The Southeastern Flower Show Emerges
As One of the Top Three Shows in the Country

(Atlanta, GA) - A Southern tradition, the Southeastern Flower Show (SEFS) blooms annually to the delight of gardening enthusiasts and lovers of beauty throughout the region. Ranked among the top three flower shows in the country, SEFS presents a major horticultural, gardening and educational exhibition. With its roots firmly planted in the soil and the soul of the South, the show continues to grow in size, scope and attendance. This year's show is scheduled for February 5-9, 2003 at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta.

From the early days of Atlanta's history, Southerners nurtured a traditional interest in flower gardens and created beautiful arrangements to decorate their homes. Garden clubs were formed as an opportunity to socialize and exchange knowledge of floriculture and design. In the 1930's, 14 garden clubs came together to produce the first Atlanta Flower Show, a small but popular event of high quality that enjoyed a loyal following throughout the city for many years. The final show of its type was staged in the old Lenox Square Auditorium in April, 1969.

Nearly 20 years later, in 1987, officials of the Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG), along with officials at the Atlanta Market Center (AMC), joined together to revive and reinvent the Atlanta Flower Show. By adding landscaped gardens and other features of the modern day Flower Show, they sought to create a top-notch, citywide event. The show seemed a perfect match for the ABG, which was seeking additional funds and exposure, and the AMC, which was searching for a high quality, high profile event. The show's vision and definition came from the late Ann Crammond, the ABG Executive Director at the time, and a loyal group of gardening and floral design enthusiasts headed by Mrs. Carl R. Hartrampf, Jr., who chaired the show at AMC for the first two years.

After six years, the show's potential outgrew the Atlanta Market Center and demanded a move. Following the 1993 Atlanta Flower Show, a group of six show chairpersons banded together to form a nonprofit organization and give the show an independent status. They renamed it the Southeastern Flower Show and moved to the Ponce Square exhibition space in Midtown. One year later, the organizers moved the show to larger quarters across the street in City Hall East (the historic Sears building), where it remained through February, 1999.

Highly successful in attracting both exhibitors and visitors, the 1999 show outgrew its venue and once again required a transplant. The Southeastern Flower Show Board of Trustees decided to relocate the show to provide a more suitable space for their growing needs.

In February 2000, the Southeastern Flower Show opened its doors at the Atlanta Exposition Center, boasting over four acres of exhibition space and 40 acres of on-site parking to better accommodate the show's attendees. The show featured more than 2,000 competitive entries, attracting approximately 220 judges from across the United States. Nationally recognized speakers headlined the daily array of seminars and hands-on demonstrations available during the five day event. The move proved to be a stunning success as a record-breaking 40,000 visitors attended the 2000 show, resulting in the largest ever gift by the show to the Atlanta Botanical Garden: $186,744.

After two years at the Atlanta Exhibition Center, show organizers identified another location that would provide more exhibition space, additional parking and access to public transportation and nearby lodging for out-of-town visitors, a constant need for the South's most popular show. The 2003 show will return to its roots at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta.

The Southeastern Flower Show is the largest event of its kind in the Southeast. The show features 30 landscape and educational gardens, 1,500 judged entries, speakers, demonstrations, workshops, a 200-booth marketplace, tearoom, food court and a bookstore filled with the latest in gardening literature. The show enlists more than 2,000 volunteers. The Southeastern Flower Show has donated over $1.3 million to the Atlanta Botanical Garden over the past 15 years. The show will be held February 5 - 9, 2003 at the Georgia World Congress Center. The Presenting Sponsor of the 2003 Show is Pike Family Nurseries. Tickets are available on-line and by calling the show's ticket hotline at 404.888.5511. For more information visit www.flowershow.org or call the show office at 404.888.5638.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Amanda Bezner
Edelman, 404-262-3000
Amanda.bezner@edelman.com