INDIANAPOLIS — Hoosiers have suffered through one of the coldest winters on record, but come March 14, when doors open to the 57th annual Indiana Flower & Patio Show, they can get a breath of warmth and spring. One of the largest flower and patio shows of its kind in the U.S. runs Saturday, March 14 through Sunday, March 22 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Expo Hall and West Pavilion, 1202 East 38th Street, Indianapolis.
Inspired by the theme Fresh!, this year’s exhibition will present over 50 inspiring Showcase, Exhibitor and Feature Gardens created by Central Indiana’s premier landscape designers, using thousands of fragrant, colorful plants and flowers, the latest in hardscape trends, dancing fire features, and tranquil fountains, ponds and streams. A highlight will be two Feature Gardens: the gigantic, 8,000 square foot garden “Ataraxia,” in Expo Hall, and “Viewing the Growth from Above,” a 3,000 square foot garden in West Pavilion complete with a two-story overlook deck that provides showgoers a birds-eye-view of the entire garden aisle.
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Last year’s Flower & Patio show featured recycled/upcycled and sustainable gardening ideas.
Among new attractions are the Indiana’s Own section featuring uniquely Hoosier products and services, and the showgoer-requested Plant Market offering herbs, succulents, seeds, tropical plants, terrariums, cacti, hardy spring annuals, fresh cut flowers, and Fairy Gardening supplies.
Due to fairgrounds construction, the show’s main entrance will be in the Expo Hall. A covered walkway will link Expo Hall to West Pavilion, where guests will discover additional gardens to explore, exhibitors, and more.
The people’s choice Belgard Challenge returns, pitting three landscape designers in head-to-head competition to create the most fabulous garden for a cost of $25,000 or less, installed. Other popular attractions returning for 2015 include:
• entertaining, educational sessions all nine days on the Greendell Landscape Solutions Think Spring Stage;
• swag bags filled with an assortment of outdoor living treats awarded to the first 100 guests each day of the show who visit an Information Booth and say, “I love the Indiana Flower & Patio Show!”
• and the fantastic Blow-Out Sale. See something at the show that you can’t live without? This annual don’t-miss feature offers fantastic deals on plant materials, hardscapes, structures, décor, and other items that have gone into the making of the show’s gardens. The Blow-Out Sale takes place on Sunday, March 22, 5 to 6:30 pm — and the only stipulation is that any and all materials purchased must be loaded up and removed from the buildings by that 6:30 pm end time.
The 57th annual Indiana Flower & Patio Show is open Saturdays 10 am to 9 pm, Sundays 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Wednesday 10 am to 7 pm, and Thursday and Friday 10 am to 9 pm.
Admission is $13 (children 12 & under, free) with tickets available for purchase on-line at www.indianaflowerandpatioshow.com or during the show at Expo Hall and West Pavilion box offices (credit cards accepted). Advance sale tickets are available for $10 at Indiana Marsh Supermarket locations. Coupons for $3 off, redeemable at the box office, are available on the show’s website.
Senior Day is Monday, March 16, when showgoers 65-plus are admitted for $9 with tickets purchased at the box office. Marsh Day is Tuesday, March 17, 10 am to 2 pm, featuring giveaways, grocery coupons and more.
Parking is available in Indiana State Fairgrounds lots for $5 per vehicle, with free shuttle service between parking lots and show entrance. Due to fairgrounds construction, showgoers are advised to park in the East 38th Street lot directly south of the fairgrounds.
For complete information about the show, visit www.indianaflowerandpatioshow.com.
