By Ashley Pearson
The 28th Annual Arkansas Flower and Garden Show will return March 1-3 at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds.
The event, themed “Living Color,” will host more than 90 vendors with educational workshops, children’s activities and a silent auction.
Experts from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will be on-site to answer questions about plants, honeybees and more. Seven indoor display gardens will provide attendees with ideas for landscaping along with the newest trends in landscape design. The landscape challenge will return for the third year, bigger and better than before.
“Spending time with loved ones enjoying the inspiring garden displays, train garden, and shopping our vendors makes a great way to spend a day making memories,” says Mary Beth Rogers, executive director for the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show.
Providing information and entertainment, several speakers will also be in attendance. Speakers include John Gavin, forester Carol Guffey, Chris Hiryak of Little Rock Urban Farming, John Baker, Jon Zawislak, Bob Byers, and Janet Carson, a master gardener and author of “In the Garden” column.
The Arkansas Flower and Garden Show is a non-profit organization. Proceeds from the show will go to support college scholarships and community beautification grants in Arkansas.
More than $70,000 has been awarded in scholarships to students studying horticulture or related fields. More than $95,000 has been given to beautify communities in the state through the ‘Greening of Arkansas” grant programs. The programs fund community gardens, parks, schools and public open spaces.
With over 11,000 visitors the show will return for its second year at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds with free on-site parking. The show is open Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Children 12 and under get in for free. Single-day tickets are available online for $10.
You can learn more about the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show by visiting www.argardenshow.org.
Home and garden enthusiasts can get a head start on spring on February 8-9, during 31st Annual Jefferson County Home and Garden Show, which will be held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.
The show will feature over 100 exhibitor booths, including numerous gardening seminars, how-to sessions and hands-on activities. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn more about bees and honey, bromeliads, herbs, home interior and much more. Guests can also purchase live plants, mowers and jewelry.
According to Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Agent Kurt Beaty, this year’s show will be themed “Bee Friendly.” The show will feature speakers highlighting the importance of bees on one’s flowers and garden, and the ways in which gardeners can help bee populations thrive.
“Bees are incredibly important to plant life, so it’s important that our gardeners know more about them,” says Beaty. “For those interested in beekeeping, we want to provide the information and tools they need, too.”
The Jefferson County Home and Garden Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, February 8, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 9.