Everything's Blooming at Baltimore's Flower Mart

You know it's springtime in Baltimore when Flower Mart returns to Mount Vernon Place. Founded in 1911, it's the Charm City's oldest free public festival. As the name suggests, Flower Mart is a marketplace of vendors offering flowers, plants and all your gardening needs. But wait... there's so much more! Mark your calendar for April 29-30, and come see why Flower Mart has been a Baltimore tradition for 111 years.

Flower Mart was founded by the Women's Civic League, an organization aimed at promoting gardening and improving living conditions in Baltimore. More than a century later, the festival is now managed by the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy. The Conservancy is the caretaker of the city's Mount Vernon Place historic neighborhood, where the festival happens each year. The centerpiece of Mount Vernon Place is Baltimore's Washington Monument, the nation's first monument to George Washington. Flower Mart sprawls throughout Mount Vernon Place's parks, with their greenery, sculptures and fountains, and surrounding beautiful architecture.

There's more than just plants and flowers for sale awaiting the thousands who flock to Flower Mart. There are floral demonstrations, gardening workshops, and a chance to learn about the value of urban spaces and gardens. There are arts and crafts vendors, live musical entertainment, and delicious food and beverage options. Speaking of tasty treats, at some point in its history, the festival's signature Lemon Stick was introduced and continues to be a must-have treat. A porous peppermint stick is used as a straw to suck the tart juice out of a halved lemon. It's sweet, tangy and refreshing!

When you're done taking in the sights, sounds and tastes of Flower Mart, head back to your retreat here at Rachael's Dowry B&B, where we have our own beautiful gardens for guests to enjoy. Then retire to your quiet oasis in our impeccably restored home for the rest and relaxation you deserve.

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” —Audrey Hepburn