PHILADELPHIA (AP) — As I entered the Philadelphia Flower Show space at the Pennsylvania Convention Center last week, I was mesmerized by a spectacular orchid grove suspended from the ceiling above the color-changing entrance garden. An exhibit titled “FLORASTRUCK” welcomed visitors indoors after his two-year pandemic at his FDR Park in the city.
Billed as the world’s oldest and largest indoor garden show, this nine-day event typically attracts around 250,000 attendees from around the world.
This year, Shaw’s exhibit gardens are laid out on winding promenades that you can meander at your leisure and with a guide. Intended to mimic an outdoor walk, the new layout invites visitors to enter the display and participate in his immersive 360-degree “floralscape,” which spans 2,900 square feet.
According to the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, which hosts the annual event, the show’s theme, “The Garden Electric,” aims to evoke “sparks of joy when giving and receiving flowers.” That spark concept has inspired nearly 30 exhibits this year. It was created by designers of the most diverse backgrounds and disciplines in the show’s 195-year history.
Among them, Philadelphia’s Shaffer Design’s “Eye Candy” features a mannequin with flowers on its head and a donut polished with giant pink petals that glows under neon lights. It is found in confectionery and evokes the color and aroma of confectionery.
“In Search of Peace” by Treeline Designz of Portland, Oregon tells the story of a peace fairy in a nearby forest, about a woman trying to calm her terror-stricken grandchildren in war-torn Ukraine. It’s a story. A pyramid reminiscent of Rubik’s Cube towers at the edge of the exhibit, leading visitors through winding passages lined with locally grown trees and plants.
The ‘Brain Forest’ exhibit by Jennifer Designs in New Jersey is a glowing, bare-branched tree with exposed roots above flower-adorned brains that can be entered and explored. Do not doubt. Just enjoy your adventure.
The Black Girl Florists network designed a panoramic view of bright pink, orange, and purple flowers cascading downhill from three sideways barrels to a 10-foot tree, where they blend below to form a mixed flowerbed. . This display symbolizes the unity of the individual members of the network. Also presented by Philadelphia’s Ill Exotics is a disco-inspired display, Studio Exotica, a horticultural nightclub with dancers, DJs and bartenders decorated with flowers and tropical plants.
While I was taking notes and photos during the press and member previews, my pals attended a make-and-take “potting party” hosted by Grammy-designer Tu Bloom. She created a lovely arrangement of Pericalis ‘Senetti Violet’, Tradescantia ‘Pink Panther’ and Peperomia ‘Shumi Her Red’ in a fabric pot. If you want to enhance your show experience, there are also artisan-led, hands-on activities scheduled throughout the show, such as flower crowns, candles, and floral handbags.
Other add-on options include a “Flowers After Hours” masquerade party, a guided show tour, an early morning photography tour, a “Design + Dine” craft session, and an immersive butterfly display. All activity tickets are sold separately from show admission.
Kids Cocoon offers free children’s shows daily. Frolic Day will be held on Sunday, March 12th, with music and hands-on activities for young families.
Fido Friday welcomes dogs on leashes for ticket holders on March 10th from 5-8pm.
And of course, during the judging portion of the show, hundreds of growers compete for the prestigious Blue Ribbon Awards in various botanical categories. Invitational competition included. Stroll through the ‘PHS Hamilton Horticourt’ section in the middle of the floor to get an up-close look at the entries.
We’d be lying if we said the Vendor Marketplace and the new “Shop Local” Makers Market section aren’t as fun as the flower displays. With over 200 booths selling flowers, gardening supplies, seeds, artwork, housewares, jewelry, food and clothing, I can say my credit card got as much exercise as my feet.
The show runs daily through March 12th. For more information and tickets, visit phsonline.org. ___
