Festival of Flowers 2015

Springtime means it’s time for Providence Hospital Foundation’s Festival of Flowers.

You never know what to expect when you enter the giant tent, because the committee always develops a new look every year.

Held on the hospital’s ground in Mobile, Alabama, it’s the largest outdoor flower show in the entire South East.

This year’s theme was “Southern Roots” which was entirely clever.

Natural elements and ideas for your garden were at every twist and turn.

Brightly colored blossoms looked so fresh, they must have been picked just moments before the doors opened.

We were so happy to see Fairhope artist, Stacey Howell, featured as the official festival artist. She was incredibly busy with people admiring her work, and I must also get in a plug that she’s a fellow FSU grad! She’s absolutely one of my favorite artist in town, and I really need to feature her someday soon in her own story. You’ll love her and her art.

Different Southern novels were interpreted by book clubs with the use of natural elements. Here is, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” from one of our favorite Southern cities, Savannah.

And our all time favorite Alabama classic, “To Kill a Mockingbird” had cotton and Spanish Moss climbing up the table that held the tiny floral town of Maycomb, Alabama.

And here’s Truvy’s Beauty Parlor from Steel Magnolias. Too bad the real magnolias don’t bloom until May.

This was a featured theme table for “Brunch After the Hunt” that I thought was especially lovely.

Always ready to dress in theme, I wore my embroidered duster coat, that I’ve had for years.  It can be dressed up over a dress, or down with jeans, but looks especially stunning when I’m surrounded by a tent full of camellias. (If I say so myself).

A large front porch was constructed inside the enormous tent to showcase beautiful doors, a bed swing and rocking chairs. I’ll have to admit I was surprised it wasn’t also covered with container gardens of some sort, but it kind of gave your eye a break from all the color everywhere else.

Outdoor, the vendors were set up to offer plants, garden accessories and many other flower-themed items.

The native azalea was interesting, because I’ve seen them for years, although they are very scarce, are making a comeback. I love the orange-y color and have seen them in many yards around Mobile and Baldwin Counties.

These daylillies were being carted off by the bag-fulls by people eager to go home and make their yards look just like the festival. It’s always so inspiring to see this beautiful presentation, and I leave looking forward to the next year.

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Click HERE to see last year’s festival.