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Flower And Garden Show, Lyman Winterfest And More

Hartford Courant Java columnist MaryEllen Fillo talks about what’s going on in greater Hartford this weekend including the 33rd annual Connecticut Flower ...

Hartford Courant Java columnist MaryEllen Fillo talks about what’s going on in greater Hartford this weekend including the 33rd annual Connecticut Flower and Garden Show, Lyman Orchard’s WinterFest and more.

See below for additional information or visit courant.com/java to read more from Fillo’s blog.

Had enough snow? There is hope.

Three acres, yes three acres of spring and summer are a short drive away as the Connecticut Convention Center welcomes the  “33rd annual Connecticut Flower and Garden Show.”

The show, which opens Thursday and continues through Sunday, features 20 gardens created by professional landscape designers and nonprofit organizations.

This year’s  theme is “Backyard Paradise.”

There will also be the  Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut’s 2014 Advanced Standard Flower Show with its judged entries and hundreds of displays and activities and aisles of fresh flowers, plants, garden ornaments, gardening books, patio furniture, ornaments and more for purchase. Among the guest speakers will be Baroness Maureen Haseley-Jones, also known as “The English Lady.”

Planning your own springtime plantings? People can bring a 1/2 cup of soil to the UConn Co-op booth at the show for free soil testing.

Information: ctflowershow.com

Also on Thursday, it’s Creative Cocktail Hour night at Real Art Ways on Arbor Street in Hartford. Music, art, dancing and the chance to unwind are all part of the popular event.

Information: realartways.org

Get your book and author fix  on Friday and Saturday.

Mohegan Sun will be the place where more than 70 bestselling and award-winning authors will converge Friday and Saturday for ”The Big Book Getaway, ” presented by The Mark Twain House and Museum. Featured speakers include Hallmark Channel’s Debbie Macomber; author and media personality Dr. Ruth Westheimer; political humorist P.J. O’Rourke; former CNN news journalist Kitty Pilgrim; plus Sarah Addison Allen, Pete Hamill, Charlotte Rogan, Eloisa James, Jane Green, Susan Conley and several others. Many different genres including memoir, history, military, travel, health, mystery, romance, theatre, fiction and non-fiction will be represented. Guests will have an opportunity to hear authors on the main stage and in concurrent break-out sessions.

Ticket information: mohegansun.com

Oh the snow, snow, snow and the cabin fever, cabin fever, cabin fever.

Deal better with both by heading over to Lyman Orchards in Middlefield .

On Saturday and Sunday  the place will hold its 42nd annual Winterfest, an outdoor extravaganza featuring snow tubing, ice carving, sleigh rides, husky sled dog rides, food samplings, and the making of sugar-on-snow with Ct maple syrup.

The Winterfest is open both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Information: lymanorchards.com

Nothing like a parade to get the spirits up. Even if it is still a few weeks away.

On Sunday beginning at 1 p.m., head over to the Irish American Home Society in Glastonbury where the 2014 grand marshal and person of the year for this year’s Greater Hartford St. Patrick’s Day parade will honored.

Beverly Concannon will be this year’s parade marshal and Dr. Pauline Olsen is Person of the Year in the annual parade that this year is held on March 15 beginning at 11 a.m.

Sunday’s reception includes a buffet.  Tickets are $25.

Information: irishamericanparade.com

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