Garden enthusiasts wait eagerly for the first flower festival and the annual plant shows. These usually come at a time when we have just finished a long cold winter and are impatient for the garden season. For anyone craving a quick detour as they map out their own easy garden hideaway, a garden festival gives us time to dream, purchase, get inspiration and simply spend time enjoying the artistic paintbrush of nature. Here are 10 of our recommended plant shows that will hearten and encourage you as the garden season awakens…
1. Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (Mount Vernon, Washington)
(Image credit: Kellz_25 / Shutterstock)
This is one I have been to many times and it celebrates that springtime favorite, the tulip. There are tulips as far as the eye can see in fields of brilliant hues. The festival can be a little muddy, occurring around April in the Pacific Northwest, but for anyone with a passion for tulip planting the trek is well worth it provided you have wellies.
This event doesn’t have an exact start day since blooming is dictated by Mother Nature, but it lasts for a month, giving you plenty of time to plan and attend once the first flowers appear. There are several open gardens with walking, bus and car tour options. While you’re there, stock up on some flowers to brighten your own plot.
2. Azalea Festival (Wilmington, NC)
Belles of the ball compete with the pastel hues of the flowering azaleas. Fascinators and bonnets are a common sight as attendees enjoy gardens, displays, concerts, a street fair, and a parade. A circus is part of the festivities and there are over 50 events scheduled during this five-day event in early April. Anyone with a yen for growing azaleas will find their bliss at this glorious plant festival. You could even see the Azalea Queen crowned.
3. Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival (Orlando, Florida)
(Image credit: Spenser Boulin / Shutterstock)
Located on the grounds of Epcot Disney Themed Park, this annual delight features beautifully manicured gardens, ranging from Mediterranean to Japanese. The dates vary slightly annually but are generally between February to late May. Stunning topiaries that depict classic Disney characters are some of the most beloved sights. There is also live music, food and other amenities.
4. Portland Rose Festival (Portland, Oregon)
This is another one that I have attended for many years. Set near the quirky town of Portland, the festival gives you an opportunity to explore the many delights of city life and take a trek out into the surrounding fields. The event began more than 100 years ago and features four parades with floats that celebrate particularly fragrant roses, as well as color and beauty. Food artists, vendor carts and other classic parts of a festival tie the whole thing together for good family fun.
5. International Cherry Blossom Festival (Macon, Georgia)
(Image credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock)
If you already live or can make your way to Georgia, the annual Cherry Blossom Festival starts in early March. It’s a stunning treat for lovers of cherry trees, whether you grow them or not. For 10 days, the 350,000 Yoshina cherry trees treat festival goers to a backdrop of cotton candy pink. There are parades, carnivals, live music, food and more.
A local man was captivated by the beauty of Yoshino trees and learned how to propagate them. Over time, tree numbers grew, supported by donations and community support that saw further planting of trees along boulevards and streets. Today, Macon is known as the cherry blossom capital of the world, a title that may be disputed by other locales but to which it is surely a contender.
6. Virginia’s Historic Garden Week (Across Virginia)
This annual event is hosted by the Garden Club of Virginia. It covers sites across that great state and occurs in late April to early May. Private gardens, historic sites and public gardens may be toured. The group began the practice in 1927, initially with a garden show. This has grown to include private homes and parks, each featuring over 1,000 flower displays designed by the group. This veritable festival of flowers is an opportunity to explore Virginia in its springtime peak.
7. Lilac Festival (Mackinac Island, Michigan)
(Image credit: -Jennifer McCallum / Getty Images)
While many cities and towns boast a lilac festival, Mackinac Island’s event started in 1949 and spans 10 days of festivities. It originally started as a parade, with floats adorned with the glorious lilacs and their fragrance perfuming the streets. Today, it has expanded to an annual celebration of lilacs and lilac growing, with a 10K walk/run, live music, carriage rides and tours, seminars, dancing, wine tastings, and food from across the region.
8. Tennessee Iris Festival (Dresden, Tennessee)
If you love irises and growing irises, this is a must-attend annual event. The local business association hosts the festival which runs from late April to early May. Coming up on its 50th anniversary, the festival is part street party and part garden tour. Fireworks displays, live music, fun runs, food events, and more give the visitor a chance to explore the town and take in all the beautiful flower displays at their peak.
9. Daffodil Days (Granville, Ohio)
(Image credit: Ali Majdfar / Getty Images)
Set in a historic town at the Bryn Du Mansion, this is a celebration of that beloved golden bulb, the daffodil. It is free and open to all with daffodil displays that take you back in time. It occurs on a weekend in the second half of April, hosted by the Granville Garden Club. Each year, members choose a different theme to showcase the daffodils. Daffodil Days has been a mainstay of Granville for over 75 years.
10. California Poppy Festival (Lancaster, California)
The poppy is California’s state flower and April is the time to celebrate it. The event spans three days of flower displays, monster truck shows, music, animal exhibits, beer gardens, and more. Located at the fair and event center, this festival of growing California poppies is a carnival and fair that showcases many of the foods and flora grown in California.
