I just returned from the Philadelphia Flower Show. Holy moly.
Let me tell you, this is no ordinary home and garden show. Nay, nay. This is a spectacle! It costs the fine folks of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society about $6.5 million to put on the show, although the estimated total expenditure by the show as well as the participants is three times that. The show covers a total of 10 acres in three areas: major exhibitions, competitive classes and horticultural schools and universities. There is also a large vendor area where you can shop till you drop.
Profits from the show go to benefit the Philadelphia Green program, which cleans up and beautifies outdoor spaces that have been derelict and unsightly. The program also sponsors a prisoner gardening program to raise vegetables for the homeless, neighborhood and community gardens and loads of education programs. Many cities could look to this program as a model of excellence with many side benefits.
This year’s theme was all about New Orleans and Jazz. The entrance was a recreation of the famed Bourbon Street, all decked out in flowers.
The competitions are in areas for landscaping, floral design, florists, by-invitation and by individual plant species. Many local high schools and colleges participate in the program, as do some prisoner groups.
In addition to the huge displays, there are also fabulous displays of smaller competitive areas: window boxes, container gardens, Ikebana, competitive impromptu arranging, stoop gardens, table settings…the list goes on and on. One of the most amazing areas was the miniatures–tiny little dioramas of natural and indoor scenes with real, live, miniature plants.
The Philadelphia Flower Show claims to be the biggest and best in the U.S. and is distinguished from the famed Chelsea Flower Show in London because the Philadelphia show is indoors. Chelsea is outdoors. That means that all the flowers, flowering shrubs, flowering trees–everything–had to be forced indoors. If you have ever tried to force a flower, imagine trying to force thousands, if not millions, of them. All at the same time. All on a particular day. And then arranging them in a small exhibition space to please the judges and the crowds.
And that, my friends, is why they call it a “show.”
(By the way, I arrived home just in time to unpack and pack again…off to Atlanta this time. I have about 1,000 photos to wade through, but will be posting them as soon as I return and recover. I also want to show you all the cool new stuff that I bought!)
Hi! I'm Robin Ripley author of Wisdom for Home Preservers, published by Taunton Press. I am also co-author of Grocery Gardening. Bumblebee is about my life in rural Maryland, my garden and my love of food, my little dogs and pet chickens. You can follow me on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. Thank you for visiting!
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Thanks for sharing your show pictures! I’ve known about the show for a long time but didn’t realize that it benefits the community in many ways.
[…] The Living Blog wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI just returned from the Philadelphia Flower Show. Holy moly. Let me tell you, this is no ordinary home and garden show. Nay, nay. This is a spectacle! It costs the fine folks of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society about $6.5 million to put on the show, although the estimated total expenditure by the show as well as the participants is three times that. The show covers a total of 10 acres in three areas: major exhibitions, competitive classes and horticultural schools and universities. There […]
Wow – loved the picture of the Flora Woman – how fantastical! Can’t wait to see the rest!
Dang, but I can’t remember the name of the book I read last year that had a huge section devoted to the 2006 Philly flower show, including a visit with bulb exhibitors in their home before hand, as well as lots of behind the scenes information. (Beautiful Obsession?) It has made me long to go to this show. Thanks for posting photos of it.
Can’t wait to see the rest of some of your pictures. I just posted on the Boston Flower Show. I have been to the Philly Show, about four years ago. It was big! Always something good to see and not so good to see! That makes it interesting!
[…] JennifernHI foregather returned from the municipality Flower Show. Holy moly. Let me avow you, this is no inferior activity and garden show. Nay, nay. This is a spectacle! It costs the dustlike folks of the Lincoln Horticultural Society most $6.5 meg … […]
Robin, can’t wait to see more of your photos. I never made it to the show. I had no idea about the community benefits and the prison program. Very interesting post!
Robin, thanks so much for telling us, even briefly about this show and its community benefits. I get to travel vicariously to these shows because of people like you, Kylee, Layanee, and others who get to the shows then share them with us. This s wonderful. Travel safely to Atlanta, and we’ll be waiting to hear from you when you have a chance to post.
Robin,
Great pix. Can’t wait to see more. I’ll be posting some of the photos I just took at the New England Spring Flower Show in Boston which I just attended. Lots of water features, and I am determined to absolutley positively get one myself this year! This show is organized by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society who have many educational programs and do all kinds of good works. Hooray for horticultural societies!
Robin, you use one of my habitual phrases, “Let me tell you!” HA!
This event you describe is a real treat – something that I could spend a lots of time and $$ on… :o) I’m pressed with the participants and theme. Lovely.
I’m from MD and have visited Longwood Gardens once, but this show is a real show! Glad you enjoyed. Safe travels to you.
Great shots! I am bummed to not be able to make any flower shows this year but looking at pictures of various shows is cheering me up 🙂
Carol
terranovadesign.blogspot.com
What a wonderful show that must be. How long were you there? It’ll be fun to see more of your photos.
I love that show. I’m sorry that I didn’t get to go this year, so thank you for your post.
Nice teaser. We await more details!
Looks pretty amazing, Robin. Can’t wait to see the rest of your pictures.
P.S. Have you seen the movie “Greenfingers?” A fun British film about gardening (starring Helen Mirren)….Mr. Johnson even stayed awake for the entire film, so I know it was good!
Love those pictures! Thanks for taking them for us all to share. You sound like a busy, busy bee. I like the prisoner program idea. I just think of how their lives might have been different had they had the beautiful and fulfilling hobby of gardening and the tranquility of nature in their lives in “pre-prisoner” days. I would think the murder rate would go down considerably if people had this to sublimate their criminal urges!
Brenda
Perhaps one day I’ll make it to the big show in Philly – It’s a long way from my garden to there (in more ways than one.) So I have to make do with pictures like yours. Thankew!
BTW the book Mrs Mcgregor was trying to think of is James Dodson’s “Beautiful Madness.” It was a good read on a cold January evening.
Wow… most wedding dresses pale in comparison to the Flora Woman. She’s great!
Yeah, what an idea!
Robin at Bumblebee
Holy Moly indeed. Can’t wait to see more pictures and to see what you bought.
I garden in Philadelphia and have the opportunity to visit our flower show every year. I sometimes take it for granted but the show is sweet solace for us garden starved, hard core types itching to get into the garden in early March. My favorite area is the one given over to spectacular home grown plants. Aisle upon aisle of incredible forced bulbs, orchids , succulents and perennials. I can easily slip into a plant gazing trance half way through those displays. All praises to the local nurseries who create theme gardens with gorgeously crafted structures, paths, plantings and water features, you name it….it can be overwhelming and this year was one of the best! The live jazz band and 2nd line parades were a nice touch!
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