Horticulture lovers have a special opportunity this weekend, as “The Golden Years of Cape Coral — a Retrospective” National Garden Club Standard Flower Show takes place at the Southwest Cape Coral Library.

Starting today at 2:15 p.m. until 4:45 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., attendees can view numerous unique and all natural floral arrangements in various categories and classes.

The Garden Club of Cape Coral in conjunction with Potpourri Designers has been presenting this biennial flower show since 2005 and begun by the club’s founder Marty Ward. The free show is open to members of the Garden Club, Potpourri Designers, and the public, and is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Cape Coral.

“People can expect to see probably 150 different horticultural entries ranging from potted plants, cut leaves and flowers, collections of plants, and various design classes,” said Garden Club member and co-chair of the event, Sylvia Swartz. “Some are for petite entries, there are underwater designs, and creative line design.”

The show is comprised of three sections: horticulture, floral design, and botanical arts.

Within the Horticulture section there are 15 categories, each comprising several classes for many different types of horticulture which may include container grown plants, individual cut leaf specimens, individual flowers and also collections or combinations of plants.

“There’s something for every one and if one has a yard, one can find something to enter in the horticulture section,” Swartz said.

There are nine classes in the floral design section, each reflecting aspects of Cape Coral life and the city itself. They include: “golden sunset in Cape Coral,” “diving for gold in Cape Coral,” “a salute to Cape Coral,” “picnicking on Cape Coral beach,” “Caloosahatchee reflections,” “brunch on the boat,” “sunrise over the beach,” “golden days in Cape Coral,” and “golden nights in Cape Coral.”

“The designs have to reflect the title of the class in honor of the city’s golden anniversary,” Swartz said.

The last section is botanical arts; where the club’s crafters can display their talents in one of three classes: A decorated gift box suitable for a Golden Anniversary, An invitation to a Golden Anniversary Party and lastly, a wearable Fascinator.

There will also be three special exhibits on display: Restoring the Cape Coral Historical Society Rose Garden Following Hurricane Irma – by Garden Club of Cape Coral; 50 years of Cape Coral – by Cape Coral Historical Society; and Cape Coral’s Installation of a Blue Star Highway Marker by Garden Club of Cape Coral.

“People will see a vast range of the types of plants that grow here in this subtropical zone,” Swartz said. “A lot of northerners move south and have to relearn how to garden. All of the plants that they will see can grow in this area. They can get good ideas of what they can have in their own yards. And everybody likes to see beautiful flowers in their home, and they can see some eye-catching displays at the show.”

Attendees will have a chance to cast their vote for their favorite arrangement in each of the three categories. The show is also a great opportunity for individuals to pick the brain of designers to learn the ins and outs and what works and doesn’t work. The Southwest Cape Coral Public Library is at 921 Southwest 39th Terrace.

For more information, visit www.gardenclubofcapecoral.com.

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