For all the ways people can go green, Baltimore?s Flowermart 2008 must be one of the most fun.
“It?s the time of year for beautiful gardens,” said Carol Purcell, vice president and director of the annual festival.
“Flowermart is a stage to make our city look absolutely beautiful.”
The popular event has been making lemon sticks and fancy hats famous since 1911, when it was founded by the Home Garden Committee in Mount Vernon.
Today, Flowermart is home to hundreds of flower merchants, arts and crafts vendors, and local and regional artists.
Purcell said vendor booths were sold out by March.
“We have plenty! There?s really a host of everything for people,” she said
The Bee Hive in East Park will host a number of children?s activities, and several live entertainers, including the popular Waxter High Steppers, will perform.
The colorful Flower Mart Hat and Cap Contest will take place today at 1:30 p.m., and the Pet Parade marches around the Mount Vernon Monument at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
To encourage the urban homeowner, the Parks & People Foundation will present Baltimore?s Gardens, a participatory walk-through demonstration that showcases examples of how residents can bring gardens into their community.
“Gardens are often absent in an urban environment, so we want to see people integrate greening into their daily life,” said Kari Smith, assistant director of community greening at Parks & People.
Going green in the city can be somewhat of a challenge, Smith said, but entirely possible.
“You have to be creative and redefine what a garden is,” she said.
“A garden can be the standard rosebush in the backyard but can also be a flowerbox hanging out of a window, or hanging baskets, or planting a tree somewhere outside your house.”
Beginning today, visitors can check out all the sights, smells and tastes of Flowermart.
“It?s free, it?s fun and people can just enjoy one another,” Purcell said.
IF YOU GO
The Flowermart is held in downtown Baltimore on Charles Street between Centre Street and Madison Street. Most of the activities take place around Mount Vernon Place.
Click here for a parking map
