For the past several years, the Festival has included an exhibit called "Art in Bloom" under the direction of Horticultural Director David Hamada in which floral designers interpret a work of art with a floral arrangement. The floral design is intended to enhance or interpret the work of art but not to copy it. The work of art and the floral design are then exhibited together. This exhibit is displayed in several key locations usually between the Great Hall and the Visitors' Center.

The art show will be displayed in the Great Hall during the day on Sunday with many of the artists also displaying at the Opening Reception on Saturday evening. At this well-attended reception, guests are treated to complimentary hors d'oeuvres, live music, an open bar, and wine served in the Museum Store at the Bodine Visitors' Center. For more information, call 692-2874.

Here's a rundown of the three floral societies showing at the Festival:

St. Croix Chapter of the American Hibiscus Society:

This group was chartered in 1980 as a non-profit organization and encourages and promotes the propagation and growth of hibiscus through educational workshops conducted at its monthly meetings. These workshops cover topics like grafting, air-layering, fertilizing, pest control, repotting, flower arranging, hybridizing, and showing and transporting blooms to name a few.

Meetings are held at 2:30pm at Country Day School on the third Saturday of each month from September through June. At our annual chapter show in January, and this annual show at the Botanical Garden, blooms are presented and judged and the best blooms in a variety of categories are displayed for all to see. Visitors can obtain information from experienced growers on ways to get large, beautiful, and healthy hibiscus.

Plants are also offered for sale along with hibiscus books and catalogs.

In February, visit our booth at the Ag Fair and in March come see our "Best of Show" winners at the Botanical Garden Show. For more information, call Jean Burns at 718-0895.

The St. Croix Orchid Society:

The objectives of the Society are to accumulate and disseminate knowledge on the growing of orchids, to exhibit orchids to the public in order to stimulate interest in this hobby, and to preserve our native orchids.

During the year the Society meets on the last Sunday of each month at the UVI Cooperative Extention Building Room 133 at 2:00pm. Those who grow orchids and those who wold like to learn about growing orchids are welcome. Meetings are educational and afford an opportunity to showcase blooms.

The Society will hots its 38th Annual Show, "Shades of Nature," on February 20-22, 2009 at the American Legion Hall, Hospital Street, Christiansted. Doors open at 3:00pm on Friday and close at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Visitors will not only be able to enjoy beautiful displays of Crucian native species, but will have the opportunity to purchase an orchid plant to take home. This year's show is dedicated to long-time member, Mrs. Monique Thelemaque.

For more information, call Michelle Thurland-Martinez, President, at 340-690-1330

The Bonsai Society:

The St. Croix Bonsai Society, founded over 13 years ago by Crucian botanist Rudy O'Reily, is a non-profit horticultural club committed to teaching the ancient art form of Bonsai, or miniature tree training.

The group meets the second Sunday of each month to learn the art and techniques of Bonsai.

Throughout the year there are workshops, field trips, and this annual Bonsai exhibition at the Botanical Garden. The club is open to the public and begins each year in January with an overview of the art form and techniques.

For more information, call Joyce Francis, 778-9087 or Rudy O'Reily, 692-9662.