Hall of Flowers’ barnyard display a treat for the nose

At first, the notion of strolling through a barnyard doesn’t seem the most appealing endeavor on a hot July day, no matter how integral farming is to Sonoma County’s roots.

But this year’s ag-themed Hall of Flowers at the Sonoma County Fair has replaced the pungent odors and the minefield-like steps you might associate with a barnyard with floral essences and a casual saunter.

“Barnyard Blossoms” is the theme for this year’s floral showcase at the fair, which starts today and runs through Aug. 9. The display provides a relaxing respite from the head-spinning carnival rides and caloric food offerings around the fairgrounds.

A preview Thursday night attracted hundreds of visitors who each paid $30 to attend. The funds which will help provide scholarships local agriculture students. More than $10,000 was awarded this year.

“We wanted to do something that captured the old-time flavor of agriculture in Sonoma County before what it is now. It’s sort of a throwback and a little bit of whimsy, too,” said Greg Duncan, who is working his 21st year as master designer for the fair.

The showcase features 10 displays that are inspired by barnyard animals, allowing professional landscape designers to craft the designated theme from an earlier era when the only phones were rotary and the food was slow-cooked rather than shipped out via drive-thru or microwaved.

The exhibits were given names such as “Cowabungalow,” “Pigsty Paradise,” “Billy Goat Blossoms” and “Donkey Diggins.”

The best of show winner on Thursday was an exhibit titled “Loose Goose Gardens,” which was crafted by the Men’s Garden Club of Santa Rosa. The 1,500-square-foot garden features geese in myriad roles, from flying above the exhibit to lounging in a man-made pond to a quartet playing a game of cards on a picnic table. There is also one who lays golden eggs.

The design and construction of the exhibit was challenging because it was the only one that offers a 360-degree view, unlike the others that had a wall or shared border where designers didn’t have to worry about such detail, said Chet Wilson, president of the Men’s Garden Club.

“We didn’t buy any plants. Everything you see here was grown,” Wilson said. He added that the plants and vegetables were mostly grown at the greenhouse at Elsie Allen High School, which gives them uniformity, rather than trying to corral plants and flowers from different vendors and club members.

Planning started in February and it took three weeks to construct the garden, which also includes a windmill, a cellar and a vegetable stand featuring a bounty of fruit, Wilson said.

“With a space this large, if you did it all the same it would be very boring,” Wilson said. “We basically had five different areas. … This is probably the most difficult garden we have ever done.”

You can reach Staff Writer Bill Swindell at 521-5223 or bill.swindell@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @BillSwindell.