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"Savanna!" at the San Francisco Flower & Garden ShowAn Unusual Display of Tall Grasses Perfect for Bay Area Gardens from Local Designers to Benefit SFBG Sneak peek: preliminary design for "Savanna!" Mike Boss, of Rock & Rose Landscapes and John Greenlee of John Greenlee and Associates want you to take a walk on the wild side at the upcoming San Francisco Flower and Garden Show. These talented local designers are creating a labyrinth of tall grasses they call Savanna! for public view, and for a good cause: the plant materials, mostly from Suncrest Nurseries used in the Savanna! display, along with delivery and design services, will be raffled off to benefit San Francisco Botanical Garden Society. Mike reports that using tall grass as an element in landscape design is refreshingly new and exotic, yet perfect for our climate. He says, "We wanted to introduct these really tall grasses to Bay Area gardens because they are largely unknown and little utilized in the Bay Area." 
He adds, "We think that tall grasses fill a really valuable niche for Bay Area gardens, especially in urban gardens, where the need for verticality without width is common, but the options are few." Tall grasses add drama to the garden with their size and texture. Mike points out that tall grasses are an alternative to clipped hedges, vines attached to structures, bamboos and vertical garden walls. Tall grasses are better behaved than vines and running bamboos, which need constant work to keep them in bounds. And unlike vertical walls, tall grasses do not need expensive infrastructure. 
Mike is particularly excited about "Savanna!" this year. "We don't believe such a garden has ever been done at the Flower & Garden Show, and there are probably few, if any, tall grass gardens in the Bay Area." Mike invites all to stroll through rustling reeds and gargantuan grasses, and be alert to the sounds and the smells, the textures and the colors, the drama and the mystery. Event Details
San Francisco Flower & Garden Show takes place at the San Mateo Event Center from March 21-25. About the RaffleThe winner of the raffle will acquire the plants in the display garden, delivery of the plants to a site within the Bay Area, and the design services of John Greenlee to adapt the plants to their new location. Rock & Rose Landscapes will be available at reduced rates to assist in the installation of the garden, if desired by the winner. Tickets are $10 each or three for $20. Cash only. Purchase tickets in person at the Savanna! display. Raffle drawing will take place at the Gala in the Gardens, Saturday, March 24, 7:53pm at the San Mateo Event Center. Winner need not be present to claim prize. For more information about the Gala, which benefits San Francisco Botanical Garden Society, click here. |