dispel boredom | Help! Aging Parents

Philadelphia Flower Show ~2013 Spring blooms inside (Click to enlarge)

Lifting Elders’ Spirits, Lessening Winter Woes

Entertaining elders and aging parents in winter can be problematical. Too many storms and chilling temperatures lead to winter doldrums, especially in parts of the US this year.

Understandably many older people hesitate to go out, except for necessities. Cabin fever. Grumpy dispositions. Inertia.

The antidote: Think spring and take elders to a flower show. Leave the cold and the reality of leafless trees and non-blooming plants and enter the sunshiny atmosphere and beauty of spring.

Flower shows abound in February and continue for months. Chances are there’s one that’s not far away. No matter the size of the show, it’s uplifting to experience spring in winter.

Mature tree~in forest exhibit PFS 2014 Click to enlarge

Major shows, like the Philadelphia Flower Show, import mature trees, thousands of flowering plants, and tons of dirt to create gardens of our dreams and beyond.

There may be entertainment. There are always exhibits, usually tempting plants and gardening accessories for sale, lectures, and something to eat.

Many shows are handicap accessible and have wheel chairs (some noted below). It makes sense to plan ahead for the major shows*. Money-saving packages for hotels, transit etc. often exist.

Feb. 19-22: Connecticut Garden and Flower Show Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford.

Feb. 19-22: Rhode Island Flower & Garden Show “Garden Adventure,” Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence. Handicap accessible; wheelchairs available.

Feb. 20-22: Arkansas Flower & Garden Show” Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock

Feb. 20-22 and Feb 27-March 1: Southern Spring Home & Garden Show “Carolina Calling,”The Park Expo and Conference Center, Charlotte, NC.

Feb. 21-Feb. 22: 19th Annual Garden and Bonsai Festival Davie, Fla.

Feb. 27-March 1: Vermont Flower Show “Spring Reflections, Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, VT. Check out “History and Fun Facts.”

*Feb. 28-March 8: Philadelphia Flower Show “Lights, Camera, Bloom” is among the largest and most prestigious flowers show in the world. So timely for those experiencing the winter that parts of the US has endured. Handicap accessible; wheel chairs available. March 11-15:

March 11-15: Boston Flower & Garden Show “Season of Enchantment.” 100 years old, show will be held at the Seaport World Trade Center. Limited number of wheel chairs available “on loan.”

March 14-22: Chicago Flower & Garden Show at Navy Pier. Wheelchairs available at no charge, first-come, first-serve.

March 18-25: San Francisco Flower & Garden Show “Mother Nature Going Wild,” San Mateo Event Center, San Mateo (I love the design, photos and color that come with scrolling down this link to the show.)

April 15-19: Cincinnati Flower Show “Celebrate Cincinnati,” in downtown Cincinnati along the banks of the Ohio River at Yeatman’s Cove.

According to Web MD, 1 in 4 people experience winter woes which normally end in April. A flower show may be just what the doctor ordered to lift their spirits.