RALEIGH, N.C. — When you think of the North Carolina State Fair, food and games may be some of the thing that are top of mind. But, one thing that you may not think is the flower shows.

It’s something that many can take part in, and even more can enjoy, beginning this year with the addition of a sensory garden.

The flower and garden show competitions bring in people from all over the state where they can showcase their cut flowers, scented herbs, potted plants and more. 

The director of the shows, Daniel Danford, said preparation for these competitions can get hectic. Specifically, for the flower shows, there are three of them happening over the course of the fair. Danford said they have around 9,000 registered entries total for all three shows.

“(There’re) folks that are not professional Dalia growers, or professional rose growers,” Danford said. “It’s people that are cutting the flowers in their backyard they’ve been taking care of.”

Danford said he enjoys what he does, and he’s been at it for more than a decade.

“Once I started helping out, I was just starting to learn more and more about plants. I have no formal education in this stuff,” Danford said.

In 2019, he took over as the director. Danford said he worked in retail and management before pivoting to planting.

“This industry doesn’t pay nearly as well as some of the other careers I was doing, but I don’t need to make that money, and I love going to work,” Danford said.

Danford shows his creativity working at the exhibit and through adding new experiences for fairgoers, like a sensory garden this year.

“It’s a new installation so the plants are kinda small, but next year keeping up with it, oh gosh I can’t wait to see it next year,” Danford said.

In the garden, there are different herbs that people can touch and smell, including rosemary, basil, lavender and mint.

Danford added he hopes those who are visually impaired will enjoy the garden, since he’s seen in the past how the smell of flowers makes them happy. 

“I have had visually impaired people come to the flower show and they love the smell of the building because it’s just filled with flowers and it always smells florally,” Danford said. 

Danford said while this job can be a lot sometimes, he loves it, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.