I had the pleasure of attending the recent 37th NARGS Western Winter Study Weekend in Everett, Washington from March 9-11 - my first NARGS event! (And, as the only member of the nominating committee in attendance, I also had the honour of attending the 2012 NARGS Annual Meeting - very interesting!) As the Winter Study Weekend was a very enjoyable and informative event that I think would be great interest to other members, I thought I'd post a few photos from the displays and garden visits.
The hall outside the banquet and presentation room was the site of trough displays and book sales. Here are but a few of the beautiful troughs that were on display - many were fish-box troughs, and there was an excellent demo on making these, as well. (Pardon the photo quality - my camera reacted badly to the reflections from the bank of windows behind the display!)
Arenaria ex. Wallowa Mts., Androsace carnea and Gentiana verna in a gorgeous pumice trough:
A splendid planting of Salix candida 'Silver Fox', Taxus cuspidata Nana Aurescens, Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana' and Cyclamen coum:
Chamaecyparis obtusa cv., Saxifraga cv., Asplenium scolopendrium and A. trichomanes, Iris reticulata 'Harmony', Thymus 'Highland Cream':
Saxifraga paniculata ssp. minutissima (red-backed form), Saxifraga 'Whitehill', Primula 'Wharfedale Ling', Arenaria sp., Saxifraga bronchialis: