Hi Neal: we are going to the show tomorrow; any suggestions as to how best to "attack" it and what are the "do not miss displays?" I've looked at the website...it seems overwhelming.

Vallombrosa, first, I'd opt for arriving at the show opening (10 a.m.) or around 3 p.m. when 'show fatigue' sets in and early show goers leave. Those are the least crowded hours. Next, I'd tour the garden exhibits as soon as I got there. There are two acres of them, so they take a while. Only then would I tackle the flower show, amateur horticulture and retail areas. Does that help?

Lived 2/3rds of my life "up north" and not only treasured flower shows but got my between-shows fix by going to enclosed botanical gardens and even to some of the larger flower shops/nurseries I knew of. Used to imagine building a greenhouse or "orangerie" in my lottery-winnings financed mansion.

On a brittle, dry, frozen day in February (okay, early March), nothing better than inhaling that soft, moist greenish air, with wisps of floral fragrances wafting through.

Now I live in a land of greenhouse-weather -- humid and hot half the year -- and that part of it has lost its luster. But on the other hand, we're just now beginning our six- to eight-week floral explosion for this spring. Early cherries are coming out, forsythia and daffodils are at their peak, looking forward to the dogwoods and azaleas -- and very grateful most homeowners are MUCH better gardeners than I am. (We have one nice, self-sufficient magnolia.)

yk, regarding the cost of admission. If you join the Mass Horticulture Society ($50) you get two tickets to the Flower Show, 7 issues of Horticulture Magazine, 6 issures of People, Places and Plants magazine and 6 issues of Leaflet magazine. Also, early opening hours to the show, use of the Members Lounge and free/discounted admission to other gardens and arboreta across the country. Plus other discounts. If you are a gardener it's a great deal.

I'm going tomorrow and I can't wait!

gomiki- Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately we're not gardeners. In fact, we don't even have a garden (we live in a condo). Anyway, I think I'll just wait until next year. There's always next year, right?

yk, Yep, there's always next year!

My wife has the green thumb. In fact, she has mine, as well. All I know is that flowers are sometimes pretty.

She did take her new digital camera to this year's Philadelphia Flower Show.... I believe the theme was New Orleans. Some evidence is at http://picasaweb.google.com/bookhall

The two sure signs of spring in Boston are the St. Patricks Day parade in South Boston and the New England Flower Show. Its like the entire region breathes a sign of relief just knowing those two events have occurred. With good planning you can go to both on the same day - the last day of the show is usually the same day as the parade.

Where is "Briggs" that has the great geraniums ???

Briggs Garden is in North Attleborough, a couple miles off Route 95.

Just returned from NYC and the Orchid Show at the Botanical Garden - if you are in NYC don't miss it - what a fabulous treat , esp at this time of year - I think is is there until April 6

www.nybg.org

If you're taking in the Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden, don't miss its incredible adjunct. While the massed displays of colorful orchids (as well as the crowds) are in the Enid Haupt conservatory, there's another astonishing display of extremely rare (and fragrant) orchids in the rotunda of the Mertz Library (the big, six-story building up the hill from the conservatory).

These are the 'rescued' orchids; seized from cargo at JFK and other northeast airports. NYBG is the repository for these orchids, many of them extremely rare and occasionally previously unknown. They're on public view only once a year. Once they've been identified, the're 'repatriated' to their country of origin.