It’s that time of year again when I step out of the cold winter weather into a magical spring wonderland. It’s time for the Adams Fairacre Farms Garden Show! I can’t believe this will be my fifth year taking you along with me on this field trip. I’ve been attending the Adams Garden Show for over seventeen years, and it never disappoints! It always seems to come when I need it most, when I desperately long for spring and fresh flowers. And this year, after a particularly harsh winter, I was so excited to walk into that greenhouse and feel like it was spring.
Last year was the first year the show had a theme, Adams in Wonderland, and this year, the theme was the Renaissance. In keeping with the theme, there were nods to wizards, dragons, castles, and royalty throughout the show. There was even a hobbit house with a wishing well, recreated shops in the square, and a castle with a drawbridge and moat, all inside the greenhouse display.
Of course, the show’s main draw is the many beautiful spring flowers and shrubs all in full bloom. The pops of spring color and fragrant flowers lift your spirits as you stroll through the displays. I couldn’t help but take in the fragrance of a blooming lilac as soon as I entered and found myself returning several more times for another whiff before begrudgingly leaving the show.
Besides the lilacs and other flowering shrubs, tulips, daffodils, azaleas, chrysanthemums, calla lilies, impatiens, pansies, and even roses were the predominant blooms throughout the show. I loved the bright pink, yellow, purple, and orange pops of color interweaved among tropical plants, variegated shrubs, and saplings. After a long, grey winter, seeing these colors brought joy to my soul!
The curved walking path meandered through the displays and took you on what felt like a stroll through a magical fairy forest. Around each corner lay surprises such as a waterfall, a flower-filled archway, an herb garden, a wishing well, or a whimsical statue or two. Comical signs posted throughout the show echoed the theme and gave me a chuckle.
Around the last corner, we spotted a throne adorned with everlasting flowers fit for a fairy queen. I couldn’t help but take a seat as I imagined what it would be like to rule over such a beautiful fairy kingdom.
Every year, I thoroughly enjoy the show and am reluctant to leave after experiencing the magical and colorful displays. I know when I walk outside the greenhouse doors, I will be reminded of the realities of winter with its grey skies and cold temperatures. The Garden Show always helps me to get over the last hump of winter until our spring flowers begin to bloom. “Spring is coming soon” is a repeated mantra after the show ends. I can’t wait to see floral displays in my garden beds on the farm! Spring will be here soon, and I’m grateful to the Adams Garden Show for giving me a much-needed preview. I hope you enjoyed our field trip, and until next time, happy dreaming of spring.
THISTLE BE THE DAY 