The Coronado Flower Association(CFA) celebrated its 100-year anniversary featuring a myriad of home-grown floral fixtures that attracted thousands of curious spectators throughout San Diego County to Speckles Park on Orange Avenue.
The Coronado Flower Show started in 1922 when the world was coming out of a pandemic, and the community was divided over traffic and zoning issues, according to CFA president Diana E Drummey. This year's flower show comes after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I would like to say we have come a long way, but it looks like life does repeat itself. The marvelous aspect of repeating this year is that the flower show has continued through all the ups and downs to survive 100 years,” Drummey said.
Hundreds of landscape displays, horticulture, and design exhibit were featured. A floral competition took place at the volunteer-driven event that hosted many new designers throughout the county, according to Drummey.
A 1931 Auburn Convertable coupe surrounded by floral designs greeted anthophiles, or people who love flowers, at the entrance. Historical Photos were on display throughout the park.
Bandstand entertainment, a photography competition, food, a beer & wine garden, tool sharpening, and shopping opportunities from several local artists and small businesses were featured at the flower show.
Children were offered a plant-based art section, featuring handmade art from students throughout Coronado. The Bridge and Bay Garden Club also offered small bouquets of flowers to children like 10-year-old Erica Calisch, a girl scout participating at the event.
“It’s really pretty and I love smelling flowers,” Caslisch said. “I’ll probably make more with the girl scouts.”
Often touted as the “largest tented Flower Show in the U.S., “the Coronado Flower Show’s roots started out small with community members showing up with plants, and individuals bringing their own tents.
According to Sara Stillman, next year’s co-chair of the festival, the Coronado shower show is an opportunity to find community again.
“One of the hardest things during the pandemic was not being able to come together socially and connect with one another,” Stillman said. “The beauty of flowers is that they are beautiful. We love looking at them and growing them. Bringing them to a show like this gives an avenue to share and celebrate spring together.”
During the pandemic, many new habits and hobbies were discovered by homebodies. One obsession that social distancing inspired was a newfound love for plants and gardening. According to a recent study, 88 percent of respondents who began a plant-keeping hobby during the pandemic said it had a positive impact on their mental heal.
“The pandemic definitely brought out a resurgence of people taking a much higher interest in gardening at home and succulents and getting their space at home much more comfortable,” Stallman said. “We're so excited because we have a lot of entries from over the bridge. There are people from all over. We really want to bring people to have more inclusivity and not just in Coronado, but beyond the bridge."
