Sandy Anderson

"We got too big for the Sheraton," said flower show chairman Sandy Anderson, "We were a victim of our own success."

What's new

The Expo's ample space allowed organizers to shake up the show a bit, offering a different layout with more gardens, a greenhouse, railway garden exhibit, hands-on workshops and seminars, Anderson said.

In years past, the show had one central exhibit, but this year, in conjunction with the theme "Around the World," there will be seven themed gardens.Gardens and landscapes from England, Asia, Holland, the tropics and Vermont's alpine and woodland settings will be on display.Anderson said the gardens would be planted with Vermont hardy trees and flowers, making it possible for Vermont gardeners to replicate the look.
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A specially designated area on model railways should please the throngs of attendees who longed for more information on the whimsical garden accouterment, Anderson said.The Vermont Garden Railway Society will show models and describe how to create a garden railway, with either a basic, single-loop track, or a complex course that includes villages and depots.

Anderson recommended gardeners catch keynote speaker Adrian Bloom's talk on creating a year-round garden.The president of Blooms of Bressingham Nursery in England, Bloom is known for his expertise with unique varieties of perennials.

Anderson said that while it isn't possible to have a garden in bloom year-round in Vermont, gardeners can design their space to be attractive in all seasons, whether by choosing plants that add interest throughout the year or selecting trees that have "good bones" when leaves are off.

In October, one of our own residents, Sandy Anderson, will present "Arrange It Right."Sandy will show us how to flower arrange in several different ways, including a fall and holiday arrangement, among others, that will be raffled at the end of the meeting.Sandy comes very qualified, as she was the flower arranger for the Queen of England and we are lucky to have her.