For those who haven’t been to the Sonoma County Fair, The Hall is in fact a hanger, measuring a massive 180 feet by 350 feet by 35 feet.
The Hall was built during the war to house the mighty Boeing B-17 “flying fortress”—that heavily armored long-range bomber, whose distant thunder meant lightning to the cities and military bases of the Axis powers.
This hanger was bought in San Diego war surplus by building magnate Hugh Codding and transshipped to Santa Rosa in ’49. There is, therefore, a certain monumental poetry in that the hanger is now and forever “The Hall of Flowers.” That poetry is captured in the fragment, “swords beaten into plowshares.”
Having won “the war to end all wars,” we would plant flowers and practice the arts of peace … a beautiful sentiment … Such were my musings as I sat in tender weather on a marble bench dedicated to the memory of Will Forni, who established the annual flower show at the Sonoma County Fair in ’52. In the space of 73 memorable shows, it has grown and spread into the largest flower show on the West Coast.
My appointment this week was with Greg Duncan, the fourth director of the show. And as I entered the massive hangar, I marked among the many raised bare plots, the major features of this year’s theme, “hot dogs and cool cats.” There were a mock animal shelter promoting rescues, a 15 foot tall hydrant gushing water, an “altar” for pets departed, cat and dog statues made of scrap, and mock cats and dogs falling from the ceiling on umbrellas in front of a 150 foot wide mural of a hard rain of cats and dogs. And still the 15,000 square feet of gardens had yet to be planted.
Cincinnatus Hibbard: I understand you studied movie and theater set design.
Greg Duncan: Yes, I’m more of a set designer than a landscaper. I graduated from Sonoma State in ’73 in theater arts in set design. And if you don’t want to move to New York and you don’t want to move to LA, you have to broaden the definition of set design.
I understand you have had this position for 35 years. Congratulations, Greg. Not referring to your retirement; I can see here that your work is nearly done. Now (from mid-July) the 31 professional and amateur exhibitors will have two hectic weeks to build and plant their plots. About how many plants will be planted?
I’m not sure … (calculating) … maybe a thousand on each professional plot…
Wow, that’s above 10,000 plants planted in this show. And they will be building up their flat plots with miniature hills and valleys and streams and ponds and pet-themed props.
This show lets them do something more imaginative than they’re used to.
Develop that. Besides the prizes and publicity, what drives them—and you?
Well, this is the land of Luther Burbank. Home gardening is a big deal in Sonoma County. And this is a place to showcase our best gardeners, entertain and inspire our gardeners.
It’s where I begin and end my fair visit. Thank you, Greg.
Learn more: Visit the Hall of Flowers Preview Party, from 5:30 to 7:30pm, July 31, at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1450 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. The event is a fundraiser for student scholarships in agriculture. sonomacountyfair.com/pages/preview-party.
