Soundtrack for slide show "Flower Showtime in Sonoma County"

This is the soundtrack for the slide presentation. Flower show time in Sonoma County. Sonoma County is justly famous for its wondrous flowers here in flower land at the annual Sonoma County Fair, staged in july, the huge building becomes a veritable showcase of the county's floral products.

1966 saw the big extravaganza themed to Burbank bonanza eloquently portraying the floral triumphs of the great plant wizard. And you all of course remember the internationally famed Shasta daisy Speaking of the Great Floral Wizard, here is a portrait as it was set up in the main

lobby of the vastly improved floral headquarters during 1966. On the outgoing side of the lobby, this official photo of Burbank and many of the greats of his day, including harvey Firestone and Henry Ford was placed for all visitors to see and tying in with the eloquent

presentation on behalf of Burbank, famed santa rosa sculptor Will Forney created an appealing statue of the indian, made for whom the city was named. The same gifted fingers of the master artist Will Forney produced a heroic sized statue of Burbank for the 66 show, water is

a trademark of this big Sonoma County fair and this is part of the lagoon area in the flower show in the center of the main hall with crashing waterfalls at the far end the bridge across the placid lagoon served as an ideal meeting place for garden

clubbers and other visitors. The green of Sonoma County gateway to the redwood empire is reflected in this exhibit. Even the Amateurs go all out to produce top flight color. These are tuberous begonias from a petaluma organization. The commercial floors of Sonoma County create exhibits which are

practical as well as beautiful. This, for example, is the way to use house plans. Another flora suggests that this is the way to use water. A famed sebastopol grower produces some of the finest holiest in the entire state, curiously the same flamboyant coleus were favorites in

Burbank's time and it is said that he improved the strain way back at the turn of this century. Right, We wonder if Burbank could have returned in 1966 to see the show honoring him? What would have been his thoughts as he gazed upon this vast, colorful

Panorama. For that matter, what would he have thought of chrysanthemums blooming in July thanks to modern plant magic. This old fashioned gazing globe catches the spirit of the gardens at the turn of the century, intermixed with the colorful mums of 1966 and still another exhibit, intensely

practical because of its low maintenance factors. Those are exciting bougainvillea is in the background if its ideas for a woodland setting, which catches your fancy. There's a veritable textbook awaiting you at the Sonoma County Fair. The entire production is laid out so that you, the visitor

can examine plants at close range. The blue plants are agape panthers lilies of the Nile. Also favorites in Burbank's time, Luther Burbank, as the world knows, was a connoisseur of cacti and succulents. This is an Echeverria from Mexico, where it is known as the donkey's tail

orchids displayed by both amateur and professional interests, are responsible for an exciting midsummer show. These are Milton AEA's, the so called pansy orchids, and these are the rare moth orchids or phalaenopsis. These come from the main a peninsula and the Philippines, they're often termed the aristocrats

of the orchid world. Hundreds of gallons of water cascade over the manmade cliffs here at santa rosa, set off with a cheery tones of chrysanthemums would see and feeling this tuberous begonia exhibit from a cotton grower makes a pleasant stop on the way over to the

big waterfall where it can be viewed more advantageously beautiful. The model is small, but the flowers are huge. That's the way tuberous begonias grow and some of the blooms are 8" across. This is the beautiful pure white begonia named Ladybird in 1965 in honor of the

wife of the president of the U. S. It had its coming out party at the Sonoma County Fair, Camellias come in many forms and colors, just about everything in the rainbow except those colors in the blues and lavenders at the height of the bloom season. Many

of these blooms average 8.5 inches across, sometimes even nine and 10. This is how the shade loving begonias, combined with lilies. Good companion plants for the members of this clan, but the visitor to the Sonoma County Fair is drawn back again and again to the natural

wonders of the big waterfalls. One located at each end of the building to provide drama and excitement. Yet the production also has its quiet nooks. A major feature is always that of the oriental garden, A great one. Again from a Cota tea grower. In designer note

