What a lovely conversation with Kristie Gonsalves, Show Organizer of the CT Flower & Garden Show and Polly Brooks, President of The Federated Garden Clubs of CT!
Pictured with me in the center and Kristie on the left and Polly on the right.
41st CONNECTICUT FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW
THURSDAY, FEB. 23 through SUNDAY, FEB. 26, 2023
At Connecticut Convention Center at 100 Columbus Blvd. in Hartford.
4 Days: Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday Feb. 23 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New England’s only 2023 flower exhibition show covers almost two acres, and offers ideas for house, apartment, and condo dwellers.
Gardening reduces stress, elevates moods, helps with socialization and self-esteem, and provides exercise, so this colorful event is exactly what we need right now!
● As soon as attendees enter, they will be welcomed by over a 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 offer 12,500 square feet of beautiful design, horticulture, botanical arts, and photography competition with entries from members across the state – all themed “Gateway to Spring”.
● Over 80 hours of seminars and demonstrations by an impressive roster of 20 horticulturalists, landscapers, and industry professionals – ALL Free with admission. Full schedule of seminar speakers and topics is at www.CTFlowerShow.com
● Hundreds of booths with displays, activities, shopping: artisans, handcrafted gifts, fresh flowers, plants, ornaments, metalwork sculptures, herbs, bulbs, seeds, fertilizers, soils, gardening books, patio furniture, lawn/garden tools, equipment, more. Bring 1/2 cup of soil for Free testing at UConn Co-op booth. Returning this year is the popular Barnes & Noble Center, selling flower, plant, and garden books, including those written by the show’s seminar speakers.
►ADMISSION for the February 23-26 Show:
DISCOUNTED ONLINE TICKETS are $17 for Adults & Seniors and are on sale now at www.CTFlowerShow.com and can be purchased online through the last day of the show.
ADMISSION AT THE DOOR: $20 Adults & Seniors; $5 Children 5-12; Free for Children Under Age 5.
►PARKING:
● Daily parking in the Connecticut Convention Center Garage: $9 all day; or $3 for the first hour and $2 each additional hour.
Thursday & Friday ONLY:
● Free parking with Free shuttle at Propark South Surface Lot, 63-89 Capitol Ave. (and Hudson St.) in Hartford (several blocks South of the CT Convention Center).
Saturday & Sunday ONLY:
● $5 all-day parking in the Front Street North and South Garages (across street from the CT Convention Center).
►For general information or to become an exhibitor, visit www.CTFlowerShow.com or Facebook, or call 860-844-8461.
SEMINAR SPEAKERS (as of 2-5-23)
DURING THE THURSDAY, FEB. 23 through SUNDAY, FEB. 26, 2023
At Connecticut Convention Center at 100 Columbus Blvd. in Hartford. Day by Day Schedules and All info at at www.CTFlowerShow.com
The list of impressive speakers and their topics includes:
· Lorraine Ballato: Easy Breezy Plants; and Shady Characters.
· Ruth Bennett: Irises New Introductions & Interspecies Crosses.
· Pamm Cooper: Good Bug, Bad Bug, or Benign Bug?
· Rich Cowles: Climate Change & Impact on Rose Culture.
· Christine Darnell: Radically Re-thinking Garden Design.
· Nancy DuBrule-Clemente: Native and Non-Native Plants for Sustainable Landscapes; and Curb Appeal for Pollinator Gardens.
· Kim Eierman: Pollinator Victory Gardens with Native Plants; and Unlocking the Mysteries of Native Plant Selection.
· Dr. Nick Goltz: House Plant Diagnostics.
· Len Giddix: The Reflection in Your Garden.
· Larry Huzi: Spring Floral Designs with PAZAZZ!
· Trish Manfredi: Easy Creative Floral Designs.
· Laurie Masciandaro: Connecticut's Historic Gardens.
· Owen McLaughlin: Introduction to Rhododendrons & Azaleas.
· Kerry Ann Mendez: Gardening Simplified; and Hydrangeas Demystified.
· Jana Milbocker: Gardens of the Gilded Age; and Artists Gardens in New England.
· Amanda Morris: Gardening With Chickens.
· Charlie Nardozzi: No Dig Gardening.
· Ellen Ecker Ogden: 6 Steps to a Successful Kitchen Garden Design.
· Dawn Pettinelli: Successful Seed Starting.
· Peter Picone: Ways to Create & Enhance Wildlife Habitat in Your Surroundings, 1 Native Plant at a Time.
· Paul Split: Organic Container Gardening.
· Diane St. John: Every Yard Matters - How to Create a Healthy Monarch Butterfly Habitat at Home.
· Rob Townsend: Water Garden Basics.
· George Trecina: A Tree For Every Yard; and Embracing Volunteer Seedlings & Aggressive Plants.
· Dennis Tsui: Low Light Houseplants.
· Steve Walowski: Organics 101 - An Organic Approach To Lawn Care.