Connecticut Flower & Garden Show Coming February 23-26 to Conn. Convention Center -- Flash Giveaway of a Family 4-Pack of Tickets

Closed. Congrats to Margo and Family!!!

 

The “31th annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show” – one of the largest and most prestigious flower shows in New England – is set for Thursday, February 23 through Sunday, February 26, 2012 at the Connecticut Convention Center on 100 Columbus Blvd. in Hartford. Hours are: Thursday, February 23 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, February 24 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 25 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, February 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.


“This year’s colorful, fragrant show will cover nearly three acres with the theme, ‘Traditions of Nature’,” explains Kristie Gonsalves, show organizer and President of North East Expos. “Professional landscape designers and nonprofit organizations will design more than 20 original and beautiful live gardens that fill 45,000 square feet. Included will be naturalistic, low maintenance and organic gardens.” Gonsalves personally has been tending to 30,000 square feet of sod for the gardens inside a greenhouse in Suffield, Conn.


A major highlight of the annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show is The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut’s 2012 Advanced Standard Flower Show. This year’s show will feature over 12,000 square feet of design and horticulture competition with more than 250 judged entries, special exhibits and artistic crafts – all with the theme, “The Fabulous Fifties!” Throughout the event, attendees can step onto a dance floor with nostalgic music from a jukebox. On Saturday afternoon, dancers from local dance studios will take the floor and perform.

There are 80 free seminars presented by experienced horticulturists and experts, and all free with admission. Speakers include:

• Nationally renowned gardening, lifestyle expert and best-selling author Mar Jennings – Four Seasons of Gardening
• Horticultural lecturer and consultant Paul F. Split – Container Gardening and Cooking with Herbs demo
• Gardening editor, writer and photographer Steve Silk – The Crazy Mixed Up Border
• Horticulturalist, author and photo stylist Tovah Martin – The New Terrarium
• Landscape designer and radio personality Baroness Maureen Haseley-Jones a.k.a “The English Lady” --  Healing Our Plant One Garden At a Time
• Garden writer, speaker and photographer Lorraine Ballato – Foolproof Hydrangeas and Designing with Shrubs 
• Floral designer Robert Buettner – Floral Arranging
• Gardening author and columnist Tom Christopher – Sustainable Gardens: Saving You Money While Saving the Environment and The Artful Garden 
• Garden designer, writer, teacher, lecturer and consultant Kerry Mendez – Tips for Gorgeous Sustainable Perennial Gardens 
• Sal Gilbertie of Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens – Herbs from the Ground Up.

Hundreds of displays and activities and aisles of fresh flowers, plants, garden ornaments, herbs, bulbs, seeds, fertilizers, soils, gardening books, patio furniture, ornaments and lawn equipment – most of which is available for purchase. Attendees also will enjoy a Floral and Garden Arts & Crafts area. People can bring 1/2 cup of soil to the UConn Co-op booth for free soil testing.

Show Hours are:      

Thursday, February 23, 2012 - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, February 24 - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 25 - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 26 - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Admission: 
$16 Adults
$14 Seniors on Thursday/Friday only
$4 Children 6-14
Free Age 5 and under
Cash Only 

Advance tickets $2 off – now through Feb. 21 at the following Conn. locations: The Garden Barn in Vernon; Garden Specialties in Mystic; Lawncare, Etc… in North Haven; Moscarillo’s Garden Shoppe in West Hartford; Natureworks in Northford; Revay's Garden Center in Broad Brook; Stonehedge Garden Center in Newington; and Woodland Gardens in Manchester.


The Show is sponsored by B & P Turf Farm, Bedard Enterprises, Connecticut Magazine®, Goodyear Farms, North East Expos, T.J. Bark Mulch, Connecticut Horticulture Society, Bob Kelly Florist, Inc.; Connecticut Home & Garden Magazine, WRCH Light 100.5, and WFSB Channel 3.



For full information including the schedule of seminars and expert presenters, list of exhibitors, driving directions and more, go to www.ctflowershow.com.

 ---FLASH GIVEAWAY---

One lucky reader will win a family 4-pack of tickets to attend this fun family event.  To enter, please email me and tell me what other family event you love attending each year in or around the Hartford area.  I will draw a winner using Random.org from all entries received up until 11:59PM EST tonight, 2/20.  Then, I will contact the winner tomorrow and they will have 48 hrs. to respond and claim their tickets.  Good luck!

Disclosure:  I will be attending the event as media free of charge, in order to share an honest review with my readers.  The views are mine and mine alone.