HARTFORD, Conn., Dec. 9, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "33rd annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show" – one of the largest and most prestigious in New England – will take place on Thursday, February 20 through Sunday, February 23, 2014 at the Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Blvd. in Hartford. Hours: Thursday, February 20 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, February 21 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 22 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, February 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The colorful, fragrant show covers almost three acres with the theme, "Backyard Paradise":
-- Twenty gardens, created by professional landscape designers and nonprofit organizations, including naturalistic, low maintenance and organic gardens.
-- Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut's Advanced Standard Flower Show: 12,000+ sq. ft. design and horticulture competition, over 250 judged entries with a Backyard Paradise theme!
-- Hundreds of displays, activities, aisles of fresh flowers, plants, herbs, bulbs, seeds, fertilizers, soils, books, patio furniture, garden ornaments, and lawn equipment for purchase. Floral Arts & Crafts area. Bring 1/2 cup of soil to UConn Co-op booth for free soil testing.
-- Over 80 hours of seminars:
- Lorraine Ballato: "Foolproof Hydrangeas" and "Vegetables Contained";
- Bob Buettner:"Floral Arranging";
- Tom Christopher: "Low Maintenance Lawns";
- Mike & Angelina Chute: "Six Simple Steps to a Successful Rose Garden";
- Pamm Cooper of Storrs - "Butterflies in Connecticut, The Food they Need";
- Phil Costello: "Landscape Lighting";
- Tammy Cressotti: "Introduction to Beekeeping";
- Anita Dafonte: "Organic Vegetable Gardening" and "Starting Seeds";
- Lelaneia Dubay: "Process of Landscape Design";
- Nancy DuBrule-Clemente: "Fearless Pruning" and "Blended Gardens";
- Dr. Wade Elmer: "Fighting Fusarium in Flowers";
- Maureen Hasley-Jones: "Mother Earth";
- Rose Hiskes: "Protecting Our Trees From Asian Longhorn Beetles & Emerald Ash Borers";
- Nick Mancini: "How to Grow True Organic Seeds";
- Tovah Martin: "Unexpected House Plants";
- Kerry Mendez: "Three Seasons of Outrageous Color from Perennials" and "Simplifying Gardens";
- Penny O'Sullivan: "Fabulous Foliage: Year-Round Color with Trees & Shrubs" and "Painless Pruning - Simple Solutions for Healthy Plants";
- Dawn Pettinelli: "Fertilizers" and "Soils for Gardeners";
- Peter Picone - "Ways to Create and Enhance Wildlife Habitat in Your Surroundings";
- Rich Pomerantz: "Art in the Garden" and "Relax, It's Only Garden Photography";
- Carol Quish: "Pests in the Perennial Garden";
- SavATree: "Choosing the Right Tree for the Right Location", "Organic Lawncare", and "Protecting Your Landscapes from Deer Damage";
- Dr. Neil Schultes: "Genetically Modified Crops";
- Paul Split: "Gardening Under Glass" and "Organic Container Gardening with Herbs"; and
- Rob Townsend: "Watergardens".
Admission– Cash Only:
$16 Adults; $14 Seniors age 62 and over – Thursday/Friday only;
$4 Children 5-12;
Free under age 5.
Group rates for 15 or more: 860-844-8461 or Kristie@northeastexpos.com.
Advance discounted tickets if purchased by February 16 – see website for locations.
To join email list and get more information, www.ctflowershow.com or North East Expos at 860-844-8461.