Here are some highlights of the Boston Flower and Garden Show this year. I thoroughly enjoyed attending with a good friend, Rhonda. She invited me along and I am thankful we attended. The show was a little less packed this year in regards to displays and vendors – and it was not a surprise to learn why – apparently the huge amounts of snow fall in Boston this winter prevented some landscapers to load up supplies, like large boulders to frame displays, because all was buried under mounds of snow. We can’t blame them – it has been a rough winter especially for Boston folks.

Attending a flower show in a city like Boston is much fun, especially if you are able to spend an overnight by the Boston Waterfront, which we did. The hotel I like is the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel located at 606 Congress Street. It is only about a block? away from the flower show’s location at the Seaport World Trade Center. We found our stay there very enjoyable. Staff and valet guys were friendly and helpful, the restaurant in the hotel served a wonderful breakfast, and you are literally minutes from over 18+ restaurants.

RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS

My favorites so far from my visits to this show this year and the past are:

Rosa Meixcano, 155 Seaport Blvd – directly across the street (a bit to the right) when you exit the Seaport World Trade Center – amazing! Yumm. (rosamexicano.com)

Legal – Harborside, 270 Northern Avenue – take a right out of the hotel, take your first right, and cross the street – amazing seafood – truly! And if you want to go for dinner, make reservations ahead.

And we also tried Salvatore’s at 225 Northern Avenue for a night cap and appetizer. We sat at the bar, had a nice meal, and lots of activity was going on there on a Friday evening. It is truly convenient as well from the hotel noted above.

THINGS TO DO AT THE SHOW

Every year is different, but my kudos go to Cass Flowers & School of Floral Design. They offered mini-workshops all day at the show, and when my friend, Rhonda, suggested we sign up for the session on making fascinators, I didn’t hesitate to reply, “Yes!”

I didn’t know of the term “Fascinators” until that moment – what fun it was making these and even more fun wearing them all weekend. Every where we went at the show and when dining out in the area restaurants, we wore them – and all we got in return was big smiles from people who saw us. I picked up the special florist glue used to make these at their booth because I definitely want to give these a try again, and perhaps offer a workshop on making fascinators as part of my “Nature with Art Class Programs” – Thank you Cass for hosting this event at the show.

The reason we decided to hit up Rosa Mexicano’s for our last meal before returning home was due to a vendor, selling lamps with leaf imprints on them at the show, recommending this place to us, and it was the perfect cap to a great weekend with a great friend.

SOME FAVORITE FINDS

Hudson Valley Seed Library – Love their artist created seed packaging! (www.seedlibrary.org)

Of Earth and Ocean – Handcrafted jewelry from Wellfleet studio on Cape Cod

Best Bees – Beekeeping Services – Rhonda attended their talk on bee keeping – she is going to do it!!

Nature’s Creations – Jewelry for the seasons, made from real leaves and cast (www.leafpin.com)

Rachel Paxton – Really pretty bird art and more (www.rachelpaxton.com)

Pink Cloud – I got a iPhone holder and thermometer – cat, dog, colorful themes – birds – check them out (www.pinkcloud.com)

Wooden Expression – Gorgeous Copper Roof Birdhouses out of North Attleboro, MA (www.woodenexpressions.com)

Green Mountain Glass – Crystal hangers for windows (I got 3!)

Sunny Window – Soaps and Lavender products (www.sunnywindow.com)

And of course…

Cass School of Floral Design, 531 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472 (www.cassflowers.com)

The Boston Flower & Garden Show is held annually. This year’s theme was “Season of Enchantment” and it is held at the Seaport World Trade Center in early or mid March. For more information, visit http://www.BostonFlowerShow.com.

Cathy Testa