there are even special packages for Canadians only, which must be booked by calling 800.821.0339.