Residents and visitors to the area will soon get to sample tastes of gardening from seven states.

The Federated Garden Clubs of North End Council organization is hosting the 59th annual standard flower show on April 15-16.

The show is called Gardening in the Southeast and will feature plants and arrangements representing Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Visitors to the show can “enjoy the beauty of the featured Southern states from the coast to the Appalachian Mountains,” said Phoebe Limbaugh, publicity chairman for the North End Council.

Five garden clubs making up the North End Council: Blue Star, Dixie Gardeners, Garden Dale, Twin Oaks and the Magnolia Garden Club.

Limbaugh said people from across north Jefferson County belong to the groups.

Several divisions in the flower show  are open to club members only, but there are also areas in which the general public can participate and compete.

“Competition is open to all amateur gardeners in the horticulture division,” Limbaugh said. “We’re really encouraging people who think they might be interested in becoming garden club members to enter samples of plant material that they have grown.”

For all competitions, exhibitors are allowed to enter only fresh plant materials they have grown. No artificial plants are allowed, according to Limbaugh.

Judges who have been trained in judging standard flower show competitions will award ribbons to the winners and runners-up.

There will be no youth division this year, but Limbaugh said the council hopes to get youth involved again next year.

Limbaugh said groups or clubs are welcome to attend the event.

Members will have gardening books and other publications for sale, as well as plants from members’ personal collections.

The flower show is free and open to the public. It is at the Gardendale Civic Center on April 15, 2-7 p.m., and April 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the Magnolia Festival at the civic center on April 17.

Entry sheets for the flower show are available at the civic center information desk.

To learn more, call Limbaugh at 631-6137.