More Philly Flower Show Photos

From the tiny scuba tanks to the little hanging baskets, Miniature Setting winner Irene Sobotincic’s “Taking the Plunge” scuba shop captured a still life of homegrown Hawaiian commerce.

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Anthurium and red lights mimicked a lava flow in the popular display “Pele” by Schafer Designs.

A few of the thousands of orchids in the displays.

Temple University Ambler School of Environmental Design is always an environmental treasure trove. This year a rain garden accompanied by a handout with a diagram and plant list was another testament to Temple’s attention to detail.

A model of Philadelphia City Hall and surrounding gardens was presented by Philadelphia Water Department’s “Green City, Clean Water” “Islands of Green in an Urban Sea.”

As always, there was lots to see at this flower show!

Philadelphia International Flower Show

HAWAII, ISLANDS OF ALOHA

If ever my digital camera is going to give me problems, you can bet it will be at the Philly Flower Show. I’ll post a few of the less grainy pictures later.

I must say I was a little disappointed with the show. I couldn’t put my finger on what didn’t quite work. Finally it came to me - Hawaii is bright and colorful - The convention center was dark as usual. I think this is one time overhead lighting would have enhanced the show. Despite thousands of colorful orchids and hundreds of stately palm trees, the displays never seemed to capture the essence of Hawaii.

Of course it may be impossible to capture the magnificence of the real thing.

Philadelphia International Flower Show

Phildelphia Water Department - Three examples of urban stormwater management: a sidewalk stormwater planter, porous pavers and a downspout planter in Philadelphia Water Department’s “Green City, Clean Waters”

To me the heart of the Flower Show has always been in the educational displays.

Through the Office of Watersheds, “Green City, Clean Waters” program is a huge step in the right direction.

I’m not sure why anyone thought that raised planter beds in parking lots were a good idea.

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Mounded high, water runs off the beds and adds more waste water to the paved surface. The raised beds dry out faster and make it tough for trees and plants to survive. Don’t even get me started about the cones of mulch piled around trees. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have the planters at or lower than the paved surface to accept some of the runoff and filter it through the soil.

Runoff from parking lots, yards, farm fields and streets picks up pollutants such as trash, leaky engine fluids, animal waste, excess lawn chemicals, etc. and washes them into the storm drains to creeks and streams.

So the Philadelphia Water Department’s “L'art de l'eau” (The Art of Water) was a welcomed surprise. Capturing some of that runoff using flow-through planters, porous pavers, and vegetated curb bump-outs, reduces the amount of pollution entering storm drains. If municipalities require sustainable practices in storm water management, they will contribute to clean and reliable water for fishing, swimming and drinking.


Philadelphia is making a difference.

Philadelphia International Flower Show

Can Can at the Bistro in miniature.

“Springtime in Paris” - Tres bien!

Under the iconic Eifel Tower, carousel animals set a festive mood for the Philadelphia Horticulture Society extravaganza. Another year of a celebration in flowers.

(Carousel animals designed by Valley Forge Flowers, Wayne PA.)

Waldor Orchids, Linwood, NJ created a laboratory showing the orchid-cloning process pioneered by a French grower. Masses of orchids filled planter beds around the exhibit.

(PHS Award of Distinction, American Orchid Society Trophy, Special Achievement Award Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania - Education)

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Stony Bank Nurseries, Glen Mills spectacular apple and pear tree espaliers highlighted the sustainable garden bursting with herbs, flowers and vegetables.

(Mayor’s Trophy, Garden Club of America Award, Special Achievement Award Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania - Conservation)

Yes, it is a live Shekel Pear Tree espaliered.

A bank of Rhododendron “Chez Daniel” by Repich & Associates, Holicong, PA epitomized the softness of spring. The Repich family created a picture of Eden as a tribute to their father, Daniel Repich, who passed away in January.

(Special Achievement Award Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania - Horticulture)

The exhibits almost defy description. Certainly my pictures can’t do justice to the beauty and amazing details of the show.

Beaautiful fleurs! Heureux les jardins!

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Philadelphia Flower Show

Despite my camera/photographer problems at the Philadelphia International Flower Show, I have a few more photos to share.

Educational Exhibits

Temple University “METROmorphosis – Transforming the Urban World” Best in Show winner in the Academic Educational category - “. . . well crafted examples of a variety of sustainable approaches to garden design within an urban setting.” A metro-meadow, rain garden, courtyard walls that serve as an aqueduct to a rain barrel, a beehive, an edible wall garden (left), worm farms and more high-lighted a display full of sustainable ideas.

