Spring’s Early Arrival – Champlain Valley Expo
Right about the time of year when Vermonters have had enough Winter, that’s when the Vermont Flower Show comes to the rescue. This year, we attended our very first exhibit and joined the army of volunteers who are largely responsible for this highly successful event.
Just how successful is the Vermont Flower Show? The Vermont Chamber of Commerce calls it a top 10 event for Winter. Suffice to say, we were highly curious to see what all the fuss was about.
Upon arriving, I just couldn’t believe the sheer scale of this event. Annually held inside the 100,000 square foot Robert E. Miller Expo Centre, this event is more than just a garden exhibit. Over 100+ vendors, art galleries, food vendors and educational seminars are just a few of the show’s highlights.
Grand Garden Display
My volunteer effort felt much like the greeter you see at a big box store. Aside from acknowledging guests upon entry, the main task included making sure the line was orderly and answering as many questions as I could. I can only conclude that it was the fresh scent of hyacinths in bloom that kept the crowds at bay.
Once volunteering was completed, we decided to shoot our first ever Facebook Live video! Perhaps this snippet will convince you to come out to next year’s event. At the very least, it should have you excited about this year’s Spring garden activities.
Exhibition Hall
Lastly, I thought a general perusing of the event was in order. First came the vendor stations. In this area, you’ll find a variety of Vermont and regional offerings tied to the landscape and nursery industry. From food and beverage, nursery stock and garden sculptures, there was plenty to see.
Our past experience at flower shows on the Seacoast left us interested to see the other displays from those in the landscape profession. For those who attended, I think it’s safe to say Nate Carr’s grassy knoll kokedama garden display took first prize. Nate’s idea to create a space that encouraged both client interaction and a retail opportunity was nothing short of genius.
Moving along, it was time to head over to the Blue Ribbon Pavilion to check out the art scene. The Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont sponsored a competitive exhibit including intricate displays of garden related renders. (see below) In addition to these, a Vermont Flower Show first featuring a collection of regional artists with landscape centric themes was displayed in the art gallery.
All in all, our first Vermont Flower Show attendance lived up to the hype. The energy from all the volunteers from Greenworks are a huge reason for the ongoing success. Perhaps we’ll see you next year with a display of our very own.