In less than four weeks, Spring will arrive early at the 42nd “Connecticut Flower & Garden Show” from Thursday, February 22 through Sunday, February 25, 2024 at the Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Blvd. in Hartford, Conn.
Dates/Hours: Thursday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Discounted admission tickets are on sale now at www.CTFlowerShow.com, $17 for Adults and Seniors.
New England’s only 2024 flower exhibition show of its kind covers almost two acres, and offers ideas for house, apartment, and condominium dwellers alike. “Bursting Into Spring” is the theme of this year’s show that features expansive live gardens, a nonstop schedule of seminars and demonstrations, the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut’s annual Standard Flower Show, and hundreds of exhibitors displaying and selling all types of items and gifts.
“Over 80 hours of seminars and demonstrations will be presented by more than 20 impressive horticulturalists, landscapers, and industry professionals, and all are free with admission,” explains Kristie Gonsalves, President of North East Expos, Inc., the show’s longtime producer who is a Board member of the Home & Garden Show Executives International, and also is a past president of the National Association of Consumer Show Producers. “Attendance at these programs is included in the general admission and questions are welcomed by the speakers, many of whom will sell their own books after their seminars.”
The following is the list of speakers and topics and it also is posted at www.CTFlowerShow.com:
Charlotte Albers: Garden Color and another on Gardens of England: Sissinghurst & Gravetye Manor.
Tom Christopher: Growing Greener: Environmentally Friendly Gardening Made Easy.
Pamm Cooper: Lawns: Home on DeRange.
Nancy DuBrule-Clemente: Choosing Native Plants.
Jeffrey Eleveld: How to Kill a Houseplant.
Future Farmers of America: Floral Arranging.
Len Giddix: The Real Tulipmania Story and another on The Broken Tulip Story.
Dr. Nick Goltz: The Plant Doctor Is In: Flower Disease 101.
Mike McGrath: Tomato Talk and another on Raised Beds.
Jason Madnick: Lawn Secrets & Tips to Better Existing Grass.
Mary Jo Maffei: Garden Design 101.
Jana Milbocker: Sunny Perennial Gardens and another on Creating Pots with Pizzaz.
Charlie Nardozzi: Ecological Gardening & Companion Planting.
Sylvia Nichols: If Flowers Could Speak – Flowers, Fragrance, Feelings.
Dawn Pettinelli: Healthy Soils, Healthy Plants, Healthy You.
Jen Plasky: Perfect Performing Planters.
Diane St. John: Every Yard Matters – How to Create a Healthy Monarch Butterfly Habitat at Home.
Rob Townsend: Water Gardening Basics.
George Trecina: Reassessing Your Foundation Planting and another on Hardscape in Your Landscape.
Steve Walowski: Organics 101 – An Organic Approach to Lawn Care.
Adam Wheeler: I Like It, I Love It and the Deer Don’t Eat.
Heather Zidack: Home Gardening Tips in a New Home.
As soon as attendees step into the Exhibition Hall, they will be welcomed by close to two dozen live gardens in full bloom by professional landscape designers and nonprofit organizations, including naturalistic, low maintenance, native, containers, vegetables, organic, herb, and pollinator gardens.
The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut’s annual Standard Flower Show will amass 12,500 square feet of beautiful design, horticulture, botanical arts, and photography competition with entries from members across the state – all themed “Bursting into Spring”.
Over 300 booths will showcase displays, activities, shopping: artisans, handcrafted gifts, fresh flowers, plants, garden ornaments, metalwork sculptures, herbs, bulbs, seeds, fertilizers, soils, lawn/gardening tools and books, patio furniture, lawn and garden tools, equipment, even a rent-a-chicken business, and more. Bring 1/2 cup of soil for free testing at the UConn Home & Garden Education Center booth.
Discounted admission tickets are on sale now at www.CTFlowerShow.com, $17 for Adults and Seniors.