Gaylord Palms Salutes Florida's 'Hometown' Plant

Showcase features special activities and (of course) 23,000 colorful Caladiums.

Kissimmee, Fla.—( July 6, 2007 ) As a salute to Florida’s caladium crop, Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center will feature a showcase of 23,000 caladium plants in nearly two-dozen varieties, beginning July 6 and running through Sept. 15.

The event, dubbed the Florida Caladium Showcase, is the world’s largest indoor display of this popular Florida-grown plant. Caladiums can be seen in and around the 65-acre property, including the 4.5-acre glass-covered atrium, in varieties such as Moonlight, Blizzard, Miss Muffetts, White Christmas and Brandywire.

“More than 99 percent of all of caladiums sold worldwide are grown right here in Florida,” said Tim McColgan, horticulture manager. “As a Florida-themed resort, we thought it was fitting to celebrate each year’s caladium crop.”

The brightly colored leafy caladium plants are known for their colorful foliage and continue to be popular landscape and container plants. Because of their popularity and versatility, caladiums are used throughout Florida to add seasonal color to plant beds. The caladium, with its many colorful varieties, has also enjoyed a recent surge in popularity nationally.

Special activities include:

  • Self-guided Tours (July 6 – Sept. 15): Take a trip through the Gaylord Palms atrium to enjoy this year’s hot caladium varieties.
  • Summer Hidden Gnome Hunt, featuring The Roaming Gnome (July 6 – Sept. 15), an encore to the resort’s Hidden Holiday Gnome Hunt. Guests can search through the atrium for ten cleverly hidden gnomes. One player will win a weekend getaway to Gaylord Palms Best of Florida Christmas celebration in November and December. (Presented by Travelocity)
  • Caladium Showcase Saturdays (July 14 and 28) o “Ask the Gardener” Session & Caladium Tour (2 p.m.; St. George 108): Attend an afternoon caladium information session, followed by an “ask the expert” opportunity with a Gaylord gardener. Seminar is free o “Relaxation in your Garden” Session (3 p.m.; St. George 108): The experts at Canyon Ranch SpaClub share secrets about spa treatments that use ingredients from your garden. Seminar is free o Caladium Showcase Lunch (Noon - 2:30 p.m.; Villa de Flora): Enjoy lunch at Villa de Flora before your garden seminars. Every diner will receive a caladium to take home.

 

The resort’s caladium plants were grown locally by Bates Sons and Daughters Caladiums in Lake Placid, Florida. Lake Placid is known as the “caladium capital” of the world, where a Caladium festival is held every August to celebrate the year’s crop.

The annual Florida Caladium Showcase began at Gaylord Palms Resort in 2003. The event was scaled back in 2005 after the previous summer’s severe weather had threatened the Florida caladium crop. The return of this year’s full-scale showcase signals a banner year for the crop.

Group Caladium Tours, which combine a meal at Villa de Flora or Sunset Sam’s Fish Camp with a tour led by a Gaylord Palms horticulturalist, can be arranged for groups of 20 or more, by calling Melissa Gioia at 407-586-1604.

About Gaylord Hotels
Gaylord Hotels® is a collection of upscale, meetings-focused resorts which also afford endless entertainment options for leisure travelers. The hotel company's hallmark - "everything in one place" - provides meeting attendees and vacationers with diverse dining options, quality spa and fitness center services, top-notch entertainment, on-site shopping and numerous resort activities -- all within the confines of each resort.

Gaylord Hotels is a pioneer in the hotel and convention industry with properties in attractive event destinations, including Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.; Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Fla., near Orlando; Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center on Lake Grapevine near Dallas, Texas; and Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on the Potomac in National Harbor, Md., opening early 2008.

Gaylord Hotels is owned and operated by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn. Gaylord Entertainment (www.gaylordentertainment.com) includes the Grand Ole Opry (www.opry.com), the weekly showcase of country music's finest performers for 80 consecutive years. For more information about Gaylord Hotels, www.gaylordpalms.com or www.gaylordentertainment.com.

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Media Contact:

Keith Salwoski, (407) 586-0315, ksalwoski@gaylordhotels.com

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