With barely a month to go before the doors open, organizers announced price reductions and a new partnership designed to invigorate the 2006 Portland Flower Show.
With advance ticket prices dropped from $15 to $10 and a new affiliation with the city of Portland — which will help create the largest single exhibit in the show’s history — the seventh flower show at the Portland Company Complex looks to bounce back from the early March blizzard of 2005. This year’s flower show is scheduled for March 9-12, with an awards ceremony preview on Wednesday, March 8 at 6 p.m.
“The emphasis is on creating a great show for a price that everyone can enjoy,” said Jan Love, the show coordinator. “People will see a lot of changes for the better this year, with several new exhibitors and vendors who will add vitality and interest.”
As the cornerstone exhibit for the show, which came to the Portland waterfront for the first time in 1997, the city of Portland’s Parks and Recreation Department will work with the Friends of Deering Oaks and Robin’s Nest Water Gardens to re-create aspects of the Deering Oaks pond and gardens at the flower show. The original antique duck house, constructed in the 1800s, will be brought indoors to house ducks and geese for all four days of the flower show.
“We thought this was a great way for the city to be involved in a show that benefits us all,” said Jeff Tarling, the Portland city arborist. “There will be volunteer opportunities, a chance to learn the history of the park and a sense of camaraderie that goes into this experience. We’re really excited about being involved.”
Another coup for this show was enticing Ted Carter, the renown landscape designer from Hollis, to exhibit at the show for the first time in many years. Carter plans the show’s second largest exhibit; he has historically been a multiple award-winner at shows in both Portland and Boston.
For a change of pace from previous years, the flower show will also showcase a tropical fruit expert as its keynote speaker. Chris Rollins, from the United States Tropical Fruit & Spice Park in Homestead, Fla, will talk about the journey fruit makes from the tree to the local supermarket. Samples of many of his unusual fruits will be available for tasting.
Chris is a dynamic personality who people up here will really enjoy. We met him two years ago during taping of our television show; he’s also been on with David Letterman and hosted his own radio show, so he knows how to have a good time.
I am still the coordinator for the speaker series for this flower show, even though PPP is no longer running the show. The slate of experts is widely varied this year, with topics covering everything mulch and lawns, to orchids and irises.
Ticket prices have been reduced across the board, with $9 advance tickets for seniors and $25 for admission to the awards preview night. Tickets at the door will be $12. Advance tickets are on sale at Hannaford Supermarkets and several local garden centers. Visit www.portlandcompany.com for more information, or call 207-775-4403.
-Paul Tukey - February 6, 2006
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