Philadelphia Flower Show
The Philadelphia International Flower Show is only a week away. Surely spring is not far behind.
I have always used the Philly Flower Show as a kind of high water mark for winter. More than once, I have driven to Philadelphia in snow to attend. But once you breathe in the scent of all those flowers in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, it is hard to remember it is winter outside.The flower show began in 1829 and became an opportunity for the Main Line matrons of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to show off their hot-house blooms and their extravagant arrangements.
Part of that has carried over with the judging of specimens in dozens of categories. And there are arrangements to be judged as well, although each might fill hundreds of square feet of floor space and include live trees and waterfalls!
The flower show is the largest indoor event of its kind in the world and each year draws upwards of a quarter-million people. This year the theme is “Passport to the World,” and a 28-foot-high hot-air balloon covered in more than 79,000 dried flowers will greet guests.
It will tower over a Victorian Era display titled “Explorers Garden,” and this, too, harks back to the days when the flower show was also a showcase for exotic plant discoveries.
In addition, there are six showcase gardens that take visitors to an Indian wedding, to a Dutch canal garden filled with 100,000 flower bulbs, to an artistic rendering of the Zulu culture of Africa, to the Amazon jungle and to Singapore and a tribute to the orchid. In addition, there is shopping enough to please any shopaholic gardener with lots of new vendors in the Marketplace.And finally, the proceeds from the flower show go to a wonderful cause, benefiting Philadelphia Green, which restores neighborhood parks, creates community gardens, conducts large-scale tree plantings and revitalizes vacant land.
The Philadelphia Flower Show opens Sunday and continues through March 7. It is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Baltimore. Parking can cost as much as $30 for the day and tickets are another $23 for adults. For the gardener impatient for spring, it is worth every penny.
Comments
Any news on bus trips?
Can't make this stuff up - the captcha says new zulus!
It looks like Homestead Gardens has one.
Posted by: Donna Beth Joy Shapiro | February 21, 2010 10:26 AM
I agree with you that it is worth every penny to see the Philladelphia Flower Show. I have driven from Rhode Island for 12 years and every time I am amazaed with the show. I can't wait until next week. I will be there.
Rhode Island? You have me beat! -- Susan
Posted by: Kathy Weber | February 21, 2010 5:02 PM
I am trying to find the vendor from 2009 who had the hanging rope chairs. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
I'd contact the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and ask about their vendor list from 2009. They might be able to help. -- Susan
Posted by: Louise Freed | April 9, 2010 12:10 PM