CAPITAL DISTRICT GARDEN & FLOWER SHOW
BLOSSOMS FOR THE 24th YEAR
March 25-27 at Hudson Valley Community College
Whether your passion is creating your own garden or just enjoying a peaceful afternoon stroll through a garden paradise, you won't want to miss the 24th anniversary of the Capital District Garden & Flower Show. Upstate New York's premier garden and flower show will be held March 25-28, at the 60,000 square-foot McDonough Sports Complex located on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, NY.
This year's show embraces the theme, "Garden Jewels." First-time home buyers and seasoned home owners a like, will discover an abundance of new ideas, techniques, and tools for enhancing their home's curb appeal, as well as creating special outdoor living spaces. "This year's show will really help inspire homeowners to look at their outdoor space in a whole new way. There are multiple guest speakers, new vendors, new designers and countless ways to get even the absolute beginner on their way," stated Brenda Ladd, the show coordinator.
Spanning two large areas of the massive sports complex (the skating rink and the field house), the Capital District Garden & Flower Show will offer a veritable wealth of information and shopping opportunities for gardening pros and hobbyists alike. The show, which regularly attracts 12,000-14,000 visitors, has become known throughout the Northeast for the beauty of its many full-scale landscape exhibits and exquisitely designed, fully blooming gardens. Designed by the region's finest landscape artists, the displays are created with the homeowner in mind and feature a wide assortment of stylistic features and natural beauty that appeal to a variety of tastes and budgets.
Over 50 lectures and demonstrations on a variety of gardening topics, are planned during the course of the three day event. Of particular interest, will be the featured lectures, delivered by some of the nation's most highly regarded horticultural experts. This year's lineup will include:
• Kerry Ann Mendez, owner of Perennial Yours, national webinar host for Horticulture magazine, home garden and landscape consultant, author of The Ultimate Flower Gardener's Top Ten Lists, and garden columnist. She will be speaking, Friday, at 12 noon and 2 pm.
• Paul Split, teacher, lecturer and Home Garden Consultant. Paul is also a Judge and Lectures at the New England Flower Shows, instructor for the Massachusetts Horticultural Society Master Gardener's Class and the Natick Community Organic Farm.
He will be speaking Sunday, at 12 noon and 2 pm.
Another favorite highlight of the show is the widely acclaimed and very colorful floral competition. With designs that range from quiet elegance to the flamboyant. The blossoming diversity is always a visual treat to behold.
Garden enthusiasts will definitely want to check out the garden marketplace. Over 150 vendors will be on hand offering specialized wares for the backyard, garden, and home. It's the ideal place to find those one-of-a-kind unique items.
This show will run:
Friday, March 25, 10am - 8pm
Saturday, March 26, 10am - 7pm
Sunday, March 27, 10am - 5pm
The three-day show also includes:
• The area's finest landscape artists who have designed and staged fully blooming gardens.
• A Floral Design Competition, with over 100 professional, amateur, garden club members, and student participants.
• Designer Challenge Class - A floral competition for the "best design in seven minutes time." Attendees not only watch, but vote for their favorite design.
• Free Landscape Designs - Prepared by the Students in the SUNY Cobleskill Landscape Program. Attendees should bring photo's and measurements of your property.
• A raffle with over 100 prizes and drawings every hour.
For the kids, a play land and activities.
• Soil testing by Cornell Cooperative Extension - for a minimum donation of $1. Attendees wishing to have their soil tested are asked to bring a dry sample in a sandwich-size bag. Results will be forwarded to you, 2-3 days after the show.
Tickets for the Capital District Garden & Flower Show are $10 at the door; two-day passes are $14; and all children under age 15 are admitted free. Discounted advance sale tickets are currently available at all Price Chopper stores for $8.00. Friday, March 25 is Senior Day, sponsored by MVP Health Care, with discounted ticket prices just $7.00. (Limit - one discount per admission). Parking for the three day event is free and because school is not in session there are over 4,000 convenient spaces. For the most up-to-date show information, visit www.gardenandflowershow.com.
Partial proceeds from the Capital District Garden & Flower Show benefit Wildwood Programs. Wildwood serves people of all ages with developmental disabilities, complex learning disabilities and autism, in the 13 county region of the Capital District.
