Flower Fest Will Brighten Dark Days

If you’re dying for spring, the Festival of Flowers may just tide you over until the tulips bloom.

This event, which benefits St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, will be at the Davenport Hotel this year. Organizers plan to fill the lobby and mezzanine with roses, lilies and freesia. They’ll serve salmon mousse sandwiches, currant scones, strawberry tarts and plenty of hot tea.

It may well be the next best thing to taking tea at the Empress Hotel. The festival’s a bit cheaper than a trip to Victoria, however. Tickets for adults are $25.

There will be a “Family Traditions” tea at 11:30 a.m., with a special menu for children and a fashion show of kids’ spring party clothes from the Bon Marche. Children’s tickets are $12.

A traditional formal three-course English tea will be served at 2:30 p.m.

During the day, floral designers from around the region will compete in a design contest on the mezzanine. Their displays may be viewed from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and tickets solely to view the floral displays cost $5.

The festival also includes a gift shop, which will sell garden sculptures, tea pots and other items, and a European Flower Market, which will sell fresh flowers.

This is the fifth year for the annual festival, and artist MariAnne Figgins has again designed a poster for the festival. It will sell for $25.

Organizers hope to raise $20,000 for St. Luke’s pediatric outpatient services. For tickets, call 838-7254.