PHS Flower Show Not Quite Southern

On recent trip to Philadelphia, PA, Hubby and I had no definite plans besides meetings and a conference for him. I had not decided on anything for the short trip.

The moment we landed, a conversation started behind us.

“So why are you in Philadelphia this week?”

“I’m here for the Annual Flower Show. I come every year. This year is its 200^th anniversary!”

Hubby and I were seated in aisle seats across from each other. Our eyes met, and he laughed.

Sources online reported that the popular Flower Show would be mobbed in the coming days. Within about an hour, I became a member of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society so that I could enjoy the members-only preview party the next afternoon.

Just a window through which to peek at the extravagantly decorated table!

I had a difficult time deciding which pictures to post, but I’m including my favorites here.

Displays are the work of florists and horticultural groups from communities, landscapers, schools, colleges, and clubs. Some displays are jaw-dropping in their size and intricacies, thematically celebrating the contributions of gardeners through the decades.

Judges and TV crews meandered the space, awarding ribbons and documenting this year’s Rooted: Origins of American Gardening show.

There were so many different categories of floral design to explore—front doors and stoops, window boxes with lanterns suspending flower baskets, storefront windows, World Fairs through the years, balconies, tabletop arrangements, and botanical artwork.

This was the work of a florist shop that had been in business for 100 years. Each window display was a commentary on design trends through the decades.

There were competitions in every category of plant imaginable. Even Woodrow Wilson’s wife was available to discuss her love of orchids in the First Lady’s exhibit.

This orchid display was so huge, that I captured in this photo only about a third of the entire piece.

There were workshops for an additional fee—flower pressing, flower arranging, the popular flower crown making, perfume making, etc.

A model of Falling Water, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpieces

I thought I’d seen it all after two hours, but upon venturing downstairs to exit the building, I found a room filled with 150 vendors! If I lived locally, I would have been signing up for a greenhouse and taking home bulbs and bare roots!