In my work as both a landscape designer as well as a garden writer, I do a fair amount of travel around the United States (and even outside the country) to attend trade shows, flower and garden shows, and to tour public gardens. I was recently in Chicago, IL, to attend the Independent Garden Center trade show, and I saw some very trendy products that I couldn’t wait to share. Here are my top three picks for garden trends to keep an eye on!

Solar Lighting: The focus on sustainable, good-for-the-Earth products was prevalent at this trade show and, while I applaud the effort, many times these products can favor function over form. Not with these solar lanterns! Closely resembling the inexpensive paper lanterns available in import stores, these lanterns were fashioned from lightweight plastic, so they were totally weather-proof. Gorgeous shapes, patterns and colors make them irresistible.

Vertical Gardening: With so many people downsizing to condos, lofts and apartments, the need for space-saving gardening systems is even more essential. Enter vertical gardening! I saw many products that would enable gardeners to plant “up”—like these hanging garden pockets made from recycled plastic bottles. A system like this can be used both indoors and out—ingenious, isn’t it? I also noticed a number of planted “frames” for the wall—decorative wooden frames with cells for adding plants like succulents, elevating plants to art status.

Contemporary Planters: Before I left for the show, I queried a number of gardeners about what products they would like me to look for. Many responded with “Contemporary planters!” Apparently, many gardeners love container planting but aren’t so taken with the idea of using the old whiskey barrel or hayrack planters. I saw many sleek and contemporary designs like these modern-looking rail planters. The colors were bold and striking, and the design was intriguing—simply hang it right on the railing and the weight distributes to hold it in place.