(Updated: July 30, 2018)
Honoring the National Park Service.
One of the few years I missed visiting the Philadelphia Flower Show was the year our older son was born on March 8th during a snowstorm—across the street from the Flower Show. The first Philadelphia Flower Show was held in 1829 and it has been a March fixture in Philadelphia since the 1920’s. Today, the Philadelphia Flower Show is the largest indoor flower show (and competition) in the world.
In contrast to the abnormally warm early March this year, this was the scene that greeted us when we visited Boston at this time last year.
By early March, Philadelphia residents, and indeed most residents of the northeastern United States, have about had it with Old Man Winter. We are especially miserable when it snows during the same month that marks the official start of spring. Winter weather is a double edged sword for the Flower Show organizers, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. On one hand, the end of winter longing for blossoming flowers is a draw, but snow and ice storms can also depress attendance. This year, winter weather was not a problem. Indeed, the day I attended the Philadelphia Flower Show, the high temperature was a freaky record breaking 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27.2 degrees Celsius).
My choice of a flowered shirt might have been influenced by some complaints I heard about what some considered too few flowers at the 2016 Philadelphia Flower.
The Philadelphia Flower Show is held in the cavernous Pennsylvania Convention Center in Center City Philadelphia which is easily reached by public transportation and is next to the Reading Terminal Market, a good bet for lunch at a Philadelphia landmark. Based on preliminary attendance figures, I was among 255,000 visitors to the 2016 Flower Show. It did feel uncomfortably crowded at times. I bought my ticket on-line for $27.00, while others paid $34.00 at the door. Proceeds fund the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. In addition to the major displays of live plants and flowers, over 180 vendors had booths in the marketplace area.
This year (2016), the Philadelphia Flower Show’s theme was “Exploring America” and celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Park Service. As one might expect with this theme, more exhibits were woodsy rather than flowery, although there were plenty of patches of color from flowers. There was some griping from regular attendees who thought there were too few flowers. They should be beyond happy next year when the Philadelphia Flower Show’s theme will honor Holland (the Netherlands), where flowers figure prominently in the country’s reputation.
It’s not too soon to start planning your visit to the Philadelphia Flower Show. While you’re in Philly anyway, why not spend a few extra days visiting the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection? We’ll leave the light on for you.
Here are some photos of the 2016 Philadelphia Flower Show:
In case you forgot you were in Philly, there was this very large, flowery liberty bell.
One of the show’s sponsor’s was “Jump Into Ireland” and they had an exhibit featuring an ancient Irish tomb.
One arrangement from the Ikebana exhibit.
Tulips to get you psyched for next year’s Holland theme.
More tulips.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey that Irish Tomb exhibit is awesome, they are just like that here. Have you looked closely at the photo though? See carved on the stones just inside on the right hand side and at the back – that’s Printemps isn’t it!
Well, having been there with the best tour guide around when it comes to Philly, Phood and Phlowers, The Boomeresque blogger captured the event in the best light. I think we flower lovers think of garden displays and potted flowers over wild flowers. There’s something to be said about nature’s gifts. The displays made me want to take a walk in some of our parks. Wild flowers and trees have a totally different feel, but the flowers do have a scent and are beautiful. I enjoyed it and will definitely visit the parks that were highlighted.
The Philadelphia Flower Show looks like something I would attend every year too if I lived there. The floral Liberty Bell is great. This whole post reminded me how good it felt to have the spring flower catalogues arrive on the coldest day in January.
I love flower shows! I think every city I have ever lived in has one, some better than others, but I have managed to attend a quite a few. I found them especially lovely when they held in the waning days of winter.
Those tulips out there are so lovely and bright. 🙂
I don’t know that I’ve ever actually been to a certified flower show, I don’t think so, but I have been to the Botanical Gardens in Washington, D.C. on more than one occasion. And they go all out for the holidays, really quite special, especially the orchids.
I do not have a green thumb. I can keep an outdoor plant alive pretty well, but indoor plants don’t have a chance with me. With one exception. I have a bougenvilla that our son sent me for Mother’s Day, our 1st year in OR and I’ve managed to keep it alive. Granted, it is normally an outdoor plant but with the brutal cold in OR and MD, it lives in the house quite happily, but it does not bloom.
Apparently, I can’t have it both ways.
We have no living plants in our apartment. I decided it was cruel and inhumane to keep plants and not care for them properly. Your bougainvillea story is sweet, but a little sad. I’m pretty sure that the main reason to have a bougainvillea plant is for the blossoms. 😉
LOVE that liberty bell.