Sara Stillman, a 2006 Coronado High School graduate, says she’s always had much love and appreciation for the community.
She became an elementary school teacher in Coronado and got involved in the Coronado Junior Woman’s Club, where she served as president from 2016-2018.
What Stillman didn’t know at the time was that being president led her to being a board member for the Coronado Floral Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching lives through education in and showcasing flowers, plants and gardens.
In 2018, Stillman decided to continue her work with the Coronado Floral Association and became chair of the 1922 Club, named after the inaugural year of the Coronado Flower Show.
She said this served as a great way to stay involved and bring a new generation into the Flower Show, which has its 101st show on Saturday and Sunday, at Spreckels Park, 601 Orange Ave.
“Largest tented flower show”
The two-day event, dubbed the “largest tented flower show in the U.S.,” includes landscape displays, a variety of floral competitions, educational lectures, live band entertainment, food, beer and wine with locally crafted beverages from the Coronado Brewing Company, according to the organization’s website. Tickets are $10-$20.
This year’s program is called “Hollywood in Bloom,” and Stillman in 2022 took on a big role as president to keep the show running after the COVID-19 pandemic. (The only time the Coronado Flower show has not had an event each April was in World War II and the pandemic.)
Hundreds of volunteers
The show comes down to all the amazing volunteers, Stillman said.
“We have over 300 volunteers that make this show happen…When one show ends the next show planning begins.”
-Coronado Flower Show organizer Sara Stillman.
“We have over 300 volunteers that make this show happen,” she said. “When one show ends the next show planning begins.”
The show is broken down into five different divisions, and anyone who is interested in participating can join, she said.
The divisions are horticulture, design, special exhibits, youth, and botanical arts.
“There is something for everyone and I mean that sincerely,” said Stillman.
“Even if you don’t know anything about flowers, it is amazing to walk through a sea of flowers.”
“It is amazing to walk through a sea of flowers.”
-Organizer Sara Stillman
Judging by National Garden Clubs
The Coronado Flower Show is judged by the standards of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., which provides attendees an opportunity to increase their knowledge of the environment and expand their interest in gardening.
Doors open at 1:00 p.m. and the Flower Show runs until 5 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, the show runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Along with the two-day show, there is a 21 and older event of dining and dancing called “Lights, Camera, Flowers.” It runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday at Spreckels Park. Tickets start at $100. It is co-chaired by Sam Bey and Colby Freer, who founded the event in 2014.
