Senior landscape designer Ken Muellers and his team are defying nature. They are working hard on making azaleas and hydrangeas along with marigolds and rhododendrons bloom during the winter inside a greenhouse at Hicks Nurseries in Westbury.

“It’s a very challenging thing to do,” Muellers says of his process of moving blooms in and out of heat to reach their peak on time for the 34th annual Flower and Garden Show. The show is a Long Island tradition at this 171-year-old family business that has been passed down through six generations.

At this year’s show, themed “Celebrations Around the World,” visitors can explore a variety of colorfully designed displays inspired by yearly celebrations in Brazil, China, Mexico, India and the United States.

“We have various gardens that represent different global cultures,” says Muellers. “Each garden will relate to the theme and be laid out in an aesthetically pleasing manner with a variety of different plants working together to create the look. Some will be in full bloom and others will bloom later in the show. If you come the first week it will be different from what you will see the last week.”

The show serves as a kickoff to spring. “The Flower and Garden Show acts like a bridge to the season,” says Eleni Roselli, Hicks’ director of marketing. “People can witness garden displays in full bloom. This gives them inspiration for their own garden.”

GARDENS AROUND THE WORLD

Visitors will be transported to different countries when exploring the various flower displays. The Day of the Dead Garden centers on the traditional holiday in Mexico where they connect with deceased ancestors.

“This garden has more of a southwestern plant palette with several marigolds, succulents and cactus,” says Muellers.

Don’t miss the German Oktoberfest Garden, which focuses on beer and features a fountain.

“We will not be serving beer but there will be a flower waterfall of several hundred yellow kalanchoe that will look like beer,” says Muellers. “Additionally, there will be a faux-beer hall tent with a Bavarian courtyard containing evergreen spruces, edelweiss and lamium.”

In the Chinese New Year Garden, expect to see plants from the southeast including different varieties of Japanese maples, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons and azaleas.

The focus of the Brazilian Carnival Garden is a Mardi Gras-like celebration in many different cities in Brazil.

“This garden has a very lush look with several tropical plants like anthuriums, ficuses, philodendrons, bromeliads and bird of paradise flowers,” says Muellers. “Many have big bold foliage with different textures to them. There are also some Australian tree ferns.”

Color is the theme of the Indian Holi Festival Garden, which showcases a spillway.

“There’s a lot of vibrancy with different annual and perennial flowers as well as trees and shrubs with color coming from marigolds, roses, dahlias, geraniums and hydrangeas,” says Muellers.

The Hawaiian Luau Garden is water-based with many tropical plants.

“There’s a waterfall into a pond surrounded by large palm trees, orchids and bromeliads, which are full of color,” says Muellers.

An American patriotic Fourth of July Garden recreates a summer backyard barbecue.

“This one has a lot of red, white and blue flowers such as hydrangeas, roses and impatiens,” says Muellers.

The Maypole Garden is inspired by the many European spring festivals.

“A lot of European countries over the centuries have hosted different spring festivals which revolve around a maypole,” says Muellers. “The flowers include tulips, daffodils and azaleas.”

SCAVENGER HUNT

Get active by engaging in the scavenger hunt, which changes every year.

“Activity sheets are available featuring a list of different items people can search for in the gardens,” says Roselli. “These items could range from a unique plant to a little statue to a hidden prop. Kids have fun running around looking for these various elements.”

RENOVATION, REVITALIZATION

This year the store underwent a major renovation, which was unveiled last September.

“There’s a whole new facade in the front that’s all glass, so you can look directly into the store. The floors, fixtures and navigational signing are all brand new as well,” says Roselli. “We relocated our cashier area to make it easier for people to navigate the store in order to provide a more user-friendly shopping experience.”

SPRING SAVINGS

In celebration of the show, Hicks is offering special sales to its customers throughout the store.

“We give people incentive to buy early for the season with lots of great deals they can take advantage of,” says Roselli. Preseason geraniums are 99 cents, regularly $1.50 and find half-price deals on flats of pansies, $19.99, regularly $40.

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday’s exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.

Source: newsday.com