By Amaia Colón

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There’s nothing like the sights and smells of fresh flowers on a cold March day to get you excited for the happiness that accompanies spring and summer. Even a small sprout can remind you that there are brighter days ahead and can lift your spirits. In fact, studies show that people actually feel happier when they are around flowers. Seeing the bright and colorful plants can trigger the brain’s serotonin and dopamine, leading to joy! 

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West Hartford’s very own Elizabeth Park just hosted an event that inspires much happiness in the community- named the Spring Greenhouse Show. Elizabeth Park is one of- if not the- most famous park in West Hartford, known for its rose gardens, ducks, and gorgeous greenery. The flowers residing in the park are something many in our community look forward to every year, and the Spring Greenhouse Show gives us a little taste of spring. Every year, the park hosts this show to display its annual flowers and celebrate the beginning of spring, which is then followed by a plant sale, where those interested can go and buy the plants they viewed during the Greenhouse Show. This has been a tradition for around 120 years, the earliest show occurring in 1902, shortly after the park opened to the public in 1898.

 

The park’s 2026 Spring Greenhouse Show just recently occurred, starting on March 13th and ending on March 20th. The 2026 plant sale occurred Saturday, March 21st. 

The annual show is located in the greenhouse closest to the rose garden and has various types of flowers and plants to observe! These flowers include their most famous: tulips, as well as daffodils, freesia, hyacinths, geraniums, daylilies, and other perennial flowers. Some houseplants you could find there are rosemary, lamb ear, succulents, cacti, aloe, and hanging baskets. The greenhouse is full of wonderful scents and has a lovely ambience of peace and serenity. 

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I myself got a chance to visit, and it was truly stunning to observe the beauty surrounding me. In fact, I noticed the amount of people in the greenhouse reflected the community’s appreciation for the show and it brought me joy to witness the wholesome and welcoming nature of the people walking around. For the most part, the people I saw there were older residents with friends or family, and on more than one occasion, I overheard them enthusiastically discussing their favorite plants and their plans for their gardens. Overall, it’s clear that the event brought the community together and infused delight within the people of West Hartford. 

The Greenhouse Show is open to the public and is a wonderful opportunity to visit with friends and family to mark the beginning of the spring season. I highly recommend making it a point to go next year if you’d like to experience some of the joy the Spring Greenhouse Show brings to its visitors.