once more, if you please, how many take home ideas are offered in these exhibits, the authentic oriental scheme of edging raised beds is illustrated here, a florist sets off the jungle qualities of a giant philodendron. In this carefully staged exhibit, another comes up with practical ideas

on house plants which thrive in homes all over northern California. A favorite house plant. Is this the Diefenbach Kia? It is also known as dumb cane because the milky accurate juice causes temporary loss of speech if applied to the mouth. No, the water areas are not

merely for looking either. They are educational. A sebas to pool grower wins prizes each year with outstanding aquatics. Water lilies have been known and grown and loved since the days of cleopatra on the Nile. This being a long stem type is a member of the tropical

group of water lilies, even the exterior of flower, land bulges over with flowers just to the right of the main entrance and growing right out there in full sun is an exhibit devoted to ornamental vegetables and herbs. More than 100,000 people visit this free show each

year and during 1966, 2 executives flew from Hawaii to look for ideas to be incorporated in a new show to be staged over there. In 1968, among the many visitors welcomed our top officials from sacramento and there is wonderful Ray Harrington who liked the Burbank theme

and the Shasta daisy tribute of 1966. The dramatic new addition to the building in 1966 allowed for great expansion efforts in the amateur division. The amateur gardeners at santa rosa, if the truth be known, are almost as good as the professionals. How about these few. She's

entered by a club from Sebastopol, another garden club when heavily to education, illustrating how plants should be used in surroundings similar to those of nature. This professional grower who utilized a narrow wall space in the amateur division utilized whimsy as part of her design in tribute

to the late plant wizard Topiary specimens are scarcely seen anymore. Here are some cleverly grouped with chrysanthemums. They were a last minute exhibit by the way installed in less than six hours. It was a heavy traffic spot and had to be kept open for trucks until

the last possible minute. A proud Sonoma county father and his young ones look over some of the exhibits installed by the junior gardeners. An entire section in the big show at Santa Rosa is devoted to flora cultural efforts entered by Children, 18 years and under look

closely there at the left that appears to be a wall made out of flowerpots. And it is. This installation by a local garden club captured high interest in 1966. Rank beginners are interested in the ancient art of bonsai too. These are some of the specimens entered

by local people. Anyone interested in flower arrangements could spend hours and hours just checking the many hundreds of entries in order to keep the floral arrangements interesting as well as fresh. They're changed about every three days. This calls for new classifications, new judging and of course

new judges artichoke bloom set off this arrangement. The Royal Purple gives its special distinction. Roses and Luther Burbank was very fond of them remember were big hits at last year's show. The individual gardens installed by the youngsters and plots like these were the brain work and

handed work from start to finish of the kids themselves. Here as one of the prime examples was a blue ribbon winner entered by a young fellow aged 15. He intends to make his life work that of architecture, scores of miniature gardens like the ones you just

saw are featured in this amateur division, presided over by mrs Milton fleischer. Here's another entry, beautifully proportioned and worked out to the finest detail ideas for table settings are there at the show each year, just free for the asking. Our pictorial journey is almost over. But

let's be sure to take a few final glimpses indoors of the main hall at flower land at the Sonoma County Fair in santa rosa. Yes, even the redwood stumps come to life with lush ferns growing out of their tops and chrysanthemums offered cheery tones of welcome

for the male gardeners as well as the lady gardeners interested in floral arrangements and the youngsters, there are literally hundreds of take home ideas and the beautiful flowers are labeled whether they are gay zinnias like this daisy or big tall redwoods, landscaping the waterfalls. It's just

about time to head down the garden path. But remember that the welcome mat hangs out for you always at santa rosa. The board of directors of the Sonoma County Fair cordially invite all of you to drop in and enjoy not only this spectacle of flowers but

thoroughbred racing, home economics, agricultural displays, art and all the other elements which make the county fair circuit in California so inviting and so educational fighting