Boston Hosting Major Flower Show
May 28, 2009
 The city of Boston will once again host a major flower show, featuring a new location and an experienced team of show producers. "The Boston Flower & Garden Show," to be held March 24 - 28, 2010 at the Seaport World Trade Center, will boast major exhibits, a garden marketplace, daily gardening demonstrations, lectures, judged competitions and more.
The show will be produced by the Paragon Group, event specialists for many consumer exhibitions, including the New England Auto Show, under the direction of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's (MHS) former flower show director, Carolyn Weston.
In addition to longtime exhibitors, city officials are delighted to hear of the return of a major flower show in Boston. According to Thomas M. Menino, Mayor of Boston, "After a long hard winter, Boston's residents and visitors look forward to their first taste of spring at an annual flower show. It reminds us of everything that is great about New England - the changing seasons, the welcome arrival of warmer weather, and the beauty that flowers bring."
"We congratulate the Paragon Group for bringing this beloved New England tradition back to Boston in a great new location at the Seaport World Trade Center on Boston's waterfront," said Pat Moscaritolo, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Carolyn Weston, who has directed 12 consecutive flower shows for the MHS, was recently named the director for the Boston Flower & Garden Show. "The March event will bring a floral fantasy to Boston!" said Weston. "For five days and nights, the Seaport World Trade Center will be transformed into a wonderland of flora and stunning exhibits. This former rite of spring, which generations of Bostonians have cherished, will blossom anew under the theme, 'A Feast for the Senses,'" she said.
For more than a century, New Englanders have relished in the spectacular sights and scents of a major flower show in Boston. In 2009, the passing of the venerable event disappointed the thousands of its annual visitors and the many exhibitors. When recent reports revealed MHS would not be undertaking its event for the second consecutive year, the Paragon Group made the decision to step in and bring the show back to life.
In relocating the show to the Seaport World Trade Center, the Paragon Group plans to take advantage of its prime location, which includes accessibility and ample parking along the waterfront, to introduce fresh elements and attract a broader audience. According to Paragon's vice president, Barbara Pudney, the 2010 flower show will offer more than 100,000 square feet of exhibits, including 30 major gardens, 270 retail vendors and the return of the popular Preview Party gala.
"It is an honor to bring the flower show back to the city of Boston," said Pudney.
Longtime exhibitors are equally enthusiastic. Sandy Heimlich, a Woburn nursery owner who has exhibited at the former New England Spring Flower Show for decades, said he is excited to once again be in front of tens of thousands of attendees showcasing his nursery's spectacular gardens. "The Flower Show has always been the kickoff to the spring season," said Heimlich. "People love to go to flower shows, particularly in March, to see the flowers and trees in order to get ideas for their own homes. They walk inside and see a blaze of color."
"The whole green industry has been devastated without a flower show in 2009," said Peter Sadeck, a longtime exhibitor known for his spectacular show designs which have always included exotic birds. "As a professional landscaper, we see the flower show as a way to generate new business, show our true creativity and introduce new plant material. This is what kept the 100,000 visitors happy for so many years...."
Sights, sounds, scents and colors will abound. A feast for the senses indeed!
Note: We thank the Paragon Group for the above press release [edited], which was received on May 28, 2009. For more information, visit www.TheBostonFlowerShow.com. |
