Sonoma County Fair Flower Show | Themed Flower Show: Gardening

Helping You Become a More Successful Gardener

For years I have enjoyed the Sonoma County Fair’s Hall of Flowers in Northern California, the largest themed flower show in the country. And I’m not alone. Every summer, admiring crowds are delighted with gorgeous exhibits that all adhere to the show’s designated theme. In the past, fantasy themes have been selected, leading guests into flower-filled wonderlands featuring dinosaurs and volcanoes – and even a tropical underwater paradise. Other years bring a more “realistic” theme into bloom. 2010’s inspiration has been uncorked courtesy of Northern California’s renowned wine-growing regions, featuring the theme, “In Our Own Backyard: The Gardens of Sonoma County Wine Country.”

Great flower shows, like the Sonoma County Fair’s, find thousands of adults and children alike in awe of the dazzling end results. This year, I wanted to go behind the scenes to get a better feel of what it takes to create the magic. While the professional entrants had been working on their plans and exhibit spaces for weeks, I was given access to the final push to finish their displays before the midnight deadline. Throughout the day I spoke with these talented designers and Fair staff and got a sense of their visions. I stood aside as literally thousands of plants were hauled into place, and I watched in amazement as the smallest of details were added to further enhance already gorgeous scenes. The hard work was obvious, as was the pride when it all came together.

Let’s go behind the scenes and get a better appreciation for the incredible effort required in creating the intoxicating bouquets and flavors of this magical Sonoma County wine country flower extravaganza!

Race to the Finish

Lots of Plants to Go in Dry Creek

The Dry Creek team still has lots of plants to place in the landscape. It will be tough to meet the midnight deadline.

Working on the Details

A member of the Sonoma Mountain team works on getting every plant perfect.

Green Valley Work

The construction is nearly done, but there is still lots of work to get the Green Valley site ready for the rest of the planting

Heavy Lifting in Bennett Valley

Alisandra Brewer-Mossberg hoists a small redwood into the Bennett Valley exhibit

Alexander Valley Details

Carrie Fetrow from Tractorscape adds the last plants in her Alexander Valley design. Carrie is one of the multi-generational entrants in this years show. Her father’s area is at the other end of the hall.

Plants and Construction

There’s lots of planting, but every landscape also has substantial structures to finish, ranging from buildings to dramatic waterfalls, patios and even a fire station.

The Show Designer

Greg Duncan, the flower show designer, looks down over the show after making a last minute adjustment to the background features. After learning of the annual theme in February, Duncan created the overall hall layout, leaving the individual plot designs to the entrants.

The mural in the background, by John Michener, covers the north end of the Hall of Flowers and depicts the Sonoma coast and a redwood grove. An equally striking mural is found on the south end of the hall.

Let the Magic Begin

Bacchus at the entrance to the flower show

A Bacchus Welcome

Bacchus greets visitors at the entrance to the flower show on top of a barrel fountain flowing with wine.

Water, Wine and Flowers

A dramatic wine bottle fountain and flowers stretch up the hill in the Sonoma Valley landscape by Daniel R. Gibbs Botanical Artist.

Down by the Coast

A lavender barn fills this landscape with fragrance while succulents highlight the tidal pool in the foreground in this Sonoma Coast exhibit by Michael Golas Landscape Design.

Sonoma Mountain

Not all exhibits are done by professionals. The Men's Garden Club of Santa Rosa did this interpretation of the Sonoma Mountain region.

Birdhouse Planter

This birdhouse planter was made from a wine barrel by Ed Rogina for his Knights Valley landscape. The birdhouse is fully functional and dry protected from any water in the planter above.

Crane Lighting the Way

Every landscape has its special details. This brass crane adds light into the coastal garden.

Succulent Tide Pool

While you wouldn't want to use succulents this way on a long-term basis, these succulents make great stand-ins for sea stars in the Exhibitors Choice Award Winner design by Michael Golas Landscape Design.

Opening Night Reception

Snoopy looks down from his hot air balloon in front of the mural on the south end of the hall at the opening night scholarship benefit reception.

Proud Winning Team

The team members from Landscape Restoration by Pozzi proudly stand in front of their Best of Show Green Valley landscape. The cabin in the back was inspired by an old family cabin in the same Green Valley region of Sonoma County.

Facts

Judging uses the Danish system which compares each entry on its own merits. Key requirements include a minimum of 40% flowers and each flowering plant must be at least 40% in bloom. An additional 40% must be other living plant material and the final 20% is made up of paths, water features, structures, patios and other details.

Tips

It is easy to be dazzled by all the fantastic flowers. Home gardeners can certainly pick out some favorites, but the professionals in this show advise you to focus on the feel of the design and pick the elements you want in your garden.
Remember when you plant your dream garden that you will need to give your plants room to grow. Only at a flower show like the Sonoma County Fair would you jam all your fantastic new plants into your landscape.

Resources

The Sonoma County Fair runs from end of July to middle of August in Santa Rosa, CA. If you are in the area it is certainly worth the effort to visit the fair and especially the Hall of Flowers. More information is available on the Sonoma County Fair website.

Next Steps

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The Sonoma County Fair’s Hall of Flowers: Bringing the Magic Into Bloom