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2006 Spring Flower Shows

The Vermont Show is one of my favorites. It is small enough to see every booth, talk to every vendor, and to learn lots from the great educational talks. It has moved to a new location this year, Champlain Valley Exposition, in Essex Junction. It also happens on the first weekend of the shows this year, February 24-26. Tickets: $10; seniors, $7; children ages 3-12, $2; three-day pass, $25. For additional information, call 888-518-6484 or go to Vermont Flower Show.

Unfortunately, three other major shows are that very same weekend. So you'll have to choose between Vermont, Rhode Island, Central Massachusetts and Connecticut. What were the organizers thinking? We need to spread them all out, and go to one every weekend. Still, here are your choices:

Rhode Island: Where? Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence. Their theme this year is "A Floral Symphony." Tickets: $16; seniors and students, $14; children ages 6-12, $7. Advance sales, $13. Info at 401-421-7811 or Rhode Island Flower Show. When? Feb. 23-26. Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Connecticut: Where? Connecticut Exposition Center, Hartford. Tickets: $12; children ages 7-12, $4; under age 6, free. The theme this year is "Gardens of Zen & Now," Info at Connecticut Flower & Garden Show or call 860-844-8461.

Central Massachusetts: Where? DCU Center (formerly called the Worcester Centrum), downtown Worcester. Tickets: Thursday and Friday, $12; Saturday and Sunday, $14; seniors, $11 all days. This year's show is themed "Glorious Garden Escapes" Info at Central Mass Flower Show, by calling 508-792-0314, or by e-mailing info@centralmaflowershow.com

Then there is Philadelphia, which is in a league by itself. It's the biggest and oldest of the shows, and every serious gardener must attend once before dying. This year it's from March 5-12. See if your local travel agency has a bus trip planned, as it's a long way, and getting there includes the dreaded death-defying New Jersey Turnpike. In winter. I've done it, and recommend train, bus or plane.

The theme of the Philly show should be "Excess! More is Better" but is more tastefully called, "Enchanted Spring - A Tribute to Mother Nature." Since the show covers 33 acres and has 140 vendors, the first would be closer to the truth. Where? Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th and Arch streets, Philadelphia. When? Sundays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Tickets: $26 on the opening Sunday; $24 weekends and $22 weekdays; children ages 2-12, $12; advance tickets, $20. Go midweek, and start at the opening bell. For me the 3,000 individual amateur entries are the best of it. For info call 215-988-8833 or go to Philadelphia Flower Show.

The Portland, Maine Flower Show is March 8-12 and has returned to downtown Portland. Having learned the hard way that we don't want to go to a flower show in a tent, it's back in a real building. Ticket prices are down, too. Where? Portland Company Complex, 58 Fore St., Portland. Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door; seniors and ages 12-18, $9; children under age 12, free. Info at 207-775-4403 or Portland Maine Flower Show.

Next comes another colossus: Boston, March 11-19, another show that is best visited by bus. The theme this year is "Welcome Home! Celebrating Our Great New England Landscape." I thought maybe Welcome Home was for Theo Epstein, the off again - on again Red Sox manager. But don't get me wrong, Boston is a wonderful show. Where? Bayside Exposition and Executive Conference Center, Boston. Tickets: $20, seniors and military personnel, $17; students, $12; children ages 4-12, $10. Info at 617-933-4900 or online at New England Spring Flower Show.

Then another of my favorites: Keene, NH, on March 24-26. Like the Vermont Show, it's small and personal. Plenty of free parking. Where? Cheshire Ice Arena, Route 12, Swanzey. Tickets: $8; children ages 4-12, $5.50. Advance tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children. Tickets for Friday's reception are $17 in advance. Info at Keene Flower Show, call 800-541-4145, Ext. 200, or e-mail events@hcsservices.org. All proceeds go to a good cause, too: the local non-profit home health care agency.

The Seacoast Home, Garden & Flower Show is the following weekend, March 31 to April 2. Where? Whittemore Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham. Tickets: $8; seniors (age 65 and older), $7; children age 12 and under, free. Info at 800-359-2033 or Seacoast Home, Garden & Flower Show,.

Last of the spring shows is Bangor, ME on April 7-9. Where? Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center, Main Street, Bangor. Tickets: $8; students, $3; children under age 5, free. For more information, call Keep Bangor Beautiful at 207-990-1201 or visit Bangor Flower Show.

I won't get to all of these shows, but I feel better about winter just knowing they are there, ready with daffodils - and other gardeners who love them as much as I do.

Henry Homeyer is the Vermont/New Hampshire associate editor of People, Places and Plants magazine. His website is www.gardening-guy.com. He may be contacted at gardening.guy@valley.net, or P. O. Box 364, Cornish Flat, N.H. 03746.