The Best Philadelphia Flower Show Ever

March 4th, 2015

I’ve seen 20+ Philadelphia Flowers Shows, and they’re all impressive enough that I never get tired of them.

But I’d have to rate this year’s film-themed show as my favorite – ever.

The main entry is absolutely magnificent with its 1920s, neon-bannered movie marquee and chandeliers of thousands of cut flowers.

Most years I can pick a few stand-out display gardens. Not this year. About a dozen of them are neck-and-neck top notch.

The movie tie-ins gave the landscapers much room for creativity.

From Inchscape’s elegant Persian mogul’s pavilion on the water to Burke Brothers’ “Cars”-inspired junkyard garden with live chickens, this was a diverse and imaginative year.

I hope you got to see it – or get there before it becomes history on Sun., March 8.

If not, I posted a photo gallery on Pennlive of 30 pictures I took during my trips there.

As I told my bus groups, I have a ton of respect for what the landscapers and florists accomplish at this show.

It takes tremendous skill, creativity, talent, plant knowledge and even engineering know-how to build such elaborate blooming displays while it’s still winter.

Getting mums to bloom on cue at the same time you’re pushing along azaleas and roses is as tough as conducting any symphony.

Lots can go wrong trying to get everything right.

This year, for example, the ridiculous cold weather sent the temperature overnight inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center below freezing during setup.

Some of the exhibitors had their ready-to-go plants wilt down before the show even opened.

I’ve had a hand in building display gardens at past Pennsylvania Garden Expos, and I can tell you a lot of work, finagling and last-minute trouble-shooting go into the effort.

If only everyone could see the beehive of activity (often frantically so) of the flower show in the days before opening, we’d all appreciate the accomplishment that much more.

My hat is off to the 2015 show. And I don’t do that lightly since my balding head is prone to cold and sunburn…