I KNEW you would brave the cold temps and head outside today

Not me. I gave it 15 minutes and then scurried my wimpy self back inside.
My friend Jill and I go to the Philadelphia Flower Show every year. We've heard that the Philly show is one of the top flower shows in the U.S. and we have been suitably impressed each year with the landscape displays. I don't think much compares to the Brit standards. I think gardening is a national past time for them. Vendors at the Philly show are a mix of what you describe for the Hagerstown show, but because of the size there is always so much to choose from. This year I got 5 peonies, an orchid, these nifty 3 tiered slat hanging planters, a great deal on a ratchet pruner and lopper set, and 2 garden statues. For the first time ever, we were there for a relaxing 3 days and caught some of the seminars. We thought the same thing that you are thinking about the seminars that the lady was trying to coax you into attending. I'm always learning something new about gardening, but the seminars we saw were too basic for anyone who has been gardening for years. At least the seminars that we attended were free with the cost of the admission ticket.