The preview party of the Portland Flower Show Wednesday night was a celebration, but now we have the meat of the show.

The show received good reviews from the people attending Wednesday night, and everyone seemed to have a good time.

O'Donal's Nurseries and Landmarcs Inc, won "best of show" for their garden exhibit 'The Nourishing Journey."

This morning's story includes a list of the other winners.

Part of the fun today will be five great lectures.

Paul Tukey, publisher of "People Places & Plants," author of an organic lawn care manual and founder of Safelawns, will kick off the lectures series at 10:30 a.m. with "Organic Gardens: Why and How."

Barbara Spofford of the African Violet Society of Maine will speak about African violets at noon.

Kerry Hardy of Farmers Fare will speak at 1:30 p.m. on "Beautiful and Useful Native Plants for Maine Gardens.

Al Berard of the Maine Pumpkin Growers Association will speak at 3 p.m. on growing large pumpkins.

And today's lectures end at 4:30 p.m. with Pat Blake, a master gardener and writer, speaking about Colonial healing herbs.

The lecture hall is on the second floor of Building 3. Take the same stairs you would take for the Food Court.

In addition, I will be at the Press Herald booth, on the right side just after you come in from the outside in Room 1, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. If you have a big interest in big pumpkins - and I have talked with Al Berard, and he is quite good - drop by early, just say hi and head to the lecture.

The weather looks perfect: It's a bit cold, so you do want to be inside, but the roads are clear. Come down to the flower show and have a good time.

I'll be updating here on the goings-on throughout the day.

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