Over the weekend I attended the annual Connecticut Flower and Garden Show. Years ago I used to eagerly mark my calendar and take time off from work to attend this show. In recent years not so much. But curiosity usually gets the better of me. Curiosity and the desire to smell fresh mulch in February.
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| A succulent rooster greets visitors at the CT Flower & Garden Show. |
I understand the huge commitment of time and expense required to put a live landscape exhibit together and I understand the economics behind the decision a business makes as to whether to participate or not. I greatly appreciate the time and resources spent by the businesses and organizations who choose to design and set up exhibits at the show.
I also understand that it's the vendors and sponsors who provide the bulk of the financial support that allows the show to exist. Unfortunately many of the vendors have nothing to do with gardening and just don't interest me. Quite a few are annoying, predatory "infomercial" types. I had to be down right rude this year to avoid some aggressive carnival like sales tactics. For me this takes away from the show.
Maybe I'd be more tolerant of the vendor situation if there were more landscapes to divert my attention. Over the years, the number of garden exhibits seems to have shrunk and the number of non garden type vendors seems to grown. Could this be a result of pure economics or some other factor? I'm not going to pretend to know.
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| Aquascapes of CT |
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| Aquascapes of CT |
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| Aquascapes of CT |
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| Aquascapes of CT |
All of the above photos are from Aquascapes of CT display. Year after year, they have been a mainstay at the show and have always had one of the more elaborate pond displays. Someone must have declared open season on pond contractors at the show this year. Aquascapes was the only one.
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| Miskovsky Landscaping |
She shed schmee shed...give me one of these bar sheds!
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| Miskovsky Bar shed |
Excuse the crappy cell phone photo. I had problems getting a good picture of the inside. The décor was a bit masculine for my tastes but as long as the bar is well stocked...
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| Miskovsky Landscaping |
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| Miskovsky Landscaping |
Swaths of simple white tulips for the win.
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| Miskovsky Landscaping |
One of the main reasons I attended the show this year was to see the display by Miskovsky Landscaping. My friend, Monique posted a few pictures of it on her Facebook page on Friday night as a "must see". For a small display it was packed with features and plants. In CT, all plants used in the show must be forced which does tend to limit quantity and diversity but Miskovsky nailed it.
Miskovsky is located in Falmouth, MA on Cape Cod. He told us he was in Hartford because the Providence show no longer exists . News to me but not all that surprising. Hartford and Providence are about two hours driving distance apart and the shows were always held on the same weekend. According to the article the Providence garden show was sold and will now be part of the Home Show.
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| The CT Rose Society exhibit went with a Snow White theme |
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| Supreme Landscapes went with this interpretation of Woodland Enchantment, the theme of the show this year. |
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| Also from Supreme Landscapes |
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| Earth Tones Native Plant Nursery |
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| Earth Tones Native Plant Nursery |
I regret that I did not get a few more photos from the Earth Tones Native Plant Nursery display. I heard someone say one of the forced blueberry bushes was 30 years old! Since I now live in bobcat and coyote country I can appreciate the nod to my new neighbors.
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| Believe it or not but I always enjoy the floral and table setting competitions. |
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| Natureworks-one of my favorite CT garden centers. |
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| Every year at least one display leaves me scratching my head. |
Before I could capture all the pictures I wanted, my camera battery chose to die. If you've ever attempted to photograph these shows you know how difficult it is to get a good shot between the glaring lights, black curtain backdrops and crowds of onlookers.
Now that the garden show season is over, time to let the garden season begin!
~Sue~
Marvelous shots here! I don't think any show like this happens here, but probably in the city near where I grew up.
ReplyDeleteUsually they are held in cities but fewer and fewer of them are surviving.
DeleteTo think you could have turned the shed at your old garden into a bar. Your kitchen was closer to the patio though. And the shed was closer to the strip mall dumpster.
ReplyDeleteWe're thinking of adding a second shed at the new house but also for storage. Perhaps we need a third. On two acres you can get away with a lot.
DeleteBelieve it or not, our local (Orange County) show makes yours look top notch yet I still feel compelled to check ours out every year. How did the cathedral exhibitors explain their display's connection to a woodland enchantment theme, or did they bother?
ReplyDeleteThe cathedral exhibit was from the Archdiocese of Hartford. I'm going to guess someone approached them with a reduced rate for floor space and they decided to toss something together.
DeleteOur local Yard, Garden & Patio show bit the dust this year -- a fact that still makes me sad. We at least have the Seattle show within driving distance. Glad you have something to kick off gardening season!
ReplyDeleteBoston still has a show but I haven't been in many years. The gold standard of the northeast is Philadephia. It's about a four hour drive for me so would be an overnight. I've never been. From what I've been told it's so crowded that you have to go during the week. I'm actually considering it this year since it's later in March.
DeleteThese shows are always kind of a mixed bag but it looks like yours had some interesting things to look at. (Really trying to resist saying anything about being greeted by a succulent cock.) It's nice to get an early sampling of spring and get the old gardening engine revved up for the busy season to come. Were you tempted to buy anything?
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha Peter, you bad boy! I almost bought a variegated Philodedron but given my track record with house plants, I could have just tossed 25 bucks out the window and called it even.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sue! It's always interesting to see other garden shows. I've only visited our Seattle show. I believe it's very good, although there are always some features that you like more than others.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment!
You are so right - the landscape design participants are shrinking. None the less, it's a must trip for me each year, just to smell the earth and look at some fresh green sod, tulips, and daffodils! Spring can't come soon enough.
ReplyDeleteYes, Bonnie, I believe that is main draw of the show. By late February most New Englanders are starved for anything spring.
DeleteThanks for the report. I never go to the Chicago show, which is a fairly big deal. Can't say exactly why, but the idea of big crowds in an indoor space does not appeal to me. Also I fear the sort of commercialized stuff you describe. Still, your photos indicate some things worth seeing at the Hartford show. Hard not to swoon a bit at the sight of a swath of white tulips.
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