Detroit — April Sawdey was part of the throng that filed in and out of Eastern Market on Sunday, “like ants,” the 55-year-old Monroe resident said.
With the temperature in the 80s, Sawdey and her fellow floraphiles filled their wagons and satchels with begonias, roses, impatiens, herbs, peppers and other botanicals during Sunday’s annual Flower Day at Eastern Market.
“My sister talked me into coming,” said Sawdey. “This is my first time here. I’d never even heard of this — but I’ll definitely be coming again.”
Sawdey’s sister, Rhonda Thomas, 54, of Monroe said her husband told her about the event 20 years ago.
“You can get great deals here, but mostly I come to support the local (growers),” Thomas said. “It’s beautiful today, but even if it was raining, I’d come.”
Flower Day, sponsored by the the Metro Detroit Flower Growers Association, features vendors from throughout the Midwest. In addition to the 150 flower vendors, live music, food and other activities were offered.
Stephanie Hall said she probably spends more money in gasoline driving to and from her home in Saginaw than she saves during her annual visits to the Flower Show, but the 69-year-old said it’s worth the drive.
“They’re got so much to choose from — too much,” she said. “I’m trying to come down here as much as I can; I wasn’t able to walk for three years because of my hip, so I’m really enjoying this.”
Kathy Shaal of Warren said she started coming to the Flower Show 20 years ago, and recently started a new tradition with her daughter-in-law by going to the event together. Shaal scored a wagonful of begonias, columbines and Rudbeckia hirta — black-eyed Susan — while her daughter-in-law Amanda Johnson loaded up on vegetables and herbs, including peppers, basil and lavender.
“I like the variety they have here,” Shaal said. “You can find whatever you need.”
Johnson, 41, said she’s attracted by the lower prices at the Flower Show.
“They’re charging $15 for three boxes of flowers,” she said. “If you went to Home Depot, it would be $25 for just one.”
Sawdey said she enjoyed the crowd Sunday, although she added dealing with the shoulder-to-shoulder swarm could be challenging.
“It’s so busy; like ants,” she said. “You’ve got to have lots of patience.”
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Flowers in full bloom for their day at Detroit’s Eastern Market
Reporting by George Hunter, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
