THE 2007 Philadelphia Flower Show "Legends of Ireland" March 4 - 11, 2007

The Philadelphia Flower Show

If you've never been to the Philadelphia Flower Show, you don't know what you are missing! There's really nothing quite like this annual 9 day event. While most of us are recovering from the holiday season and wondering how we're ever going to make it through another Northeast winter, thoughts of the Flower Show held every March are there to spirit us through the bleakest days of winter. Not that the weather cooperates for the flowers who appear at the show, but they do seem happily oblivious to what is happening outdoors. It doesn't really matter if it's sleeting, snowing or the March winds are blowing, the show always goes on!

Stars of the Show

There is only one reason and one reason only that hundreds of thousands of people come to the Pennsylvania Convention Center: the seemingly endless displays of exquisite flowers! Sweet, unpretentious things that they are, they never act haughty. I do think they know that we love them because they put on their most beguiling faces and stare back at us, some batting their bachelor button eyes, others turning their Paphiopedilum orchid faces our way. It seems that liking flowers is not enough to make you want to walk the 10 acres of the Convention Center floor, you simply have to be altogether passionate about them. Passion for flowers is what has kept the show in bloom year after year for 176 years!

Flower Show History

The Philadelphia Flower Show celebrated its 175th Anniversary in 2004. The first show was held in 1829, two years after the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society was founded and only twenty-five of its members shared their plants with visitors. The show continued as an annual event right through the Depression era, and only went on hiatus for two years during World War II due to lack of manpower and fuel to run the greenhouses. A few location snafus in the late 1960's caused a few bumps along the way, but when the Pennsylvania Convention Center opened its doors to the Flower Show in 1996, it has remained there ever since.

Philadelphia Green

The Pennsylvania Horticulture Society (PHS) continues to sponsor this event yearly. You may think it's all glitz, glamour and commercialism, but the PHS "Philadelphia Green" program is a national model for urban revitalization. All proceeds from the show help to provide educational programs to area residents on horticulture, as well as helping to create and maintain community gardens and parks throughout the city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia Green has transformed once vacant lots into lush, green landscapes.

Fooled Again

It's not easy tricking plants into blooming for the show. It's a science. No artificial plants of any kind are allowed, so forcing plants, trees and flowers with heat and high-intensity lights are part of what makes or breaks your exhibit. Miscalculating by a week or two spells disaster when it comes to being ready for the show. What does it take to bring all the factors together? Experience! Many of the show's exhibitors have attended the show for over 25 years!

What's happening at the show?

Major Exhibits

The major exhibits are lavish, at times theatrical and always draw the biggest crowds. Those very few who are lucky enough to have a Central Exhibit start planning for the show 2-3 years ahead of time. But the rest of the exhibits are put on by schools, local florists and nurseries, non-profit institutions, government agencies and even public utilities. The major exhibits are judged and winners take home cash prizes, trophies and awards.

Horticulture Classes

Garden enthusiasts with the greenest thumbs in the nation bring their prized plants to be judged in the show's Horticulture Classes with the hope of taking home a blue (ribbon). The judging goes on for three days while the plants undergo the closest scrutiny. Over 175 judges come from all over the country to look over a plant that may have been grown on your Aunt Mary's windowsill! Talk about pressure! But it must be worth it, because some of the same people enter their plants year after year hoping that they've reached plant perfection.

Artistic and Design Classes

Nothing is quite as awe inspiring as the Artistic and Design Classes. Entrants sometimes take up to a week to ready their displays. Exhibitors range from high school students to garden clubs. The exhibits are truly breathtaking and can be two stories high or the tiniest of miniatures. These entrants must arrive early in the mornings to set up their displays and to primp and make sure that it is nothing less than picture perfect.

The Marketplace

The Flower Show consists of over 140 merchants in its marketplace.  You can find everything here from lawn ornaments, to the latest flowering bulbs and fresh cut flowers.

All Set for Another Year

This year the Flower Show theme is Legends of Ireland. If you've been to the show before I hope I've helped to round out your experience with some interesting facts. If you've never been to the Philadelphia Flower Show, I hope that you'll be inspired to come and see first hand why so many people are absolutely gaga over the event!

This beautiful book is a behind-the-scenes tour of the Show with interviews and profiles of exhibitors, organizers, and designers. Lavish full-color photographs of the prizewinning plants and large displays capture the proceedings in stunning detail. Click image or title for more information.