Flowers Bloom at Festival

The sight of adults dragging around little red wagons is not something that happens everyday. Nor is overheard conversations concerning where certain rose bushes or ferns will grow best.

But with red wagons in tow, families and flower enthusiasts alike flocked to the 10th annual Emerald Coast Flower and Garden Festival held March 30- April 1 at PJC's Milton Campus.

The festival featured numerous flower vendors, as well as a few selling yard art and clothes. One was even selling bird seed mixes.

PJC's horticulture students also had a display of flowers they had been growing since February.

"We did clippings and planted seeds and this is the results," said Candice Hoting, pointing to the huge rows of brightly colored flowers and large leafy plants.

Everyone's attention was on one of the pots, though: a planter that contained a few deep red sunflowers known as Moulin Rouge sunflowers.

"When people are coming in here, everyone is just focusing on it. They really like it," said Patrick Meffan, one of the horticulture students. "They think [the flowers] are dahlias, not realizing that [they are] sunflowers, just because it's such an intense color."

Others admiring the display wanted to take some of the flowers home, but the horticulture displays were not for sale.

The Friends of the Garden organization helps put together the festival and also had a booth. "We're selling Angel Trumpets and magnolias," said Mary Bayer, a member of Friends of the Garden. "All the money we raise goes to scholarships for the [horticulture] students."

The three-day festival attracted first timers and veterans alike.

"I work at Sacred Heart and there are probably 20 of us that mark this weekend on the calendar. We get up and have breakfast at Ryan's and then we all come here and fight each other for plants," said Pensacola Beach resident Penny Thompson, with a cart laden with flowers and plants. "I come every year, at least twice."

"This is wonderful. This is my first time and it's very, very nice," Milton resident Sharla Murphy said. "We are finding lots of things we've never seen before. We found a yellow magnolia. We've never even heard of the yellow magnolia."

While most of the people in attendance were enjoying the spring air and appreciating the flowers, some were working hard.

"We are here just to help granddad out," said brothers, Caleb and Christopher Thomas, ages 10 and 9. "We've sold a lot sometimes; mostly trees, some magnolias and other plants."

A tour of the gardens on the Milton Campus was also offered for those who felt like getting away from the crowds and for those who need a little help deciding what plants they would like to purchase.

"Every year we try and offer [a tour] but it seems like people are here more to buy plants. Most of the people that come here already know what they want. I'm hoping this year that we have more people go through the garden," said tour guide Dr. Mack Thetford, a faculty member from the University of Florida horticulture program that is located on the Milton Campus.

Whether those in attendance came for the flowers or were working, most had an enjoyable time.

But even more left with something greater than just the experience. They left with their red wagons full of flowers.