Our show is traditionally held near the middle of April, just late enough to ensure that a good number of Neoregelia species and hybrids will be in bloom but early enough to avoid the full heat of summer in Miami. In 2012, however, a warm winter followed by a cool spring shifted the blooming cycles of many species. Many Neoregelia were already past bloom by the middle of April. Fortunately, a very large number of different Neoregelia forms are grown locally, so there were still plenty in the proper state of development at show time. Of course, the warm winter also affected the blooming period of other groups. The net effect was a show with a lower proportion of blooming plants than usual. There was also somewhat less diversity as the number of infrequently grown genera entered this year fell compared to previous years.

We experienced some trouble with the weather despite mid-April historically being the driest part of our dry season. Saturday, when the show and sale opened to the public, visitor turnout was suppressed by a severe weather advisory in the morning and another in the afternoon. We did not have the severe storms, but our plant sales are held outside, so the frequent rains on that day lessened the enthusiasm of buyers. Fortunately, Sunday was a much better day.

Fewer plants were entered into the judged show than in the recent past, but the tables were adequately filled. Fortunately, the quality of the individual entries was also high....