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Spring Garden Shows- 2002 Update

© Wesley Ford

There's a robin in the yard hopping about, stopping to listen carefully- in search of the early worm. Down in the hollow the "peepers" sing their eerie, high pitched undulating song. The first crocus push their way through mulch and sometimes melting snow. The forsythia burst into a riot of yellow, grabbing our attention. In the woodlot, the serviceberries (Amelanchier) appear in splendid white dress. The first signs that spring has come?

Maybe. But the true first sign that spring is imminent is the appearance of the spring flower and garden shows. Those wonderful, wistful displays of what we dream of for the months to come. These extravagant expositions can be rivaled only by the arrival of the seed catalogs as the pre-mature harbingers of spring. Yes, we are about to enter the spring show season, which begins along with baseball's spring training season. From mid- February through March we east coast gardeners will treated to a plethora of shows that will tweak our imaginations and push our wish buttons. Join me on a virtual tour of major east coast shows:

Maymont Flower Show: Richmond, Virginia- "Maymont Lite"

The Maymont Flower show, produced by the Maymont Foundation is being offered at a slightly different location this year while their traditional home is being refurbished. It is still in downtown Richmond and although the digs are smaller and the show is billed as Maymont Flower Show Lite, it still promises to be a dazzler.

Dates and Times: February 21-24 Thursday-Saturday: 9:00am - 8:00pm Sunday: 9:00am - 6:00pm

Ticket Info: Advance Tickets: $7 Regular Admission: $9 Evening Admission (after 5pm): $5 2-day Super Pass: $12 Children under 12 free Save $2 per ticket off the general admission price when you purchase in advance.

Features: Lectures- approximately 4 lectures per day featuring well known national and Virginia experts

Landscape vignettes, garden market for shopping Flowers after Hours- a nightly lecture program and access to the market place after 6 PM

Associated shows at this year's Flower Show.

Exotic Orchid Display... exquisite blooms from the Virginia Orchid Society

·Boxes in Bloom ... masterpieces in window boxes & hanging baskets

·New! Creative Containers ... mini-garden jewels

·Richmond Bonsai Society ... honoring the Japanese tradition of artful miniatures

·Judged Flower Show ... Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs member show

·New! Richmond African Violet Society ... pretty little wonders in an unimaginable variety

·New! Richmond Rose Society ... 2002, the "Year of the Rose"

·Ikebana of Richmond ... the expressive, centuries-old art of Japanese floral design