Sometimes the only way a Road Trips Gardener can get through winter is by visiting a home and garden show. Scheduled mostly at the end of winter, these merchandising extravaganzas tempt us away from the seed catalogs and into the simulated spring of forced bulbs and blossoming branches.

Check your travel schedule, get out our maps and add one (or more) of these events to your agenda:

January:
Virginia Beach, Virginia (January 25, 26, 27, 2013): Virginia Flower & Garden Expo

February
Nashville, Tennessee (February 8, 9 and 10, 2013): Antiques and Garden Show
London, England (February 19 and 20, 2013): London Plant and Design Show
Seattle, Washington (February 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 2013): Northwest Flower & Garden Show
Hartford, Connecticut (February 21, 22, 23 and 24):
San Antonio, Texas (February 22, 23, 24, 2013): Home & Garden Show
Columbus, Ohio (February 23 – March 3, 2013): Home & Garden Show
Minneapolis, Minnesota (February 27 – March 3, 2013): Home & Garden Show

March:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (March 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 2013): Flower Show
Christchurch, New Zealand (March 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 2013): Ellerslie Flower Show
Indianapolis, Indiana (March 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 2013): Flower & Patio Show
Boston, Massachusetts (March 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 2013): Flower & Garden Show
Minot, North Dakota (March 16 and 17, 2013): 38th Annual Home & Garden Show
Mobile, Alabama (March 21, 22, 23, 14, 2013): Festival of Flowers