Bell Tower shoppers stroll through flower show

Carol Lowery of Fort Myers Beach looks at the floral creation of Lois Gressman of Fort Myers Beach. Gressman won the judges choice from her “Here’s the Beef” creation at the Edison Festival of Light Strolling Flower Show at Bell Tower Shops.

The idea of strolling through a garden on a lazy afternoon was brought to new heights at the 58th Edison Festival of Light Strolling Flower Show at the Bell Tower Shops.

Area shoppers were given an opportunity recently to walk through the mall and gawk at flower arrangements that were created by the area’s best flower designers and members of the Periwinkle Garden Club.

“It’s a great way to show off the local talent and we are the mall’s signature event,” said Pam Dorchak, the Periwinkle Garden Club president, about the two-day show. “All the mini garden clubs of Lee County participate.”

Participation in the judged show was easy for Lois Gressman, who took home the judges choice for the second year in a row.

This year, she created a flower arrangement with vegetables and the theme “Here’s the Beef.”

“I really worried about it because I couldn’t find the flowers I wanted so I said I’ll do vegetables,” said Gressman, who created a piece to be displayed at the Omaha Steaks store at the mall. “I don’t think they’ve ever had vegetables in a flower show before.”

The unique displays were themed to celebrate 70 years of Thomas Edison’s innovations and were showcased on storefronts to make it easier for strollers to see.

“It’s kind of like finding Easter eggs ... it’s a treasure hunt,” Dee Breunet of south Fort Myers said enthusiastically as she peered into shop windows and enjoyed the creations. “It’s gorgeous and I’m just so happy that I made a special stop just for this show.”

Madeline Wallace also stopped for the show because her friend Gressman wanted her to see her asparagus, tomato and cucumber creation.

“These aren’t just flowers, they are working on designing and her display is so unique ... it’s her all the way,” said Wallace, of Fort Myers Beach, while looking through the store window. “Having it strolling is an excellent way to show off the pieces and it adds interest to tie in to a specific store.”

Audrey Bynoe of Fort Myers brought her aunt Doris Bacchus to the flower show because she is a flower lover.

“It’s beautiful and it’s a good idea to have them because they are very unique,” Bynoe said.