Camden City Garden Club and Camden Children’s Garden presented a “Soup and Salad Garden”, a fresh approach with a touch of whimsy. The display “. . . addressed food security and sustainability—a relevant, pressing matter in low-income urban communities.”

“Horticulture Therapy Around the World” by Mid-Atlantic Horticultural Therapy Network made me think of Kathy at ”Weeds and Wildflowers” blog.

A quote from the American Horticultural Therapy Association website:
“Rehabilitative care of hospitalized war veterans in the 1940’s and 1950’s greatly expanded the practice of Horticultural Therapy.”

Some techniques included in the display:
· Constructing wide, gently graded wheelchair accessible entrances and paths.
· Using raised beds and containers (Inverted Stairs Vertical Garden pictured at right.)
· Adapting tools to turn a disability into an ability
· Creating sensory-stimulation environments with plants selected for fragrance texture and color
· Using accessible greenhouses that bring the garden indoors for year-round enjoyment

W.B. Saul High School of Agriculture “Thru Her Gates” created an outstanding 20 foot replica of the Statue of Liberty. The statue was surrounded by well-marked plants from the continents around the world including Mondo Grasses from Japan and Hens & Chicks from Africa and lavender from the Mediterranean. You can see a better picture on March 4 entry of the Flower Show Blog.

Design Exhibit

One of my favorites “Polar Fantasy” from Shafer Designs created a stark, white on white, icy display. Watch the Video from March 3 entry on the Flower Show Blog and feel the chill.

Horticulture Exhibits

Stunning horticulture displays included Mrs. “Dodo” Hamilton’s Clivia miniata.

and this unusual fern.

I can’t wait ‘till next year.

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Philadelphia Flower Show

Passport to the World

This year the Philadelphia International Flower Show celebrated participation by countries around the world since 1829. Over the years, these countries introduced new plants to U.S. gardens.

An excerpt from a quote published in "The American Farmer" in 1829:

“Paeonias from China, Lillium longiflora (Easter Lily) from London Horticultural Society, Strelitzia reginae (Bird of Paradise) from the Cape of Good Hope, Euphorbia presented by Mr. Poinsett, United States Minister to Mexico . . .”

The show was a feast for the eyes after a snowy winter. My camera (or the photographer) was not in the best form. I apologize. To see some excellent pictures and videos visit the Flower Show Blog.

A balloon 28 feet above the floor covered with 80,000 dried flowers, created by Barb King of Valley Forge Flowers, soared above the entrance to the displays.

From India, a wedding Scene by Jamie Rothstein Floral Design created an award winning, eye-popping, jewel-colored display.

Singapore, by Waldor Orchids a People’s Choice Award winner, included an orchid tree and loads of blooming phalaenopsis.

The New Zealand colonial-inspired bog garden, interpreted by Stoney Bank Nurseries, Inc., used local flora that mimic form and textures of New Zealand’s plants. The blue-eyed hot water lizard (Moko), compliments of Greg Levitt of Boyertown PA, surprised us popping out of the bog.

A Brazilian Rain Forest with live tropical birds, a South African village with full-sized native figures and an urban Netherlands flower market with hundreds of tulips rounded out the international displays.

Stories behind the exhibits are excellently portrayed in the Flower Show Blog, Page through the blog for a real feel for this over-the-top flower show.

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Flower Show Plants

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Every year I come home with a few plants from the vendors at the Philadelphia Flower Show. It’s a tradition.

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This year I brought home 2 fuchsia plants and 6 tuberose bulbs. I was very frugal. Some years I had to leave the show because I couldn’t carry any more plants.

Fuchsia - ‘Swingtime’ and ‘Lena’

Philadelphia Flower Show is the only place I have found 3 inch pots of fuchsia. Local nurseries sell huge hanging baskets full of monster plants. I need small plants. (There’s that need word again.)

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I’ll transplant them into 4 inch pots when they get a little bigger. (At least 2 weeks before I put them outside). The 4 inch pots will fit in the wrought iron pot hangers on the shepherd’s hook at the entrance to our deck.

Right now I have these little plants under lights. I’ll feed them every two weeks. Pinch back every second set of leaves. I’ve already taken two cuttings to root. The rooted cuttings will be planted in other porch pot planters.

