2011 Southeastern Flower Show
presented by the Southeastern Horticultural Society
In Tune With Blooms
February 25-27, 2011 at the Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, GA—Experience a musical springtime at the 24th Annual Southeastern Flower Show, February 25-27, 2011 at Cobb Galleria Centre in suburban NW Atlanta. The popular Southeastern Flower Show has been the major floral and gardening event for metropolitan Atlanta and the Southeast for a generation. The Flower Show promotes conservation and awareness of the natural environment through education, horticultural excellence and artistic expression. The Flower Show is both fun and enjoyable, with something for everyone from children to seniors.

This year’s theme, In Tune with Blooms, emphasizes the delight of music in the garden. Throughout the day, live performances by instrumental and vocal musicians will add an extra dimension of pleasure to the professionally-designed Landscaped Gardens and the other five judged divisions of the Show: Artistic Floral Design, Garden Design, Discovery, Horticulture and Photography.  The public is welcomed and encouraged to pre-enter any of the divisions (for more information see http://sehort.org/flower_show/juried_competition/).

2011 Show Chairs Dr. Felton and Mary Norwood, leading 2,000 volunteers, are teaming up with Honorary Chair/Legendary UGA Coach Vince Dooley to stage an outstanding Flower Show. The Southeastern Horticultural Society (http://sehort.org) presents the Show annually, and SHS Executive Director Kate Chura noted that some of the proceeds from the Flower Show support the Southeastern Horticultural Society’s ongoing educational programs, community outreach and environmental awareness efforts.

As always, the popular and greatly anticipated shopping area known as the Marketplace, along with the Bookstore and the Raffle Tables, are brimming with home, art and garden-related treasures. Enjoy informal flower arranging, gardening and cooking demonstrations, children’s workshops and stimulating speakers throughout each day.
This year’s Southeastern Flower Show provides an entire world of décor, floral design and gardening education in three days. Twenty-nine inspiring talks, forums and programs by renowned horticulturists, designers and landscaping experts are scheduled during the Show (find the complete schedule at http://www.sehort.org/flower_show/speakers/). Headliners include Coach Vince Dooley, Dr. Allan Armitage, P. Allen Smith, Walter Reeves, John Grady Burnes and Erica Glasner, along with dozens more speaking on favorite audience topics.

In addition to the exemplary plants vying for blue ribbons in the Horticulture Division, the Bonsai Exhibit by the Students of Kenji Miyata, the only Certified Master Bonsai Artist in the U.S., will display outstanding examples of their living art at the Show. And children are invited to explore the Discovery Division, enjoy a performance of Puppatoons or participate in one of the youth workshops.

New This Year
For the first time, nine well-known Southeastern Event Designers will present beautiful display Vignettes showcasing their individual styles. This provides an exciting comparison for Show attendees who may be planning a wedding or celebration in the future, as well as design inspiration from top creative minds.

Also new this year, a partnership with the nearby Atlanta Opera emphasizes the Flower Show’s musical theme, In Tune with Blooms. On Thursday, February 24th the formal Southeastern Flower Show Opening Night Party will be enhanced by strolling virtuosi from the Atlanta Opera (contact http://www.sehort.org to purchase tickets). On Saturday, February 26 after the Flower Show closes for that evening, the Atlanta Opera will stage their Opening Night of Gershwin’s American folk opera Porgy and Bess at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre (purchase Atlanta Opera tickets at http://www.atlantaopera.org ).

Groups are Welcomed
Groups are welcomed and encouraged to attend the Southeastern Flower Show with Group Ticket discounts and nearby Hotel and Restaurant packages. Easy access and free parking plus free van and bus parking facilitate group outings to the Show.

Outreach After the 2011 Show: Legacy Garden
As an outreach project of the Southeastern Horticultural Society, each year an organization is designated to be the beneficiary of plants used in the Southeastern Flower Show and afterward donated by nurseries, landscapers and exhibitors. Resulting plants are used to provide a meaningful donation to a Legacy Garden beneficiary. Named the 2011 Legacy Garden recipient is the Frazer Center on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Northeast Atlanta, Ga., whose mission is to maximize the potential of individuals with disabilities by providing quality comprehensive family and community based services, research and training, all on a sound financial basis. In addition to the beautiful, historic Cator Woolford Gardens, the Frazer Center Garden Committee’s strategic plan calls for a Community Learning Garden on the grounds of the 39-acre estate. Adults and children in the inclusive program will participate in planting the community garden and then eating the produce in a “green-to-table” approach. The Southeastern Horticultural Society will partner with the Garden Committee to accomplish these objectives.

