Flowermart 2008 | May 2 & 3

Hello to all visitors to this year’s Flowermart, our 91st!  We have great things planned for your enjoyment.  Our flower vendors will surely bring a smile to your face as you enjoy the bouquets of smells and sights of bedding plants, hanging baskets and gardening implements for sale around the Monument.  Be sure to stop by the extensive Parks and People exhibit of urban garden just to the south of the Monument.  Or drop by Shelly’s Blossoms next to Stage A and pick up a delightful arrangement of colorful flowers. 

Our arts and crafts vendors abound with unique items of art glass, beaded and metal jewelry, handmade clothes, pottery, purses, greeting cards, exceptional flower pot holders and more.  Artists will display their photographs and paintings for sale. 

The opening ceremony will start at noon on Friday.  The Mayor will arrive at Stage A across from the Monument, booth decorating winners will be announced as well as the name of the Honorary Postmaster.  More surprises will follow.  The popular Waxter Center Hi-Steppers will follow at 1 PM, then register for the always popular and colorful Flowermart Hat and Cap Contest beginning at 1:30.  The judging will start at 2 PM on Stage A.  A new twist to this traditional contest is the Crazy Caps category.  Take note that this year’s Flowermart colors are fuchsia and black and its theme: ‘Rainbows and flowers and bright-colored pipkins’.

Stick around for more entertainment on both stages.  The Friday evening concerts on Stage B are Eric Scott and 6 PM and Ruut at 7 PM. 

On Saturday, the entertainment is in full swing all day on both stages.  THREE contests will conducted today.  The Pet Parade will start at 11:30 around the Monument followed by the Pet Mascot Contest.  New this year is the Red Hat Contest on Stage B at 12 noon.  Red Hat Clubs around the area will compete in several categories showing off their red hat creations.  Following that, Russ Margo’s Flowermart Superstar Contest will swing into action at 1 PM on Stage B.  If you have a talent (singing, dancing, juggling, whistling or other), bring your cheering section and compete for fun and prizes.  The closing concerts at 6 PM and 7 PM ar e by Stupid Hero and Smooth Kentucky on Stage B.  See the Entertainment tab for a complete schedule of activities.

It was Flowermart’s 90th year of operation and Mother Nature again roared her approval! She gave Baltimore 73 degrees and sunny on Friday, May 4 and 74 degrees on Saturday, May 5. The final day started out sunny, but she objected to the ending of the Mart by becoming cloudy, chilly and windy in the afternoon.

At the Breakfast of Flowers, held on Friday morning in the Sculpture Court at the Walters Art Museum, a beautiful program of song, announcements and a tribute to William Donald Schaefer’s fifty years of public service took place.
(photo by John Valentini, Jr.)

It was announced there that Steve Curtis is resigning as President of Flower Mart at Mt. Vernon, Ltd. and a co-Presidency being established. Honorable William Donald Schaefer and Bruce Dunham will be co-Presidents. The office of Chairman of the Board will be retired along with Fred Bierer. Carol Purcell will continue as Vice-President as well as the Director of Flowermart. The Hilda Mae Snoops Art Contest winners were announced.
(photo by John Valentini, Jr.)

After receiving instructions, the Booth-Decorating judges then spread out to all four parks of beautiful Mt. Vernon to evaluate the bedecked spaces of those vendors who decided to participate in this colorful contest.

After the horse-drawn carriage delivered several of the dignitaries to the stage, the opening ceremony started. Photo to use here: carriage trans via email The Fire Department’s color guard marched to the stage and presented the flags. Photo to use here: firedeptcolorguard trans via email Alan Walden was the emcee and Regina Shaw interpreted for the hearing-impaired. Steve Curtis began by thanking the Department of Recreation and Parks, specifically Chief Connie Brown, for their outstanding contributions to Flower Mart. Carol Purcell thanked the volunteers for all their hard work in making this year’s Mart happen. She noted that Flower Mart at Mt. Vernon, Ltd. started in 2000 and now has 64 volunteers.

Jeannie Walden sang a spirited rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” a capella. Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon took the microphone and remarked that she skipped out of school for “a brief moment” as a youth to attend Flowermart. She issued a proclamation designating May 4 and 5 as Flowermart day in Baltimore with the help of former Mayor Kurt Schmoke. She also bestowed on Carol and Steve certificates of recognition.
(photo by John Valentini, Jr.) of former Mayor Kurt Schmoke and current Mayor Sheila Dixont.

Kurt Schmoke then reminisced a bit, saying that the Mart moved to the plaza in front of City Hall for a few years, but it really belongs in Mt. Vernon. He also joked that the Mart was where he decided that he will never wear a top hat again.

Representing Martin O’Malley was Tony White, who brought a proclamation from the Governor of Maryland recognizing May 4 and 5, 2007 as Flowermart day in the state of Maryland.

Steve Curtis announced that TWO Freddy awards would be given this year. The Freddy is named for Fred Bierer, the first President of Flower Mart at Mt. Vernon, Ltd., and is awarded to the Flower Mart volunteer who best embodies the spirit of Flowermart.
(photo by John Valentini, Jr.)

The Volunteers of the Year are Sydney Hopkins, Artistic Director of the Mart, and to Jo Suman, who has given much time and effort for several years.

Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake brought a Proclamation honoring Flowermart, and Vice President Robert Curran and Councilwoman Helen Holton, on behalf of the City Council of Baltimore, offered sincere congratulations to Flowermart for 90 years of making Baltimore beautiful. Councilpersons Keiffer Mitchell, Jack Young, and Sharon Green Middleton seconded the sentiment.
L. to R. Councilman Keiffer Mitchell, City Council President Stephanie Rawlings Blake, City Council Vice-President Robert Curran, Councilwoman Sharon Green Middleton and Councilwoman Helen Holton. (photo by John Valentini, Jr.)

After the Booth decorating awards were announced, Acting U.S. Postmaster William Ridenour bestowed the title of Honorary Flowermart Postmaster for the temporary station to Mayor Sheila Dixon. Accepting on behalf of the Mayor was Connie Brown.

The Postmaster also announced that a pictorial postmark commemorating the event was available at the temporary station located right in Flowermart.

Pat O’Brennan and the Ridgely Middle School Honors Chorus sang the official Flowermart ballad, “It’s Spring in Baltimore”. Some of the crowd joined in, singing the chorus.

City Council Vice President Bob Curran then officially opened the Mart by releasing a flock of white doves from beside the stage, which flew across the front of the stage and circled the Monument three times.

Then the Mart swung into full action mode. Line dancers and Russ Margo’s keyboard stylings induced crowd members to do some fancy steppin’ themselves.

Bands played, singers sang and hungry festival goers gorged on pit beef, crab cakes and melts, Greek salads and wine. On Saturday, children decorated pots and planted flowers in them and got their faces painted as well.

The Parks & People Foundation mounted a fantastic exhibition both days. Called “Urban Forest”, most of the plaza south of the Monument was converted to displays of an urban stream valley, an urban park, and a community garden complete with rain barrels. All trees and plants used in the demonstration were transported to various venues and planted after Flowermart.