SpringFest Flower & Garden Show is a non-profit production of the
New Jersey State Fair®/Sussex County Farm & Horse Show
Dates:
Thursday, March 11 through Sunday, March 14RAIN OR SHINE
Place:
Sussex County Fairgrounds
37 Plains Road,
Augusta, NJ
Hours:
Thursday, March 11: 10am-5pm
Friday, March 12: 10am-8pm
Saturday, March 13: 10am-8pm
Sunday, March 14: 10am-5pm
Springfest, the garden-lover's flower show, arrives here in Northwestern New Jersey just in time each year--when we are eager to immerse ourselves in the many delights that Mother Nature has to offer.
As visitors approach the Show, the first thing they will see is the new 5000+ sqft. custom glass Conservatory. Beautifully crafted mahogany beams rise graciously to a height of 34' and enclose a sun-filled space filled with garden exhibits. The building is an amazing gift to the Fairgrounds from Springfest friends Bev & Bruce Gordon from Sussex County. The Gordons saw a need for a permanent building to link the separate venues of the show, eliminating costly tent rentals. This beautiful structure was designed and built in consultation with green building guidelines. It will be available for functions and is a great asset to the entire area.
Everyone who attends Springfest-- novice and professional gardeners, as well as those who “just like to look”--enjoy a much needed respite from winter’s gray landscape. An award winning show and touted by the Star Ledger as ‘”NJ’s finest flower show,” Springfest, hosts more then 8,000 visitors from the tri-state area. As a non-profit production, the proceeds from Springfest support the promotion ofhorticulture and provide for agricultural scholarships.
Upon arrival, the friendly faces of the Sussex County Master Gardeners greet visitors to the show in ‘The Entry Garden' decorated by the staff of Three Seasons and featuring the beautiful window box gardens have been created by amateur and professional contestants--with many of the ribbons going to talented amateurs!
Just when you thought you saw the whole show, it's time to visit the ‘Zoo'! Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! There are all kinds of creatures awaiting visitors of all ages. No petting allowed, since they are all made from plants. Springfest is the proud recipient of a topiary collection that once graced the world renowned Duke Gardens in Somerset, NJ. The Doris Duke Foundation donated the topiaries and other plants to enhance the new Conservatory, gardens and parks of the Fairgrounds.
As always, Springfest is filled with gardens--thirteen have been designed and built to Springfest's high standards in the few short weeks just prior to the show’s opening. They feature unique and creative uses of natural stone, ponds, water falls and, of course, garden plants and flowers in all their splendid variations of form and color. The garden designers are present throughout the show to share their knowledge or set up consultations.
Each year a panel of notable speakers presents lectures on a wide selection of topics. Springfest attracts such respected names as Ken Druse and Ralph Snodsmith. Other well-known names in New Jersey’s horticultural arena will share their expertise with Springfest attendees as well.
Market Place Shops are carefully selected to reflect Springfest commitment to quality. Only those whose merchandise comprises a horticultural theme are accepted into the show. Shops feature such widely diverse items as garden machinery, fencing, birdhouses, garden ornaments; boots, hats and gloves; dried flowers, fertilizers, potted plants, including orchids and topiaries; and barbeques.
The quality of the Marketplace Shops continues throughout the Service and Educational exhibits. Spa and pool companies are represented among the expert service exhibitors, as are arborists, landscape designers and irrigation specialists. The Master Gardeners’ Plant Clinic, Public Gardens, Birding, and Plant Societies offer educational material and advice.
Much anticipated year after year is The Kids Plant Your Own Zone, where children discover the enjoyment of gardening. An especially popular feature for kids is the Treasure Hunt.
The Garden Café, with its exquisite décor, encourages visitors to linger while they enjoy a delicious lunch or fine pastries with gourmet coffees, teas, and wine bar.
A taste of summer’s warmth and color can help you through those last gray, slushy, muddy days of winter. It’s all there at Springfest, just waiting for you. So bring your winter-deprived senses for a feast certain to inspire, invigorate, motivate!
