Landscape sketches come alive at the Yard, Garden & Patio Show

Are you one of those highly visual people who can look at a design sketch and know what the space could look and feel like in real life? Or, are you like most of us, who can study a drawing and think it looks nice, but we can't virtually walk ourselves through it to know if it would work for us?

We wonder: Is there really enough room under the pavilion for a complete outdoor kitchen and a large patio table? Will those trees cast shade on my meditation garden? How dramatic would that fire pit look at night?

Fortunately for those of us who can't tell if a squiggle on a conceptual plan is a screen or a stream, we can look at real landscapes -- and their drawings -- during the Yard, Garden & Patio Show, Feb. 27 to March 1, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.

For the show, local landscape pros came up with well-imagined plans based on their experience and knowledge of plants and garden trends that are suitable for the Pacific Northwest. Then, they executed their ideas and will stand by their creations. They will explain their choices and answer your questions about garden design challenges, from elevation and pathways, to creating a greater sense of well-being and privacy.

Yards are not as big as in days past, states the team at Design Resource Group (DRG) Landscaping, so there is a greater need for an outdoor family room that houses multiple activities and experiences for parents, children and guests.

Here are highlights from the Showcase Gardens displayed at the Yard, Garden & Patio Show:

Eat, Play, Glove byDennis' 7 Dees Landscaping & Garden Centers is a multifunctional space for family and friends. There is edible landscape alongside the table in the elegant open-air dining area. A playhouse and outdoor living room allows kids and adults to enjoy the outdoors. And a small, low-maintenance garden takes just a little time with a pair of gloves, pruners and a trowel to keep it in shape.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry by Showscapes Landscaping revisits mom's good advice to "go play outside" and creates an interactive outdoor living area for people of all ages to make a meal, play Bocce Ball, pick blueberries and relax around a fire pit.

Modern Simplicity byWestern Interlock is a contemporary garden design with a relaxing spa oasis, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, shower, fireplace and more.

Your Own Northwest Paradise byNorthwest Outdoor Living and Landscapes is a series of outdoor rooms that will keep you from wanting to go back inside the house.

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Landscape sketches come alive at the Yard, Garden & Patio Show