I would highly recommend the International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire, France. My firm participated last year and had an amazing experience – it was great to see how 20-odd people all interpret a theme so different from one another. There was a small stipend to build the garden (if you keep it simple you can do it) otherwise you need to locate a sponser. A travel stipend was also included. http://www.chaumont-jardins.com/site/page/festival/concours_en.php
I know some designers have partnered with existing fabrication studios on developing site furniture. Like Tom Balsley with LandscapeForms. Others like Robert M. Stern Architects have created their own line and then found interested parties to mass market and fabricate.
I just returned from Chaumont – sur – Loire in France. They have a great contemporary garden festival that certainly is worth checking out. A couple hours train from Paris. A bit of shameless plug since we’ve got a garden there, nonetheless an excellent place.
I know this isn’t quite what you are looking for, but worthwhile none the less. The University of Minnesota has a great online plant database that tracks hundreds (perhaps thousands?) of wholesale nursery catalogs. Next time your contractor claims the plant you want isn’t available you can point them in the right direction.
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