This is the time of year for "Home and Garden Shows" when exhibitors show their goods and services in a pre-season time. A bit later on, there will be mid/late spring Flower and garden Shows, always more on topic than H&G Shows.

Big, national shows are few and expensive to attend. Smaller, regional shows are a few hours worth of outing, with a good chance to see something new and interesting. Presumably.

We have done a lot of Shows, of both types. No good listening to the show organizers, I am looking for Client opinions.

Do you, as a gardener, go to Shows? Are they worth your time? Are they a waste of your time?

Appreciate any opinions.
John / Ecologicals

I live in NW PA and I would love to go to gardening shows...why don't you pick Erie, PA? They are a great alternative to county fairs...

I lived in London for a while & got hooked on gardening shows - I absolutely love 'em. Got good advice, some great plants, and a really nice day out. I never went to the Royal Chelsea though, which I regret - some of my friends did, and they thought it was wonderful (but oh so expensive!). Haven't had a chance to go to one here yet, but Buffalo has one coming up, & my husband has promised me a trip to the Philadelphia flower show as an anniversary present! (Hasn't specified which anniversary though!!)

Hi John:0) Its me Kristin. My answer to your question is NO WAY!!! I'm a bit of a hermit. I only go to town when I absolutely need to. I have found that the older I get, the less tolerance I have for people. Especially in crowds. I would go to a garden show if no one else would. When I do go to town, I know exactly what I need, I get it and then I go HOME.

The idea is wonderful, the reality gives me a headache. Minneapolis has a big show this very weekend which I have attended a couple of times. It's too crowded, you can't get near the booths, can't move faster than the whole crowd is moving, are lucky if you can grab a brochure and later remember why you thought it was worth taking.

Then when it comes time to actually purchase the product or service, you tend to go with recommendations from friends or with a nearby company and you probably can't find the brochure anyway.

Just my humble opinion and experience. Maybe others are better organized than I am or more tolerant of crowds.

Hi, You are a gal I like to here from. I done go to town till I have to. Don't like crowds eather. But have been to some small garden shows
by batanical garden asso. That was good. Not many people and lots to learn. Just no vegies.
Most shows are for primped up city yards anyway.
later
Feather

Hi, I feel that the "big" shows are to much, to, well like you said, showy. The smaller ones are better I think. The big ones have, sometimes, more to offer, but they cover all over. Well that's my opinion : ) Thanks for asking!
Angelswings

I usually make it to the Philly Flower Show & I like to do tours of Hershey Gardens & Winterthur & Longwood, but it is as much for the company of fellow gardeners I go with, as anything else. My main beef at flower shows (besides the crowds) is the contrived plantings of things that would NEVER bloom at the same time in nature, outside. Like, don't show me oriental liles blooming beside daffofils & expect me to appreciate your display. But just to see the hand-wrought trellises, & garden furniture: ahhh! The stuff dreams are made of!

Yes, I did, I had a ball, and it did send some new customers my way, but I never did it again, it was a lot of work.

I've been to a couple of them, they were crowded and expensive but I saw a few products that I was interested in. If the weather is halfway decent, I'd rather be outside working in my own yard. I think of Garden Shows as mainly product showcases, not a place to see neat plants or gardening techniques.

went to a gardening show once and decided it was more valuable to me to save my entrance fee money to buy more seeds and manure for my garden. the time lost at that show would have been more valuable working in the garden to get it ready for planting. also, watching all those people purchasing all those chemicals for their yards was scary to me. and i don't need a gazebo in my garden, i need more plants. the best place for me to see a garden show is in my own back yard since it is free, chemically free and i did it myself. peace be with you and may your garden be the show of the neighborhood.

What we did at our flower show for the price to get in, was 2 cans of veg. or whatever for the food bank, it was a very good success, the town people had fun, got a lot of freebies, I gave out free flower and veg. seed.

DITTO:0) The ironic thing about me and crowds is I work for the state of Ohio. My job title is Customer Service Representative for the Department of Job and Family Services. My husband feels like he has to go to the grocery store with me to make sure I behave.
I'm horrible outside of work.

Hi John, Love reading your responses to messages! Went to Orange County (CA) Farm Supply and was given a seminar on organic fertilizers from two different companies. One of them was Dr. Earth and I have been so impressed with their product that I can't remember the name of the other. They gave us lots of free samples and one full bag of organic potting soil. They spent a great deal of time explaining the benefits of organic fertilizers and potting soils. I thought it was wonderful! Looking forward to additional ones. Our local nurseries have different classes every weekend but I have not attended those.

Thanks a lot, everyone! I appreciate the feedback since it helps me to check/alter my own approach to doing Shows, from the other side of the fence.

As a gardener, I walk into these things with an attitude, I dislike crowds, I dislike hoopla, I dislike selling tactics. As an exhibitor, I have to see things from the visitor's perspective.

As it turns out, I am a low-key, info based exhibitor so tweaks will be minor. I deeply appreciate your input!

John / Ecologicalsgardens