Wet & Wild
Orchids, birds of paradise, a huge (3 feet in diameter!) water lily and a modernistic multi-level 25 foot bamboo waterfall amid a lush rain forest, await at this year’s annual Philadelphia Flower Show. Celebrating its 189th year as the country’s longest-running horticultural event, this year’s show is sure to impress with its celebration of water, entitled, “Wonders of Water.” Tropical jungles, temperate forests, native woodlands and arid landscapes will abound.
And like every year, the Philadelphia Flower Show will showcase thousands of gardener’s plants, competing for blue ribbons in the Hamilton Horticourt, but the show will have some new features you may also want to check out:
- Self-guided audio tours
- An inaugural Philadelphia Water Summit, featuring a panel of environmental and industry experts talking about water issues and solutions
- Make-and-take tables where visitors can make their own mini-water gardens or flower crowns
- Plant galleries where visitors can learn about new plant varieties for their home gardens
- Plus, local NJ peony expert and Gardener News Person of the Year, Kathleen Gagan, will be there showcasing her peony farm and sharing her educational peony wisdom
The Philadelphia Flower Show is the world’s largest indoor flower exhibition and was first held in 1829 presenting the poinsettia for the first time in America. In 1968, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) became the show’s official producer and in 1996 it was moved to its current location in the Philadelphia Convention Center. Attracting over 250,000 visitors annually, the show is dedicated to Gardening, Greening and Learning (PHS programs). The yearly exhibition showcases contemporary trends and advances in horticulture by national and international horticultural groups including nurseries, plant societies, garden clubs and trade organizations.
From its humble beginnings of a group of farmers, botanists and plant enthusiasts, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society now boasts over 20,000 members/volunteers, working on an abundance of community oriented initiatives. So not only can you enjoy this year’s ‘wet and wild’ show, but you can be rest assured that the cost of your ticket is helping fund important activities including public landscaping, community gardens (150 and counting), and tree-plantings (2,000 a year!).
Want to join us on our March 8th trip to the show? Click the link below and together we can explore the ‘wet and wild’ side of horticulture!
https://www.reeves-reedarboretum.org/calendar/?date=2018-03-08#calendarTop
