With the theme "Do Green, Do Good," The Chicago Flower & Garden Show ran March 15-23 at Navy Pier.
Thousands of patrons enjoyed many highlights, including tablescapes; show gardens; culinary demostrations by gourmet chefs; speakers who talked about subjects such as hummingbirds and edible gardening; and a marketplace with items ranging from plants and gardening accessories/tools to food and even massagers.
Additional photo spread at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/photospreadthumbs.php .
Tony Abruscatothe president of Flower Show Productions, which was behind the eventtold Windy City Times that the response was one of the show's highlights. "Listening to people come up to us and tell us how much better this show was than last year's, and how they can see the effort, and how there are more flowers and design elements really kept me going," he said. "It's a 23-day project by the time we put things together and tear it down, so to have people come by and say, 'Wow, this looks amazing' is exciting and rewarding for me and my entire staff as well as the builders."
Abruscato also said he was glad to get the speakers he did for this year's event, "which is the second-oldest flower show in" the United States. "The roots of our show go back to 1847, which pre-dates The Civil War," he added. "It's the oldest event in the city of Chicago, and we work to retain its relevancy."
Incidentally, the theme for next year's show will be the same as this year'sthe first time Abruscato believed the theme would be repeated. "What we thought is that there's more green and more good to be done," he said. "We are going to continue it throughout the next 12 months and into the next year."
Abruscato added that Bob Mariano surprised him and told him that Mariano's would return as the presenting sponsor next year.
Photos and text by Andrew Davis