Get a taste of spring this weekend at the 19th Annual Rhode Island Spring Flower & Garden Show. From Thursday, February 23rd through Sunday, February 26th, the Rhode Island Convention Center will be transformed with 28 colorful gardens from exhibitors such as the RI Wild Plant Society, the MET School, the Groden Network, Rhode Island Horticultural Society, the RI Federation of Garden Clubs, and more. Explore the bookstore and marketplace featuring vendors like Alex & Ani, AAA, Barrington Books, Gourmet Creations, and Sakonnet Pottery.

Following the theme of Simple Pleasures, organizers hope that you’ll remember special moments from the past as you experience the show. They’ve invited a group of tv hosts, landscape architects, and gardeners to lead a lecture series, and for kids, they’ve coordinated storytelling, martial arts, and other activities. New this year is the Food & Wine Festival offering chef demonstrations and international wine samples. 

Adult tickets cost $18 at the door, and admission is free for children under the age of 6. Advance tickets are $16 and may be purchased online, by phone, or at participating AAA Southern New England locations.

Photo: courtesy of RI Spring Flower & Garden Show, 2011