Annual floral showcase to return to Hudson Valley Community College on Friday, March 24 – Sunday, March 26
TROY, N.Y. – Upstate New York’s premier garden and flower show will mark its 30th anniversary when the annual Capital District Garden & Flower Show returns to the 60,000-square foot McDonough Sports Complex at Hudson Valley Community College, Friday March 24 through Sunday, March 26. This year’s theme is “Diamonds and Pearls”.
Renowned for its full-scale landscape exhibits and creatively designed gardens, the Capital District Garden & Flower Show brings together local garden and landscape professionals to transform the arena into a backyard environment complete with shrubs, trees, flowers, ponds, waterfalls, retaining walls, sidewalks and lawns. The exhibits require months of planning and precise timing to force early blooms on thousands of flowers with breathtaking results.
“For 30 years, the Capital District Garden & Flower Show has marked the annual arrival of spring to upstate New York. We are excited to once again showcase an array of picturesque blooming exhibits as we celebrate a milestone year for the show,” said Pennie Gonzalez, event manager for the Capital District Garden & Flower Show. “We look forward to welcoming floral enthusiasts to imagine the possibilities for their own gardens during our 30th annual show.”
The centerpiece of the Capital District Garden & Flower Show is the annual Floral Design Competition, which features approximately 100 amazing and amusing exhibits presented by area professional floral designers, garden club members and amateurs. First, second and third place winners in twelve categories are selected by an expert panel of judges. Ribbons are awarded for Best of Show, Creativity and People’s Choice. Show attendees can vote for their favorite floral design through 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Attendees at the Capital District Garden & Flower Show will have the opportunity to attend a variety of floral and cooking demonstrations, lectures and presentations from local and regional experts, including expert gardener and acclaimed author Kerry Mendez. Other speakers include Fred Breglia of Landis Arboretum; Peter Bowden of Hewitt’s Garden Center; and educators and master gardeners from Cornell Cooperative Extension. A complete list of seminars, lectures and demonstrations held during the three-day show is available online at www.gardenandflowershow.com.
Additional highlights of the 2017 Capital District Garden & Flower Show include:
- Over 16,000 square feet of fully blooming gardens
- A garden marketplace featuring over 160 outdoor living, farm-to-table and garden themed retail exhibits offering fresh flowers, tools, books, patio furniture and many unique garden and craft items
- Pirates and Pearls-themed sand sculpture by artist Phil Singer, which will be created in real time at the arena throughout the weekend
- Wine tastings from ten New York State wineries
- A children’s play land, presented by Backyard Sheds and Gazebos
- Soil testing by Cornell Cooperative Extension for a minimum donation
- Garden Café from Mazzone Hospitality
Floral enthusiasts are invited to receive special advance access to the 2017 Capital District Garden & Flower Show during the Health & Happiness Garden Party on Thursday, March 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. In addition to being the first to see the finished gardens, attendees will enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres catered by Mazzone Hospitality; and a silent auction. Tickets to the Health & Happiness Garden Party are $60. All proceeds benefit the Double H Ranch. Tickets are available online at www.doublehranch.org.
Tickets to the Capital District Garden & Flower Show are $14 at the door; children 12 and under are free with paid adult. Discount advance tickets are available online for $12. A two-day admission pass is $20. Friday, March 24 is MVP Health Care Senior Day with $11 tickets for individuals age 62 and older. Limit one discount per admission. Parking is free.
Partial proceeds from the Capital District Garden & Flower Show benefit Wildwood Programs, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary of serving individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities, complex learning disabilities and autism.
For more information about the Capital District Garden & Flower Show, visit www.gardenandflowershow.com or follow the show on Facebook.