Gardens by Whidbey Island designers won bronze medals at Northwest Flower and Garden Show Feb. 19-23 in Seattle.”Splendor in the Grass” by Waterscapes LLC of Clinton and “The Masked Ball: An Architectural Garden Stage” were two of 29 lavish display gardens in the show. “The Masked Ball” was first assembled at Vanca Lumsden’s Greenbank spread before being hauled to Seattle. The ambitious Venetian scene contained a lions-head fountains, faux-stone containers, a canal complete with gondola and lush plants. A metal-and-glass gazebo provided a focal point as did specially-made colored glass and metal lamps in the shape of tulips and daffodils.

The group had less than 36 hours to set everything up and dress their stage.

“We were hoping for better placing but we weren’t even finished in time for judging,” Lumsden said.

Each year, the display gardens are required to include one mandatory element: this year it was a bowling ball. One garden had bowling ball fountains, another used a bowling ball as a container for a bonzai. Lumsden created a masked head with her bowling ball.

There’s no idea what the garden show committee will select for next year’s mandatory design element. But Lumsden and her designing friends already have an idea for their next garden: a medieval dragon. Furniture from Lumsden’s rustic furniture shop just might be featured.