Nothing ushers in spring like my annual tradition of attending the nation’s largest and oldest indoor horticultural show. This year, the Philly Flower Show explored the wonders of water.
Since 1829, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has featured the latest and greatest in gardening and design. The annual event is held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia. The 8-day exhibition benefits the local economy and preserves community gardens within the city.
Before we look at the connection between plants and water, let’s look at my Philadelphia Flower Show attendance since I started blogging:
🌸 2017: Tip-Toe Through the Tulips – Holland Theme
🏞 2016: A Walk in the Park – National Parks Theme
🎥 2015: Celebrate the Movies – Movies Theme
🌸 2014: Say Hello to Spring – Articulture Theme
The main entrance always has some sort of ‘wow’ factor, and it certainly didn’t disappoint this year with its tropical rainforest, 25-foot waterfall, and 4000 plants. Needless to say, such a stunning view stopped people in their tracks. This area was challenging to maneuver because people congregated and admired the natural beauty.
It probably was not my best idea to attend the show on a Saturday and the day before the show ends. It didn’t help that it snowed earlier in the week, which probably contributed to the swelling of visitors over the weekend. You really have to get close to some of the exhibits to see what the designer was trying to do with its theme. Take the photo above, for instance. I thought it was a volcano erupting when it was a replica of the mountain stream of ice melts. What do you think?
The field of tulips was a welcome sight, even with such a focus on water. In the photo above, a parade of tulips reminds us of last year’s Holland theme.
Above is a photo of a Japanese Sakuteiki garden with metered racked sand mimicking the waves of water. The question is, how did someone get in and out without leaving any footprints on the sand?
The exhibition’s nature gallery addressed the wonders of water with a small display. This clear acrylic flora reminds us of how raindrops fall from the sky and refresh the earth. This display represents the water cycle through the art of floral design. This exhibit was awarded the Special Achievement Award of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania and a silver medal from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
The ultimate water display in the exhibit, though, was the educational Windows on the Watershed, a 65-by-50-foot exhibition that showcased the Delaware River Watershed. It represented its four ecosystems to help visitors gain an understanding of how plants contribute to water quality, according to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s website.
I will always have sweet memories of the 2011 Parisian theme with the Eiffel Tower at the main entrance. This show was the perfect segue to my first trip to Paris in 2012 (I went again in 2016).
My favorite Flower Show memories are from 2015, when I attended with my fab friend Cynthia, who received two corporate tickets from our employer, AstraZeneca, to attend the black-tie preview party. We were able to get the best pictures of the exhibits and read everything because there weren’t any crowds!
Attending the Flower Show isn’t just an annual tradition but a learning experience for me, too. It’s a great place to get new ideas for my home and garden.
I’m already looking forward to the 2019 Philly Flower Show, which will feature Flower Power. So mark your calendar for Saturday, March 2 -10, 2019. I bet we see a few tie-ins to the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock—you know, peace signs and Peter Max art. Hopefully, the cost will remain $35.00.
Thank you for reading. Have a fabulous and healthy week.
