Spring has sprung! It seems to be another victory for the groundhog Puxatony Phil, predicting spring will come early this year, in a beautiful display at the Capital District Garden Show. Possibly second only to Albany’s annual Tulip Festival in May, the Capital District Garden Show, open Friday March 22 through Sunday March 24 is a beautiful display of local artists, florists, and Botany specialists. Located throughout the Hudson Valley Community College, displays range from small scale bouquets, to full scale gardens with man-made ponds.
First entering the main lobby, guests are met with dozens of small scale flower arrangements done by local artist. Some sections featured displays meant to mirror famous paintings such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night, and Irises; others are set to compliment unique table settings and food displays.
Continuing through the first display room, the full size basketball stadium is packed with local plant, and food vendors from all over the capital region. Walking through the narrow isles eventgoers can talk to local florists, buy beautiful assortments of potted plants and cacti, and of course, fill up on free samples.
The main garden area, located over the college’s Ice rink, is filled with breathtaking large-scale displays of full gardens complete with enormous flower beds, rustic wooden art, and even a sand sculpture over 10 feet tall. One of the beautiful displays in the garden area by local artist Danny Killion, features archways, canopies, and statues crafted from driftwood found by local waterways.
However, the event is not simply a show and tell for local artists. Throughout all three days the garden show hosts over 50 presentations and classes on gardening and floral techniques for the everyday home, as well as impacts of invasive species on the local environment. One such presentation, given by floral specialist Chris Grigas, gave viewers an inside look at the techniques of a professional florist. Going beyond a simple demonstration of flower arrangements, Grigas opened up by describing how to deal with the “Ugly” vase and emphasized how using borders of natural foliage and long Steel-grass gives the arrangement “width and dimension”.
Along with a variety of classes and presentations, members of local botany groups such as the North Eastern New York (NENY) Orchid Society had set up displays to offer helpful tips and techniques on growing and caring for different plants. Orchid specialist and member of the NENY Orchid Society, Rachael Rourke spent the afternoon lending advice to guests, including busting an old myth that using Ice cubes are the best way to water orchids.
The Capital District Garden Show offers a great weekend event for guest to be able to check out beautiful displays of flowers as well as get advice from experts at the start of the gardening season, as well as relief that the harsh New York winter has finally come to an end.