Hours of Operation
The 24th Annual Southeastern Flower Show opens Friday, February 25, 2011 and closes Sunday, February 27th. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Show is held at the Cobb Galleria Centre, located at Two Galleria Parkway in the Northwest Atlanta area, located off Cobb Parkway/US 41 and accessible from I-75 and I-285.

Ticket Prices
(6% sales tax included) Advance Tickets (before Feb. 24, 2011): $15; General Admission Tickets: $18; Student & Youth Tickets (school ID required): $7 (Children in Kindergarten and under admitted free);  Senior Citizen Tickets at Door (65 or older with ID): $15;  Twilight Tickets (Admission after 4 p.m. Friday-Saturday – no coupons apply): $14; Group Tickets (15 or more sold in advance): $14; All Access Tickets (entry any/every day): $35; Southeastern Horticultural Society Members: FREE (based upon membership level). Purchase tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/137816 Your ticket purchase is good for Friday, Saturday or Sunday.  We do not ask you to choose a day when you will attend, but instead leave it open for you to decide which date works best for your schedule.  No refunds will be issued for Show tickets.

Show Leadership
Mary and Dr. Felton Norwood, 2011 Southeastern Flower Show Chairs
Coach Vince Dooley, 2011 Southeastern Flower Show Honorary Chair
Marsha Webb, SHS Vice President Southeastern Flower Show, Chair of SFS Administrative Committee Southeastern Horticultural Society
Kate Chura Executive Director, Southeastern Horticultural Society
Robert Balentine, President of the Board of Directors, Southeastern Horticultural Society

About the Southeastern Horticultural Society
The Southeastern Horticultural Society (SHS) is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting the knowledge, art and enjoyment of horticulture throughout the Southeastern United States (including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) through community outreach, education, events, resource sharing and the annual presentation of the Southeastern Flower Show.

For additional information about the Flower Show and the Southeastern Horticultural Society or to join the SHS, visit http://www.sehort.org or phone 404-351-1074 during business hours.

To purchase tickets for the 2011 Southeastern Flower Show Opening Night Party please click here.

I needn’t have worried!

Saturday arrived and the sun came out warming the 30+ volunteers and landscapers gathering to begin the monumental task of planting trees and bushes, spreading pine straw and creating the long planned Legacy Garden. Alex Smith , our Legacy Garden Advisor, placed the plants in perfect locations and many of his staff volunteered their time and expertise to get the planting started. The auger (rented for digging holes) and many hands made short work of the project. A delicious lunch was provided for all by the chef at Skyland Trail. SHS volunteers, Skyland Trail Staff, Board members and clients worked together to create something wonderful for the residents of Skyland Trail South and along the way we found ourselves blessed beyond measure. Working together for a common goal teamed with the healing power of nature made this a day to remember.
-Nan Henson
2009 Legacy Garden Chair

The beautiful gardens, displays, competitions, speakers, demos, youth activities, presentations, entertainment, retail shopping and concessions haven’t been as popular in years. Lower ticket prices, free parking and a much more walking freindly facility started everyone on the right foot.

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for making 2009 a wonderful Flower Show. We are busy planning next year’s show; dates, theme and details will be posted on www.flowershow.org in the next few months.

Chuck Henry
Director of Show Design

Saturday is also the day you can meet the Imaginators. They’re a group of entertainers from the Children’s Museum of Atlanta, and they’ll perform a 20-minute “mini-musical” for students and kids at 2:30 P.M.  The musical, “Georgia Grown,” is all about the plants that provide healthy food for us to eat, and the trees that give us fresh, clean air to breathe.

Hey–you can come even if you’re not a kid!

See you there.

Lynn

author, Gardening with Heirloom Seeds and your “Master Blogger” for the 2009 Southeastern Flower Show