The Garden Expo Is 36 Days Away!

Don't miss the annual Garden Expo held in the Exhibition Hall of the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI. This year it will be held on Friday, February 11th (4 pm - 9 pm), Saturday, February 12th (8 am - 6 pm) and Sunday, February 13th (10 am - 4 pm). One day tickets are $8 (get them in advance at RBG for $7!) and two day tickets are $11. Presented by Wisconsin Public Television and UW-Extension/Cooperative Extension Horticulture Team, this event is in its 18th year and will be visited by 20,000 attendees. Above is our booth from 2010 and we'll again have a booth this year. RBG has been participating in this event for 13 years and we've always found it a nice way to promote the gardens to potential visitors and past visitors that are interested in what's new and exciting at the gardens.

This event is extremely popular and I remember when only half the Exhibition Hall was used 10 years ago. Now it's a full show with hundreds of vendors, nonprofit organizations, artists, etc. We're situated on the east side of the hall along with Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Allen Centennial Gardens (UW-Madison), Paine Art Center and Gardens (Oshkosh) and many other plant organizations (WI Hosta Society, WI Hardy Plant Society, etc.). The vendors run the gamut so if you are interested in plants, fancy gourd birdhouses, books, garden tools, garden furniture, riding mowers, garden art, etc.; it's all there! There are lots of garden related items but if you want gutter guards, flagpoles, food items, etc., they are well represented too. What has become more and more popular each year are the educational seminars, demonstrations and hands-on activities. I usually do 2-3 talks at this event each year and it is a great way to expose people to the gardens. I always shamelessly show our best pictures of the gardens first and then delve in to the topic. This year I'm talking about annuals (I do this topic every year) and will also do a talk on groundcovers. The topics are varied and the past two years have seen packed crowds in almost every topic area. Topics are covered in 45 minute presentations with 15 minutes to head to the next topic and assigned room. Lunch options, snacks and beverages are amply covered as well. Check out www.wigardenexpo.com/ for more event details and print out the educational opportunities in advance so you can schedule your day(s). The Wisconsin State Journal will run an insert about a week prior to the event that also gives similar information. This event is sponsored by the Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association (WLCA), Blain's Farm & Fleet and Green Power Tomorrow (Madison Gas & Electric, MG&E). Of course, Shelley Ryan, host of The Wisconsin Gardener will be there too. She's been a huge advocate and supporter of RBG and has filmed over a dozen segments at the gardens over the past 10 years or so. We hope to have her visit again in 2011!...

We have some neat ideas for our booth which is primarily meant for exposure. We used to give away seed packets but found that there was more interest in the "freebie" than the information! Sometimes that's the nature of these events as many booths have something to "entice interaction." We're not selling anything (except an engaging botanical immersion!) although we do promote memberships. We pass out our 2011 Calendar of Events but also will have information on volunteer opportunities, rental options, bus tours, etc. Don't forget that RBG is selling a limited number of one day, advance tickets for $7 at our Gift Shop. There is value in getting tickets early for not only the discount but to avoid long lines of those waiting to purchase tickets at the event. I typically work the entire event and if you are interested in traffic patterns, the "best time" to go, when you can avoid being part of the mindless herd, is Friday night, later Saturday and Sunday afternoon.