Places to Go: 56th Annual Ind March 8-16 State Fair Grounds Indianapolis INDIANAPOLIS – A long, cold, snowy Hoosier winter will be brought to a welcomed halt on Saturday, March 8, when doors swing open to the 56th annual Indiana Flower & Patio Show. This traditional harbinger of spring celebrates finer outdoor living with a myriad of inspirational features including the return of the Urban Homestead, Grill University, the all new Brew Bracket Backyard Brewfest, small space gardening, the Think Spring education stage, over 400 expert exhibitors, and — of course — the gardens. More than 40 fabulous Showcase and Featured Exhibitor Gardens to replicate at home, or simply to use as creative muse for your own outdoor space, will be the stars of the show again this year. “Personal Spaces” is the theme of the 56th annual event. Landscape designers have been challenged to think outside the proverbial box and develop garden designs that best depict their view of finer outdoor living. The gardens will run the gamut — from warm, cozy, intimate gathering spots to expansive entertaining areas. Each will illustrate the latest in outdoor living: dramatic fire features; soothing ponds, streams and waterfalls; beautifully crafted structures; luxurious outdoor kitchens; trending patio furniture; plantings that engage all of the senses; new designs in hardscapes, and much more! The show runs Saturday, March 8 through Sunday, March 16 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds’ West Pavilion and Expo Hall, 1202 East 38th Street, Indianapolis. Show hours are Saturday 10 am to 9 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm; Page 10
Monday through Wednesday, 10 am to 7 pm, and Thursday and Friday, 10 am to 9 pm. General admission is $13, with youngsters 12 and under free. A $3 downloadable coupon, and advance sale tickets, are available on-line at IndianaFlowerAndPatioShow.com. Discounted advance sale tickets also are available at all Indiana Marsh Supermarkets. Senior Day is Monday, March 10, when admission for adults 65+ (with ID) is $9. Marsh Day is Tuesday, March 11, with giveaways, coupons and other goodies available at the show from 10 am to 2 pm. “This year’s event is a wonderful combination of all the features our guests love and expect to see each year,” said show executive director Donell Heberer Walton, “as well as a fantastic line-up of new activities and displays. “For example, the magnificent Showcase Gardens, our perennial stars, will be front and center again this year,” she said. “These are the huge, incredible gardens that simply take your breath away, and inspire so many ideas that are adaptable in your own outdoor living space. Last year’s Urban Homestead exhibition in Expo Hall was a big hit with guests, so we’re bringing that back with even more insights into sustainable living. Likewise, Grill University is being expanded this year, with additional inside scoop on what
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March, 2014