HARTFORD, Conn., Dec. 8, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- One of the largest and most prestigious flower shows in all of New England, the "29th annual Connecticut Flower & Garden Show" will be held Thursday, February 18 through Sunday, February 21, 2010 at the Connecticut Convention Center on 100 Columbus Blvd. in Hartford, Conn. The hours are: Thursday, February 18 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, February 19 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, February 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The colorful, fragrant show will cover almost three acres with the 2010 theme, "The Spice of Life". TV host, author and lifestyle expert Mar Jennings of Westport, Conn. will present special presentations on Thursday and Friday.
Show Highlights include:
> Twenty-five (25) different gardens filling 45,000 square feet,
created by professional landscape designers and nonprofit
organizations. Includes naturalistic, low maintenance and organic
gardens.
> Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut's Advanced Standard Flower
Show featuring more than 12,000 square feet of design and
horticulture competition and more than 250 judged entries from
all over the State.
> Seminars by experienced horticulturists and experts on landscape
design, construction and installation are all free
with admission. Presenters include:
* Mar Jennings of Westport -- four-season gardens, including his
own;
* Paul Buettner of East Hartford -- floral arranging for children;
* Steve Silk of Farmington -- crazy mixed up borders;
* Pamela Weil of Greens Farm (Greenwich) -- getting ready for
Spring;
* Rob Dietter Jr. of North Haven -- water gardening;
* Colleen Plimpton of Bethel -- the ins and outs of composting;
* Rosemary Harris of Stamford, author of backyard mystery
books -- digging up dirt;
* Bill Duesing of Stevenson, Northeast Organic Farming
Association -- "green" up your yard with organic land care;
* Denise Ciastko of Canterbury, Native New England Seaside
Gardens;
* Lorraine Ballato of Brookfield -- successful self-watering
containers;
* Kathleen Nelson of Gaylordsville -- invasive Mile-a-Minute
vines; and
* Michael Corcoran of South Glastonbury -- bird gardens in your
backyard.
> 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.
Admission: $14 Adults; Seniors $12 on Thursday/Friday only; $2 Children 7-14; Free for children age 6 and under -- Admission Payment by Cash Only
Event is sponsored by WFSB Channel 3, WRCH Light 100.5, Connecticut Magazine, Connecticut Home & Garden magazine.
For more information, including schedule of free seminars and events and vendor/exhibit information, contact North East Expos, Inc. at www.ctflowershow.com or (860) 844-8461.