George L. Luthy Memorial Botanical Garden - Flower Shows

Flower Shows

The Garden holds three major flower shows each year—highlighting the Lily, Chrysanthemum and Poinsettia—with two ancillary shows, the Garish Garden Show in February and the Orchid Show on Mother’s Day. For the annual Lily Show, two types of lilies are grown from bulbs at the Garden, mostly the traditional pristine white, but as many as 12 types and colors of Mums are grown for the Chrysanthemum Show. In addition, 10 types of Mums are grown for the outside Garden and Peoria Park District facilities. For the Poinsettia Show and holiday Candlelight Walks, the Garden grows 10 to 12 types of Poinsettias, with colors ranging from red, pink, orange, salmon, variegated, white and more. To assure that all these plants are at the peak of blooming at the time of the flower shows, careful light regulation is planned weeks in advance by the horticulturist responsible for that particular crop. When the tropical plants in the Conservatory are combined with hundreds of elegant white lilies, mums in vibrant fall hues, or the combination of colorful poinsettias and uniquely decorated trees, it is always a sight to behold. Each show has its own magical quality.