Christianson's display garden 'best' at Northwest Flower and Garden Festival

Add another “People’s Choice” award to honors that Christianson’s Nursery earned at this year’s Northwest Flower and Garden Festival.

“Hill Top Farm” earned the Display Garden Professionals Choice for demonstrating “excellence in design concepts, horticulture and quality of execution to create a memorable show garden reflecting the highest level of workmanship.”

The Fine Gardening Magazine Inspiration Award Garden said the display “inspires gardeners to reach for new levels of design excellence and creativity while keeping those goals achievable.

The Founders Cup Best in Show means that 20-plus Festival judges named Hill Top Farm their favorite. And the Ethel Moss People’s Choice, awarded as the show wraps up, captured the hearts and votes of attendees.

Nine out of nine Christianson’s display gardens have been recognized as the People’s Choice award. That this year’s display would win was clear from the moment Festival doors opened last Wednesday.

Visitors made a beeline to the lush Hill Top Farm, bypassing the other 20 displays. They were drawn by the homey cottage, the profusion of plants and the appealing way they had been put together. “Because our staff are gardeners, everything looked very good,” said Toni Christianson.

Throughout the show, John and Toni Christianson shared their love for Hill Top Farm, the home of children’s author Beatrix Potter, and answered questions. “How were the twigs wattled into the living fence?” “What is holding the compost bin together?” “What is that flower?”

They were also showered with congratulations and compliments. “Your display is worth the price of the ticket,” said one admirer.

Sunday night, Hill Top Farm was disassembled and packed into trucks for its return trip to Best Road. “It’s always really sad to take the exhibit down,” said Toni.

But she’s pretty sure the people who have chosen Christianson’s nine times will find their way to Best Road, too. “We look forward to seeing new faces at the nursery!” she said.