Flower, Garden Show to Overtake El Paseo This Weekend

If you see a large dome-like structure this weekend in town, don't be afraid to head on in.

It's all part of a local garden festival, as Palm Desert plays host to the second annual International Desert Flower, Fragrance and Garden Show.

The event, scheduled to take place near The Shops on El Paseo, "celebrates the natural beauty of the area and pays tribute to The Living Desert," according to organizers.  And it all takes place inside a 60-foot futuristic-looking inflatable structure in the parking lot between Ocotillo and Monterey, just south of El Paseo.

During the free event on Saturday and Sunday, The Living Desert's botanical garden— the Palo Verde Garden Center— will host a plant sale, and event-goers can also enjoy floral and landscape displays, international fragrance debuts, fashion presentations, live music and green energy exhibits, event spokeswoman Heather McCallum said.

"The centerpiece of the weekend festivities will be the plant sale...," McCallum said.  "The center evolved as The Living Desert members started requesting the rare and hard to find native desert plants seen in their botanical gardens. Today, the Palo Verde Garden Center remains unique among California nurseries. During the season, visitors will find the most complete collection of Southwest native and desert adapted plants in the region. Many of the plants sold here may not be found anywhere else."

And for those who'd like to give their noses something else to smile about— there will be a section at the event where attendees can smell some of the latest perfume scents from international fragrance companies, according to McCallum.

"Ramón Monegal comes from a long and distinguished line of the most important perfumers in Barcelona and Spain," McCallum said of one of those scheduled to attend.  "He represents the fourth generation of the founders of the house of Myrurgia, which was the official purveyor of the Spanish Royal Family, and the most important international perfumer in Spain."

In addition to flowers, plants and perfumes, there will be several green-themed products on display, like solar options and alternative vehicles.

One of those vehicles that will be available to test drive is the Rhoadescar— a four-wheel bike that drives like a car, made by Leisure Wheels Quadracycles of Palm Springs.

For more information about the event, click here.