The halls of the Washington State Convention Center last weekend were filled with the scent of thousands of flowers on display, including those in islander Jon Crouch’s English garden.

The tulip-filled display garden inspired by Crouch’s English roots won first place out of 23 gardens at the convention. Last weekend’s show was the first Crouch had participated in.

“I was asked if I wanted to do it, and then three people pushed me into it,” Crouch joked.

Crouch’s wife, Beatrice, said the process of setting up the garden took days.

“We were working on this thing from Saturday night (Feb. 13) to Tuesday night (Feb. 16),” Beatrice Crouch said Sunday, the last day of the convention. “They have a party on Tuesday night and announce the awards. He was jumping up and down like a child. He was so excited. This is the second biggest garden show in America. It’s a huge deal.”

The garden entitled “A room with a ‘garden’ view,” featured not only an array of brightly colored flowers and trees, such as witch hazel and firs, but artwork from multiple island artists. Steffon Moody painted large murals featuring the Cascades and Mount Rainier that flanked the back walls; mosaic artist Elaine Summers created a mosaic guitar, elephant, slugs, a dog and cat, and fellow mosaic artist Nadine Edelstein created a mosaic shower shaped like an octopus.

“We really wanted to have island artists represented,” Beatrice Crouch said. “It’s great to have the work of so many islanders here.”

It is estimated between 70,000 and 75,000 people attended the show during its five-day run at the center.

“The interest has been huge,” Jon Crouch told The Beachcomber between conversations with curious spectators. “It took at least six months of preparation and a 17-hour day on Tuesday, but it looks beautiful.”

Jon and Beatrice Crouch have lived on Vashon for 10 years, but Jon Crouch creates gardens for clients throughout the state.

“The vast majority of my work is in Bellevue and Seattle, but I work everywhere. I work where the clients are,” Jon Crouch said.

His passion for gardening began in Liverpool, England, where he earned a master’s degree in environmental planning and  went on to become a commercial plant propagator and grower in Cheshire, England. He then served a five-year apprenticeship before eventually coming to Vashon and starting English Landscapes.

Vashon’s Dig Nursery also represented the island and showcased air plants at a booth nearby.