The Gardens
The prime feature of all world-class flower and garden shows are considered by many to be the show gardens.
The planning process for the 2014 gardens is already underway. Garden
designers and landscape architects are encouraged to submit an
application to participate.
Building the Gardens
When you first visit a world-class Flower & Garden Show such as
the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, the Chelsea Flower Show, the
Northwest Flower & Garden Show, or the Philadelphia Flower Show,
you will be surprised by the size and magnificence of the garden
landscaping.
A Flower and Garden Show is a huge and complex
production. The gardens at the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show
use 1,200 cubic yards of sawdust and mulch for the gardens (that's about
150 dump-truck loads) and 280,000 pounds of rock. The flowers and
plants for the gardens come from all up and down the West Coast. More
than 300 theatrical lighting instruments hang from the ceiling above the
gardens.
Creating the display gardens is a demanding task. Planning for them begins many months before the Show opens.
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Trucks arrive on day one
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One of many loads of sawdust
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Construction in progress
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Many people are surprised to learn that the
companies and organizations creating gardens do not pay the Show to
exhibit. In fact, the Show pays each of them a substantial cash subsidy,
and provides support including lighting, electricity, water, heavy
equipment, labor, rocks and mulch. The Show's total direct cost of
assisting its garden creators is well over one million dollars.
The San Francisco Flower & Garden Show was produced for many
years by Salmon Bay Events, who also produced the Northwest Flower &
Garden Show in Seattle. Partners Sherry Larsen and Maryanne Lucas of
Larsen Enterprises bought the Bay Area show in May, 2013 and will
continue to produce this annual tradition for California gardeners and
landscapers.
By sharing this background about what it takes to produce a
world-class garden show, we hope to make your visit to the San Francisco
Flower & Garden Show even richer and more enjoyable. The dates for
the coming show are March 19-23, 2014. We look forward to seeing you
there!
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