Believe it or not, spring really is right around the corner! And there is no better way to prepare than to go to a flower show. Within the next few weeks, there are several major flower shows within easy travel distance from Maplewood/S. Orange, NJ and surrounding towns. These celebrations will definitely induce spring fever.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Philadelphia Flower Show is an annual event since 1829 and is held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The show is currently in progress and runs through Sunday, March 19, 2017. The theme this year is “Holland: Flowering the World” and will celebrate the beauty and ingenuity of the Dutch culture. The show will focus on some of this region’s top horticulturists and designers as well as award winning landscapes and floral designers from the Netherlands.

The central feature of the show is the 30,000 bulbs and hundreds of perennials that have been forced to bloom early. You have to see the many varieties of tulips, bulbs and perennials that are being exhibited! There are numerous floral and landscape gardens to explore. A highlight of the flower show is the Ecodome, which showcases sustainable living and environmentally friendly Dutch practices. The Ecodome features moss water storage, an insect hotel, living walls, fruit trees and edible plants. The Gold Medal Plants Exhibit is where you can learn about which plants grow best in growing zones 5-7, the area around Philly including New Jersey. There are also many workshops, contests and presentations to enjoy as well as wine tasting, a garden spa, and early morning tours.

Visit the 2017 Philadelphia Flower Show website for a complete schedule of events and ticket sales.

The Macy’s Flower Show, held in Macy’s Herald Square in NYC, runs from March 26th through  April 9th. The theme for this year’s 43rd annual show is “Carnival.” Last year about a million flowers, plants and trees were arranged into a variety of scenes reflecting that show’s theme, “America the Beautiful.” All these amazing arrangements were on display in the department store for the duration of the free, two week show. It is anticipated that this year’s show will be just as spectacular. For details please visit Macy’s Flower Show.

The Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival is held annually in Branch Brook Park and runs from April 8th through April 23rd. Each spring, more than 4,000 cherry trees wow almost 10,000 visitors per day with their beauty. This is actually the largest number of Japanese flowering trees in one location in the United States. Events during the festival include a bike race, a 10K run, a 1-mile walk/run, an Essex county family day and Bloomfest. Click here for more details on the festival.

Daffodil Day 2017 will take place in The Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit on Sunday, April 23rd. The Arboretum boasts one of the largest collections of daffodils in New Jersey with more than 50,000 bulbs. While details are not yet available for this years festivities, past years have included family friendly activities such as a farmers market, crafts, games and live music. More information will be available soon on the Arboretum’s website.

Daffodil Celebration and Wine Weekend at the New York Botanical Gardens is a fun way to usher in spring. This event takes place April 29th and 30th. Enjoy the beauty of 300,000 daffodils while sipping local wine and listening to a folk-rock band on the grounds of the New York Botanical Gardens. Tickets include all special weekend activities as well as an All-Garden Pass. Go the the New York Botanical Gardens website for ticket information.

The Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival is held at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens on April 29th and 30th. This festival celebrates Japanese culture and the beauty of flowers, specifically cherry blossoms. It is a weekend long bash that takes place among the cherry blossoms with a tea room, an art gallery, a flea market, and silk wraps. Entertainment is plentiful with drummers, actors, samurai sword masters, bands, comics and dance parties. Click here for more information on this celebration.

And in early 2018, don’t miss the New Jersey Flower and Garden Show which is scheduled to be held February 22-25, 2018. The theme will be “Color The World” and will feature garden displays, host competitions, offer presentations and seminars, hold special events, and provide a grand Indoor Marketplace. More information can be found on the flower show’s website.

Any or all of these flower shows are sure to get you inspired for spring!

The Allison Ziefert Real Estate Group is a top producing real estate group based at Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct in Maplewood, NJ. Allison Ziefert, a local market expert, specializes in Maplewood, South Orange, Millburn/Short Hills and West Orange, NJ real estate and homes, and the surrounding towns. Allison’s success as a Maplewood/South Orange realtor is driven by earning great testimonials from sellers and buyers of homes in her marketplace. You can read her testimonials at www.azhomesnj.com/testimonials.