An American first, Baltimore’s Flower Mart is back in Baltimore for its 89th year. The festival, which started Friday and goes until Saturday, celebrates spring by showcasing a wide variety of colorful crafts, garden products and zany contests.
Eartha Harrison, 36, of Baltimore, was stopping people with her beehive hat. She won first prize a couple of years ago for her “Believe in Baltimore” hat. Harrison was attending Flower Mart for the third time. “I think I just love seeing all the new creative things. The stuff people come up with just amazes me,” she said.
William Kolonda, 68, of Baltimore, has been coming to the Flower Mart for 25 years and was visiting on his lunchbreak. He claims it is because his office is right down the street, but then confessed that he likes all the flowers and the food, his favorite being the coddies because they are a “Baltimore tradition.”
Yoga instructor Ann Hyland, 35, of Baltimore, and student Emily Gove, 26, enjoy the different types of products the Flower Mart offers.
“There’s a great variety of different local sellers, so it’s great to see all the colors. It’s a great community event, really,” Gove said. Hyland agreed and said, “I like the art. I really was inspired by the glass art, and the Indian type of fabrics.”
Shelly Baker, 33, of Baltimore, winner of first place in the booth contest three years running, likes the different types of people the Flower Mart attracts. “I’m a people watcher, and everybody’s so sweet. It’s a good time to spend with friends and family,” she said.
