It’s finally here! After nearly a year of planning the 24th Annual Outdoor Show is days away! Our staff is all hands on deck to make sure our customers have an awesome weekend full of groovy displays of color, gnarly exhibits from industry experts, and totally far-out seminars on a wide variety of topics.
With weather being unpredictable in Hampton Roads (80 degrees one day and freezing the next..really?!?) we have to stay on our “A” game. Luckily, with the majority of our show in covered tents, keeping the area climate controlled and comfortable, no matter what this weekend brings, is very attainable. We’ve run the gamut when it comes to weather during our Outdoor Show (some of you may remember a few times when we had snow!) but rest assured you will have a fabulous time no matter what Mother Nature throws our way!
This year’s theme is “Flower Power” and our creative team has gleefully taken this inspiration and ran with it. (Like, Usain Bolt record-breaking ran with it) We have tons of colorful displays throughout the show with two particularly impressive displays not to miss. One is a large display in the greenhouse, which has the Volkswagon “Thing” and the other, in the large tent, is a small sampling of what our team of landscape designers can do. (Warning: those visiting the landscape design display may have overwhelming feelings of inspiration and/or yard envy).
There is definitely no shortage of plant mayhem at this years’ event. Naysayers say, “There’s no way they can have color at the Outdoor Show..it’s too early!” Well, naysayers, we DO have color. And a TON of it! Tropicals, houseplants, annuals, you name it, we’ve got it. And not just your run of the mill plant material- we have the newest and trendiest for 2017, with the industry leaders and growers AT THE SHOW to tell you all about their products. Want to find out more about the annual plant of the year: Supertunia Vista Bubblegum petunia? Our friends from Proven Winners will be there to give you all the details! Maybe you want to plan your garden and order everything online to have it shipped to McDonald Garden Center? Talk to our Monrovia peeps (and even pick up a coupon)!
Our major sponsors are back again- Wavy TV10, Southern Auto Group, and Simply Baths by Quality Advantage (YAY!), and they’re bringing the excitement as usual. New to the block this year, we are over the MOON to have the Ronald McDonald House Charity under the tent. (The marketing dept had a field day with the “McDonald” connection..) We are so happy to have them, that we are giving away a 4-nch primrose for every $10 donation to their charity. (Inside Tip: Don’t miss the big red shoe!)
In addition to some awesome local vendors, we have fantastic booths from our in-house vendors. Want to know more about orchids? Visit expert Steve Urick in the greenhouse! Been wanting to get some of those super trendy succulents but weren’t sure how to care for them? Now’s the time!
If you’ve followed our blog or seen our videos on social media, you may have heard the names Chef Manu (Cuisine de Jardin) or Mike Westphal, Garden Guru. Both of these gentlemen will be offering seminars at our show, along with Lynnhaven River Now, Tidewater African Violet Society, the Butterfly Society of Virginia, the Tidewater Beekeepers Association, and more! There truly is something for everyone. (Insider Tip: The first 30 people at the Chef de Cuisine seminar get to taste test some amazing food!)
What separates this show from others, I can honestly say, is the passion our staff and our vendors have for gardening and home décor. Don’t be surprised to leave the show with something completely different than you imagined! Come with an open mind, leave with a full pot. The Outdoor Show takes place all weekend long, Friday-Sunday, March 3-5, from 9:00am to 6:00pm each day.
We look forward to seeing you!