I can't think of any event around here equivalent to what you've described! The Canada Blooms show in the spring is more about selling garden-related 'stuff' than it is about selling plants. Plus it is held too early to plant anything that you might be interested in buying! The RBG spring plant sale is usually good - but it was cancelled this year for some reason. The stuff sold there is mainly things propagated from their collections, plus a few things they've brought in from commercial growers. I can't think of an event around here where different growers show and sell their plants at a Fair. Lucky you....!

We have similar gatherings in my area from time to time. Often they coincide with "open days" at various private or semi-private gardens and a range of local nurseries set up booths and offer goodies for sale. I was at one last month and came home with two plants I have never seen at local retail nurseries or garden centers.......one, Tropaeolum speciosum, I have been hunting for for some time. The second is a plant I'd not ever encountered before - New Zealand myrtle, Lophromyrtus x ralphii 'Kathyrn', with dark, almost chocolate brown evergreen foliage and charming little powderpuff white flowers. May be somewhat marginal in my climate but I enjoy the challenge of growing unusual shrubs of questionable hardiness.....and for whatever reason, most seem to originate from the Southern hemisphere!

There is another open day and sale coming up next month at the same garden (the former Heronswood Nursery of Dan Hinkley and superb mail order fame) and I plan to attend to see what other new, enticing tidbits are on offer :-) Most of the participating plant vendors are mail order only and I much prefer to see my plants in person when I buy, so I really welcome these sales!!

btw, my area also has a number of these "plant fairs" - really just plant sales - every spring that draw in huge crowds. Dozens of vendors and every sort of plant imaginable!! And so large they are held in the hangers of a decommissioned naval air station!

tropolaeum speciosum grows so well all over Scotland (damp, acidic) but hopeless for me - have to make do with t.tuberosum (although it does flower in winter). The flame nasturtium looks great scrambling over yew hedges.

Sick with jealousy re.lophomyrtus - myrtles are another difficult one although I would risk luma apiculata again.

600 people attended in a tiny village hall and car park.

Nice haul!

Oh what fun!!

I did go to the Chicago Home & Garden show this year ... and though I had a good time and bought some bulbs, I was disappointed by how heavily leaned towards the "home" part the show was.

In New England, good quality plants sales like this are often associated with botanical gardens which may have a spring and a fall plant sale, or sometimes host a plant sale associated with an interest group such as orchids.

Yep, we have a few of these large expo type shows - which are much more commercial - numerous businesses, with furniture and lifestyle stuff, show gardens and such, as well as many nurseries. Usually, there can be a steep entrance fee which enrages me a bit - like having to spend money to spend more money - because I don't have the time of day for 'show gardens' (ridiculous concept) so it would only be about the plant sales for me. There are various horticultural groups such as Plant Heritage or The Hardy Plant Soc (mine) which have plant fairs but they are also held every weekend, all over the UK, attended by a number of nurseries. They are really the best way to buy a bunch of plants...and for this disorganised, impatient and impulsive gardener, offer the best chance of actually planning a cohesive design theme instead of the usual mishmash of whims, gifts, cuttings, seeds or whatever comes to hand at any time.

Ah yes, my birthday too...although I can make that excuse stretch to almost 3 months and this year is a biggie - 60! - planning a lilac walk, amongst (many) other things. But yep, autumn is definitely spending (planting) month - bare-roots, bulbs, perennials, trees, seeds.

I am looking at buying that Silky saw Camp turned me on to, the 12' extending one. good for the trees in the back gorge.