Channel Islanders take their flowers seriously.
For example, there was Jersey's recent annual garden festival — with celebrity gardeners imported from Britain and France. Another floral event, the so-called Battle of the Flowers, is a century-old competition of flower-carpeted floats that are paraded through the streets of St. Helier. This year's Battle of the Flowers was Aug. 9-10. Additional Jersey events include the Sept. 13 annual air show with lots of antique and hot aircraft swooping overhead; the Sept. 15-23 Walking Week, devoted to walking, and the Sept. 27-Oct. 7 arts festival. Jersey also has a special card that provides discounted admissions to six of its best museums.
Guernsey has a carnival at St. Peter Port every summer, as well as the late August Summer Shows and Tennerfest, where folks pay 10 pounds to sample the fare of some 50 restaurants.
Both islands also have a strong emphasis on ecology and preservation. Indeed, Jersey is the first destination in the world to achieve Green Globe status under a worldwide environmental management and awareness program.
For more information: Jersey tourism: 800-617-3333 or www.jersey.com
Atlantic Hotel: www.theatlantichotel.com
Old Government House Hotel: www.oghhotelguernsey.com
Guernsey tourism: tourism.guernsey.net