For Immediate Release
January 15, 2009

“Connecticut Flower & Garden Show” Coming February 19-22, 2009 At Connecticut Convention Center

One of New England’s Largest Flower & Garden Shows

HARTFORD, CT – January 15, 2009 – One of the largest and most prestigious flower shows in all of New England, the “28th annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show” will be held Thursday, February 19 through Sunday, February 22, 2009 at the Connecticut Convention Center on 100 Columbus Ave. in Hartford, Conn.

The colorful, fragrant show will cover almost three acres with the 2009 theme, “America, the Beautiful”. Highlights include:

• Twenty-five (25) different gardens, created by professional landscape designers and non-profit organizations, filling 45,000 square-feet of the Exhibit Hall. Featured will be naturalistic, low maintenance and organic gardens.
• The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Standard Flower Show featuring more than 12,000-square-feet of design and horticulture competition. This year’s theme is “Of Thee I Sing!”
• More than 80 hours of seminars by experienced horticulturists and experts on landscape design, construction and installation are all free with admission. Celebrity presenters include: HGTV’s Roger Swain, the former host of PBS’ “The Victory Garden” (Thursday); Gardening Author Sydney Eddison; Horticulturist and Author Tovah Martin; Professional Gardener Kerry Mendez of Perennially Yours; Award-winning landscape designer and author Jeff Hutton of Earthworks Landscaping in Tolland, and Former local TV personality Deborah Kent of Deborah Kent Designs in Glastonbury.
• Floral and garden Arts & Crafts area
• Hundreds of displays and activities and aisles of fresh flowers, plants, garden ornaments, herbs, bulbs, seeds, fertilizers, soils, gardening books, patio furniture, ornaments and lawn equipment – most of which is available for purchase. People can bring 1/2 cup of soil to the UConn Co-op booth for free soil testing.

“28th Annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show” at the Connecticut Convention Center at 100 Columbus Blvd. in Hartford, Conn. (Exit 29A off Interstate 91, take Columbus Blvd. Exit and Convention Center is on your right)

Hours:
Thursday, February 19, 2009 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, February 20 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 21 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, February 22 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sponsored by
WFSB Channel 3, WRCH Light 100.5, Connecticut Magazine, Connecticut Home & Garden magazine; and People, Places and Plants magazine.

Admission:
$14 Adults; Seniors $12 on Thursday/Friday only; $2 Children 7-14; Free for children age 6 and under – Admission Payment Cash Only (Advanced tickets $2 off – available at Woodland Gardens in Manchester, Conn. and the Garden Barn in Vernon, Conn. until Wednesday, February 18).

28th Annual “Connecticut Flower & Garden Show Seminar Schedule

(as of 1/15/09)

Thursday, February 19, 2009 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Room 1
11:00 A.M. Roger Swain – Vegetables You Will Love
12:30 P.M. Russ Wheeler – Composting
2:00 P.M. Tree Whispering – Dr. Jim Conroy
3:30 P.M. Roger Swain – Fruit fo Every Yard
5:00 P.M. Jeff Houton – Inside & Out: The Art & Craft of Home Landscape

Friday, February 20 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Room 1
11:00 A.M. Kathie Sisson – Hostas, the Diamond of the Garden
12:30 P.M. Anita DaFonte – Raised Vegetable Gardens
2:00 P.M. Pamela Weil – Improving Your Garden
3:30 P.M. Virginia Small – Designing Strategies from Great Gardens
5:00 P.M. Watergardening Basics – Rob Dietter

Room 2
11:00 A.M. Herbs, Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow – Sal Gilbertie
12:30 P.M. Marci Martin – Growing Roses in Connecticut
2:00 P.M. Culinary Herbs & Exciting Recipes – Sal Gilbertie
3:30 P.M. Tree Whispering – Dr. Jim Conroy
5:00 P.M. Floral Arranging – Buettner Flower Shop 6:30 P.M. Floral Arranging – Buettner Flower Shop

Room 3
11:00 A.M. Heather Poire – Our Plants Your Inspiration
12:30 P.M. Rich Hayward – Growing Daylilies in Connecticut
2:00 P.M. All You Ever Wanted to Know About African Violets – Nancy Hayes
3:30 P.M. Floral Arranging – Buettner Flower Shop

Saturday, February 21 – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Room 1
11:00 A.M. Pamela Weil – Getting Ready for Spring
12:30 P.M. Joe Cannavo- Retaining Wall Installation
2:00 P.M. Floral Arranging – Hy Cohen
3:30 P.M. Organic Lawncare – Paul Tukey
5:00 P.M. Tree Whispering – Dr. Jim Conroy

Room 2
11:00 A.M. Kerry Mendez – Tips for Low Maintenance, High Impact Perennial Gardening
12:30 P.M. Organic Lawncare – Paul Tukey
2:00 P.M. Kerry Mendez – The Winner Is…Blue Ribbon Annuals, Perennials & Flowering Shrubs that Outshine the Competition
3:30 P.M. Amy Ziffer – A Connecticut Cottage Garden: Adapting a Classic Garden Style to New England 5:00 P.M. Russ Wheeler – Composting

Room 3
11:00 A.M. Sydney Eddison – Color, Exploring the Gardeners Pallet
12:30 P.M. Deborah Kent
2:00 P.M. Sydney Eddison – Gardens to Go
3:30 P.M. Diane Ryan – New & Outstanding Variegated Plants

Sunday, February 22 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Room 1
11:00 A.M. Russ Wheeler – Composting
12:30 P.M. Dick Jaynes – Our State Flower: From the Woods to the Garden
2:00 P.M. Lee Schellner – The Ever Blooming Flower Garden
3:30 P.M. Anita DaFonte – Raised Vegetable Gardens

Room 2
11:00 A.M. Tree Whispering – Dr. Jim Conroy
12:30 P.M. Floral Arranging – Buettner Flower Shop
2:00 P.M. Joe Cannovo – Retaining Wall & Sidewalk Installation

Room 3
11:00 A.M. Tovah Martin – Creativity & the Garden: Inside & Outdoors
12:30 P.M. Len Giddix – What Hydrangea is Best for You
2:00 P.M. Begged, Borrowed & Stolen Secrets from the Country’s Foremost Gardens

For information: North East Expos, Inc. at (860) 844-8461 or visit www.ctflowershow.com