Just when we need it most, horticultural societies across the country provide us with a breath of spring in the form of flower and garden shows. Some are large, grand affairs and others are just getting their footing. What they all have in common is an excitement that a new gardening season is about to begin, with new plants to try and wonderful new gadgets to make your gardening chores a pleasure. It’s worth it just to smell the damp soil and marvel at how designers can move and install an entire garden in a day or two.
What to Expect at a Garden Show
Whichever you attend, you can expect:
- Garden landscape displays
- Competitions
- A vendor area with plants, tools and gifts
- Seminars by garden experts
- Floral displays by local pros ad garden clubs
Quick Tips for Fully Enjoying a Garden Show
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a tote bag to carry all those impulse buys.
- Bring a sweater. They usually keep the temperature a little low, to keep the plants and flowers looking their best.
- The best time to take in a show is on a weekday evening. By 4:00 pm most visitors are making their way back home and the crowds are the thinnest.
- Many garden clubs, cooperative extensions and other organizations sponsor day trips to nearby shows, saving you the tiring drive after you’ve been on your feet all day.
- Don't overlook the seminars and demonstrations. You'll learn a lot and the time spent off your feet will give you a second wind to walk around and learn some more.
Here’s a sampling of shows coming up this spring. Drop me a line if I haven’t listed your favorite show and enjoy your first whiff of spring.
Arizona
Southwest Flower & Garden Show- March 6 - 8, 2009 at at the University of Phoenix Stadium
Phoenix is jumping into the flower and garden show arena in a big way. First, there’s the aptly named Southwest Flower and Garden Show. The southwest has a fascinating garden culture, where tomatoes ripen in the spring and giant saguaro cactus share space with lavender hedges. Imagine their display gardens. To complement this new show, the Phoenix Art Museum will be presenting their tribute to flowers, "Arts & Flowers 2009", and the Desert Botanical Garden will be displaying the works of glass sculpture artist Dale Chihuly - all at the same time under the umbrella "Southwest Blooms".
Get more insider tips about the Southwest Flower and Garden Show, where to stay and what else to do in town, from our Guide to Phoenix, Judy Hedding. Judy’s also promised to post some photos for us, after the show.
California
San Francisco Flower and Garden Show- March 18 - 22, 2009 at at the San Mateo Event Center, 2495 South Delaware Street, San Mateo
There's a new locale this year, the San Mateo Event Center, but it's that same great San Francisco Flower Show, including display gardens, great seminars and the always popular Sproutopia - A place for kids! This year's theme is "Sustainable Spaces. Beautiful Places."
Colorado
Colorado Springs Home & Garden Show - February 7 - 15, 2009 at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street, Denver
This garden show shares space with home improvement displays, but promises a good time for the gardener, with 14 display gardens sprawling over an acre of green and hundreds of vendors and free seminars.
Connecticut
Connecticut Flower & Garden Show - February 19 - 22, 2009 at the Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Ave.
This year's theme, "America, the Beautiful", will highlight our most popular gardening approaches: naturalistic, low maintenance and organic gardens. There will be over 200 garden vendors and about 80 hours worth of seminars with a great line-up of speakers, including: Roger Swain, Sydney Eddison and Tovah Martin.
Florida
Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival - March 18 – May 31, 2009, Epcot Center, Orlando
All the Disney attractions are known for never having a flower out of place, so you can just imagine what it's like when they decide to put on a show. This year's is the 15th annual Flower and Garden Festival and all the Disney characters get in on the fun. There's also a very impressive line-up of speakers. About's Guide to Florida shares some photos from the 2008 show.
More Show Listings...
