Show History & Fun Facts

History of the Vermont Flower Show

  • There have been flower shows and educational venues provided by the Vermont Nursery & Landscape Association (formerly known as the Vermont Association of Professional Horticulturists and Vermont Plantsmen’s Association) since it’s inception in 1964.
  • They have not always been held in Chittenden County but have been in the Eastern part of the state as well as Barre, Vermont.
  • Most of the early shows were small. Several were held in local malls (Champlain Mill & University Square) in order to capture the local traffic.
  • The decision to move to The Sheraton was a major undertaking by the board because it meant that this was now considered an important part of the life of the organization. For the first time the organization had a place to showcase horticulture in Vermont and for many smaller members of the organization to participate and meet the public in a meaningful way that they might not otherwise be able to in their usual seasonal businesses.
  • The public responded to this breath of spring and to the creative themes and flocked to the Flower shows.
  • Each year the displays were fresh and new and each year there were speakers that continually raised the level of knowledge of horticulture in Vermont and the North East in general.
  • In 2006 the Flower Show moved to the Champlain Valley Exposition. It was a much bigger venue and it allowed for everything to be on one floor.

Fun Facts about the Vermont Flower Show

  • 11,746 forced spring BULBS IN 2,691 POTS
  • 400 square feet of SOD
  • Over 2,000 hours of volunteer time for DESIGN and CONSTRUCTION to create this experience
  • 140 cubic yards of MULCH
  • 305 trees and shrubs
  • 8,138 PEOPLE attended the Flower Show in 2007 — a 12% increase over prior year
  • 7 yards of COMPOST
  • Over 500 KIDS participate in the hands-on activities held in the Family Activity Room.
  • SMELL of mulch in the dead of winter – priceless
  • 500 square feet of patio and walkway stone
  • Thousands of dollars of IN-KIND PRODUCT donated by Green Works/VNLA members and supporters
  • 90 EXHIBITORS at the Flower Show in 2011
  • 1300 linear feet of granite COBBLES
  • Over 15 educational SEMINARS offered to the public during the 3 days of the Show
  • 4 pallets of PEAT
  • Over 600 deciduous and evergreen TREES and SHRUBS, including 30 forced lilacs shrubs and 22 forced crabapple trees
  • 60 foot long stream, 11 feet x 16 feet pond, and 4 foot waterfall
  • 805 PERENNIALS
  • The VNLA has sponsored some type of flower show for over 30 years. The Flower Show as we know it today has been in existence for 10-11 years at the Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center and at the Champlain Valley Exposition since 2006.