Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
IF YOU ARE looking for me this weekend, I’ll be in New York’s Capital District. Why? Because there are two fascinating horticultural events there. One deals with my favorite houseplant; the other is a flower and garden festival. Trust me, these events are not to be missed:
The Capital District African Violet Show, Veronica Driscoll Center for Nursing, 2113 Western Avenue, Guilderland, NY (518) 423-1431. (Click for directions.) Here you will find lots of exotic eye-candy: miniature, semi-miniature, standard and trailing Saintpaulias, all of them grown to perfection for a judged show. Offered for sale will be leaves of plants, which you can easily propagate. Also offered will be special in-bloom plants from the famed Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses. If you only know African violets from the pitiful offerings of the local supermarket, get ready for a real treat. The show is open to the public Saturday, March 27 1-5pm and Sunday, March 28 11am-4pm. Admission $3.00. You can take 50 cents off the admission price if you bring a can of dog or cat food with you. This will be donated to the Mohawk & Hudson River Humane Society. (Yes, the Capital District African Violet Society not only loves plants, but animals too.)
Capital District Flower & Garden Show, Hudson Valley Community College, 80 Vandenberg Avenue (Rt. 4), Troy, NY. I love this show for its inspirational garden and landscape designs (some featuring fish-filled ponds), and its stunning cut-flower exhibits. You can attend lectures, peruse exhibits, and even get your soil tested (for a tiny donation) by the Cornell Cooperative Extension. And, if you visit the show on Sunday, you can buy (as I have in the past) good-sized, in-bloom lilacs, rhododendrons and other shrubs from exhibiting landscapers who have no desire to keep these display plants once the show is over. Admission is $10. The show is open Friday, March 26 10am-8pm; Saturday, March 27 10am-7pm and Sunday, March 28 10am-5pm.
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Eric says
I love the Flower & Garden Show! I always get plants there, and sometimes bulbs, too, for a song. It's fun to look at all the garden furniture, also, although its pretty pricey.
James says
Kevin, thanks for the heads up! I'll get there at some point this weekend.
Sharon says
Did you enter any plants in the AV show this year?
Chicago Janis says
Boo-hoo! Too far for me!!! They both sound wonderful, though. Hope you get some nice plants!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Sharon – I did, last year, enter one AV in a show. The little plant won a blue ribbon. In general I do not “grow for show” but for decoration.
Gardenlady says
Kevin, I'm wondering if you can take pictures of the winning plants at the African violet show. It would be fun for us to see them on line if we can't see them in person!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Gardenlady – Good idea! I'm heading up to the AV show this afternoon. If they let me take pictures, I will gladly post them.
Geraldine Smith says
Kevin,
It was great meeting you today. Did you get anything at the show?
Gerry Smith
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Welcome, Geraldine! It was so nice to chat with you yesterday. I did indeed get some plants at the Flower & Garden show: 3 PJM rhododendrons and 2 Andromedas. You?