The day before the Minnesota State Fair opens—that’s Wednesday, Aug. 21 this year—the Horticulture Building will be filled with houseplants, patio plants, succulents, container gardens filled with flowers and vegetables and much more as hopeful entrants bring their best plants in for the MSHS State Fair Plant Show. The variety of plants is amazing and the care with which they have been grown is evident. These are beautiful plants.

Last year, there were hundreds of entries from individuals plus some larger displays from plant societies and specialty plant groups. You don’t have to register in advance to enter, though there are some rules for exhibitors to follow. Youngsters and first-time exhibitors get their own class, so there’s no pressure. This is a great way to show off your best plants and see what others are growing.

After the entries are judged, the show is open for the first two days of the fair. Even if you don’t enter a plant, be sure to stop by and see the fascinating plants grown by your fellow gardeners. Here’s some information on last year’s show.