Keukenhof Gardens in Holland features a magnificent display of color, fashioned by more than seven million tulips & other bulbs in bloom. Find out more about Keukenhof Garden & other Dutch travel destinations at the Home & Garden Show. (Photo Credit: Mediacolor’s/B en U)

The National City Home and Garden Show to bloom soon
By Thea Steinmetz
happenings
Published Feb. 2, 2006

With most of the winter still ahead, it’s a pleasant thought to contemplate wandering among 20 competitive gardens filled with the promise of spring.

“Holland in Bloom: A Dutch Masterpiece” is the theme of the upcoming National City Home and Garden Show. This year’s dates are Feb. 4 to 12, at the International Exposition Center (I-X Center) in Cleveland, 6200 Riverside Drive, near Hopkins Airport.

The always-popular entry feature garden leads the visitors to all the offerings of the show. For the first time this garden is created by the Weidner Group of North Ridgeville, capturing the old-world charm of the Netherlands. The rural landscape displays 12,000 colorful tulips, shows off an 80-foot canal, spanned by an old wooden bridge and, for added charm, two windmills add historical relevance.

Friends of orchids and all things tropical will be treated to a small-scale replica of the Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. These delicate and lush plants are supplied by the botanical garden and their professional staff supervises the installation. On opening day, Feb. 4 at 12:30 pm., Cynthia Druckenbrod, Cleveland Botanical Garden horticulturist, will present her Orchid Growing 101 lecture to encourage all interested in cultivating this lovely plant.

The gardening stage presented by Petitti Garden Centers, offers a wide variety of motivating seminar topics. Be sure to pick up a schedule for these presentations upon entering the show. The subjects covered range from gardening with kids, roses, seed starting, creating colorful landscapes and planning your planting.

The rustic stone fireplace is the focal point, while annuals, perennials & shrubbery add a touch of aromatic therapy to this tranquil setting. (Photo Credit: Virgil Wilson, Image Factor Photography)

In keeping with showcasing the sophisticated country of Holland, celebrating Rembrandt’s 400th birthday and paying tribute to all things Dutch, Pieter Bouterse, highly acclaimed floral designer, has chosen to speak on the dynamics of flowers in 21st century Dutch design. This one-time, full of life presentation is scheduled for Feb. 5 at 2:00 p.m.

The enormity of this 800,000 sq. ft. facility allows for expanded and diverse attractions for this year’s show. No doubt the gardener will be delighted by the reconfigured and expanded layout. Extra large gardens are a new addition to the formerly small, medium and large categories. This affords the opportunity to add musical ambience to some of these spaces.

As in the past, local media personalities will make scheduled appearances at their respective celebrity gardens throughout the show’s nine-day run.

It’s a good idea to bring a camera to capture details of interest in the gardens. A picture is more reliable than the memory when it comes to recreating a specific feature to be duplicated in your own garden.

A visit to the show can be enjoyed on many levels. Five different seminar stages appeal to various interests featuring entertainment, educational topics related to interior design, home improvement and as always, gardening.

The full-scale homes on the Boulevard of Dreams are always a popular feature of the show. One home suggests several energy saving features and one offers an eye catching modern design. A forward looking manufactured home and one displaying ingenious engineering, are also issuing an invitation for viewing. The houses are fully furnished and various designers have put their own unique style on display.

The expanded Inside and Out designer’s showcase features a vignette of eight rooms with eight distinctive decorating styles. For all of us stuck in a rut with boring plain walls, inspiration is found here with murals and individual wall finishes. This is the place to gain information on color treatment, fabrics and design techniques.

A great number of visitors will delight in and will be inspired by the 900 home improvement vendors and garden exhibitors that display the industries latest trends, gadgets and features. To experience all this under one roof is of great advantage.

Garden railroading has come on strong the last few years and Jan Dell Flowers of Rocky River represents this unique concept at the show. This is a wonderful hobby project for the whole family to explore. See first hand what plants are suitable for this miniature landscape design incorporating a train chugging through the garden.

There are always a number of prizes that may be found at these shows, but this year’s grand prize surely offers an inducement to attend the show. There is a chance to win a trip for two to Holland, courtesy of the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (www.holland.com/cleveland). Holland at tulip time is the dream of many a gardener and two lucky people will have the opportunity to share this delightful experience. Included in this package is a four-night stay in a luxury hotel in Amsterdam, two tickets to the legendary Keukenhof gardens, plus $500 spending money.

There is still time to get advance discount tickets at the AAA offices and one does not need to be a member to purchase these tickets. Admission at the door is $11.95 for adults, $4.00 for children ages six to12. Children ages five and younger are free. For more information call 800.600.0307 or visit www.homeandflower.com.