In less than three weeks, it will officially be spring–and I can’t wait. Bye, bye winter! With the threat of another winter storm this week, I am so ready to say hello to spring. Luckily, I had my chance. Who knew it would be that I could march into spring less than a two-hour train ride?
Nearly every year for the last twenty years, during the first week of March, I routinely escape to the 10-acre oasis of fresh forced bloomed elaborate smelling flowers, large scale gardens, lush landscapes and trees at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Ah, the aroma that lures you in from the cold, so refreshing!
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) sponsors the 185 year old event. It is the largest and oldest indoor flower show in the world.
This year’s Philadelphia International Flower Show theme is ARTiculture. PHS President Drew Becher captured the essence of this year’s theme “bringing together the largest collection of the nation’s art museums ever assembled under one roof and the best floral and landscape designers in the world.” Each year there is an official theme which serves as the inspiration for most exhibits. The exhibits are submitted for judging in many categories, and are highly competitive.
The 2011 SpringTime in Paris theme with the ever impressive mini model of the Eiffel Tower that drew me and captivated then (and when I traveled to Paris in 2012).
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) is jumping on the social media bandwagon and using the power of social media to stir up attendance. I love how PHS encouraged attendees to take ‘selfies’ at designated selfie locations throughout the exhibit area and suggested to share the selfies on Instagram @philaflowershow. In addition, the Philly Flower Show has it’s own app at theflowershow.com with information about the exhibits, shopping and discounts in Philadelphia. But wait, there’s more, one can order a DVD, the 6ABC Weather Team will take you behind the scenes in the colorful presentation of the 2014 Philadelphia Flower Show displays and personalities. Orders can be placed at ShopPHS.org.
This year was the first time in many years that I attended the show on opening day. Generally 250,000 people attend this week long event and it’s hard to figure out the best day and time to attend the show. When I enter the convention center where the exhibits are displayed, I am looking for the ‘wow factor,’ where I am pleasantly surprised by creativity, size, colors and a ‘oh my.’ The Alexander Calder inspired entrance garden didn’t provide my ‘wow factor’ however several other displays did (photos follow), as well as the People’s Choice Award for Flowers by David, Langhorne, PA.
Not only acres of gardens, plants ad floral designs but the Grand Hall Concourse at the Convention Center offers culinary demonstrations by celebrity chefs-I believe Rachel Ray is due to make an appearance before the show ends on Sunday, March 9th, fabulous shopping with more than 180 vendors, free wine and food tastings, hundreds of free how-to-do demonstrations and lectures, the butterfly experience, a Kids Zone for family fun and a make and take.
Make and Take:
The proceeds including tickets and sponsorship contributions, supports the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, including its Plant One Million and City Harvest campaigns.
By now your respective area may have experienced high winds, extreme cold – ( polar vortex), snowstorm after snowstorm and let’s not forget the ice. I hope “Say Hello to Spring’ will help you experience what we know is sure to come even if it is delayed as we approach spring later this month.
Eugenia the pics of the exhibits you took were fabulous! I have to go one year love the beauty!
April, thank you for stopping by, so glad you enjoyed the photos from the 2014 Philly Flower Show, you must go with me one year!
Absolutely! 🙂