What does a professional of the garden world look for attending one of the several flower shows that crowd Europe in the first months of spring? Rare plants? Exciting hybrids? Refined preparations? Inspiring atmospheres? Commercial contacts? Gossips? Old friendships?
“Orticola” proudly opened its gates for the fifteenth year in a corner of the “Giardini di Via Palestro” in Milan, in the first days of May. Spring flowers make me happy and this market flower show abounds with compact carpets of unpretentious flowers that bloom together in splashes of colours, perfumed and tempting. It was a pleasure to greet them again whispering their names while I followed the gravelly path. Phlox, veronica, heuchera, dianthus, potentilla, hosta, helleborus, gaura, digitalis, campanula... Lunchtime was quiet and pleasant with a tender spring sun after days of wintry rains. Among the stalls placed around the edges of the lawn, under large and white sunshades or the old trees, shrubs of different sizes were on display. Viburnum, acers, camellia, hydragea, fruits trees, cistus… Anonymous thorny branches and bright green leaves camouflaged hidden treasures. Just the careful reading of the label and some specific questions to the owner, who tasted a sandwich sit nearby, disclosed interesting hybrids of berberis that cascade of berries will transform in autumn. Sudden grouping of people marked the presence of pelargonium and roses; reliable plants for the summer season for sunny terraces and gardens of all size and money, for lazy and fussy gardeners. Collections of perfumed geraniums, of salvia, rosemary and lavender, of unusual bulbs and iris tickled the most experienced gardeners. Cactus impressed with their shapes, orchids attracted fanatics and water lilies in small basins enthusiatic children. Furthermore, for those who do not want to waste their time with useless flowers, there was a wide range of vegetables and herbs.
“Orticola” proudly opened its gates for the fifteenth year in a corner of the “Giardini di Via Palestro” in Milan, in the first days of May. Spring flowers make me happy and this market flower show abounds with compact carpets of unpretentious flowers that bloom together in splashes of colours, perfumed and tempting. It was a pleasure to greet them again whispering their names while I followed the gravelly path. Phlox, veronica, heuchera, dianthus, potentilla, hosta, helleborus, gaura, digitalis, campanula... Lunchtime was quiet and pleasant with a tender spring sun after days of wintry rains. Among the stalls placed around the edges of the lawn, under large and white sunshades or the old trees, shrubs of different sizes were on display. Viburnum, acers, camellia, hydragea, fruits trees, cistus… Anonymous thorny branches and bright green leaves camouflaged hidden treasures. Just the careful reading of the label and some specific questions to the owner, who tasted a sandwich sit nearby, disclosed interesting hybrids of berberis that cascade of berries will transform in autumn. Sudden grouping of people marked the presence of pelargonium and roses; reliable plants for the summer season for sunny terraces and gardens of all size and money, for lazy and fussy gardeners. Collections of perfumed geraniums, of salvia, rosemary and lavender, of unusual bulbs and iris tickled the most experienced gardeners. Cactus impressed with their shapes, orchids attracted fanatics and water lilies in small basins enthusiatic children. Furthermore, for those who do not want to waste their time with useless flowers, there was a wide range of vegetables and herbs. 
In the garden, you also need chairs to relax, hats against the sun, vases to test hazardous mixtures, tablecloths and candles for romantic dinners and many other objects useful and useless. The traditional handcraft of wicker baskets used to gather apricots and zucchini had developed tiny forms for miniature gardens and impressive hampers for mature trees. According to the booklet, activities to awaken the attention of young generations for the green world were due in the afternoon and in the following day. Eco-friendly mothers will take home children with dirty hands and coloured pots full of seeds that will be forgotten soon. Adults could learn about flower arrangements or join a botanical treasure hunt. 
I took pictures, asked questions, gathered a lot of papers and wandered around enjoying the sun, the flowers and the people. The next appointment is for "Orticolario", in Villa Erba, Cernobbio, Como Lake, a sumptuous location for the autumn edition from 1st to 3rd October. I left in the early afternoon, when queues at the gates were increasing and the sun was hotter, asking myself what can interest someone who works with flowers. Someone who visits hundreds of flower shows, who buys dozens of plants and not one or two, who knows the history of each green stem. Someone, who perhaps was leaving Milan for another flower show hiding boredom and impatience or dreaming a bouquet of fresh peonies?
Flower Show visited:
Orticola Giardini Pubblici Via Palestro Milano May 7th, May 9th 2010.