Flower World USA details fuchsia care.


‘Hawaiian Double Pearl’ Tuberose

We all know how much I need Tuberose. I’ll plant the six bulbs in pots at the end of March. The pots will move to our sunny deck when the nights are reliably at least 60 degrees.

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Hopefully, at the end of summer heavenly aroma will surround us.

I received a free bottle of “Hawaiian Flower Magic” (9-18-9) fertilizer and two free bulbs with the tuberoses. I don’t know what the free bulbs are. It will be fun to plant them and see what happens.

Old House Gardens has information on growing Tuberoses.

So, plants are growing, cuttings are rooting, seeds are planted and I'm a happy gardener again.

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Philadelphia Flower Show

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Bella Italia

As usual for me, the most interesting exhibits were off the main theme gardens.

Temple University Ambler’s “Green Renaissance – The Revival of Sustainable Living”. According to student Denise Wood the main goal is to “help homeowners implement the ideas . . . how to start a home garden, eat locally, use native trees, conserve water.”

The three parterre Italian garden included:

- Xeriscape – (foreground in photo) plants that require little water, recycled porous paving materials – emerald sentinel red cedar, yarrow, sage, silver foliaged plants

- Kitchen Garden (in background in photo) - cool season vegetables, lettuce, leafy herbs and sweet peas.

- Orchard – high bush blueberries, serviceberry, trees and ornamental grasses.

Each garden had its own water feature. Copper aqueducts to harvest rainwater skirted the top of the exhibit (top of photo). It was a spectacular achievement in sustainability, creatively displayed.

According to Dr. Baldev Lambda, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture the students set out to “educate visitors on so many levels that ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ can be presented aesthetically and artistically.”

Philadelphia’s W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences ”South Philly Courtyard Garden” included container plants and use of vertical space with climbing plants. The small garden inside the fence was filled with herbs, vegetables and flowers. The garden illustrated first-rate use of a small space with South Philly’s “Little Italy” nostalgia.

PECO (Philadelphia Electric) drew some attention from the crowd with a model of the 45,000 square foot green roof headquarters in Philadelphia.

PA Parks and Forests foundation encouraged viewers to “bring home the natives.”

Philadelphia Water Department’s “Trivoli, South Philadelphia Style” displayed porous paths, a rain garden and some classy rain barrels.

It was good to see large organizations turn out creative environmentally friendly displays.

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Every year I’m amazed at the scale of this show. The time and money spent to produce acres of displays inside the Convention Center is just mind boggling. But, what a great way to spend a spring-like day.
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Philadelphia Flower Show

“Jazz It Up”
March 2 to 9, 2008

Some of it was glitz and glitter, some of it was informational and inspiring, all of it was loaded with fun and a spirit of New Orleans. (Pictures: Above French Quarter “Jazz It Up” main theme. Carnation saxophone - Fairmount Parks Commission “A Splash of Jazz.”)

Walter B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences in partnership with Philadelphia International Airport presented “Under the Tarmac”. The informational, well-documented exhibit included habitats, animal facts and environmental issues of the wetlands ecosystem surrounding the airport.

“Children Jazz It Up” by Camden City Garden Club highlighted primary colors in the musical instruments, gazebo and exercise equipment. A vegetable garden promoted a healthy diet. Information was available for the Camden Children’s Garden http://www.camdenchildrensgarden.org/ According to the brochure, “The Garden provides horticultural experiences for creative and imaginative play.” It sounds like a fun place to visit.

Winner of the People’s Choice Award (and more) Waldor Orchids of Linwood NJ produced realistic view called “Down On The Bayou”. Waldor’s brochure says it best.

“As the morning mist rises over the Louisiana bayou, a young lad fishes for catfish from the porch of an old fishing shanty. Spanish moss dangles from the branches of the Bald Cypress trees which are laden with colorful orchids and tillandsias. Beware of the alligator lurking nearby in the swamp. It’s just another day in bayou country.”

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The setting made me catch my breath. It was a storybook interpretation of the bayou. Orchids on trees were icing on the cake.

Almost without fail, all exhibits noted plant genus and species. It was good to see many environmentally conscious displays from the Philadelphia Water Department’s “Jazz Up Your Roof” to Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades “Springtime in the Wetlands”.

“The Second Line” brass band snaking its way among the lush exhibits made it truly a N’awlins experience.


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