Philadelphia Flower Show Draws Huge Crowd to “Explore America”
March 18, 2016
One hundred and eighty-seven years hardly is a nice round number, so the Pennsylvania Flower Show (founded in 1829) is sharing the stage with the relative youngster National Park Service, celebrating its sweet 100.
“The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is honored that the Philadelphia Flower Show has been chosen by the National Park Service as a centennial event marking this amazing milestone,” said Sam Lemheney, PHS Chief of Shows & Events.
The centennial celebrations formed this year's theme "Explore America" at the show, which ran March 5-13 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and highlighted this nation's parks and historic sites.
“The National Park Service and PHS share a commitment to introduce new generations to the beauty of nature, to be good stewards of our environment, to honor the contributions of individuals to our history, and to build vibrant communities,” said Cynthia MacLeod, superintendent of Independence National Historical Park.
Considered one of America's best ideas, "nobody else had national parks until America created the Service – people used to go have picnics in cemeteries,” said Beth MacMillan at the Hamilton Horticourt Info Booth.
Complementing this theme, the nation's largest flower show had exhibits showcasing organic and sustainable practices, countless plant varieties, garden and design concepts and vendors including Oasis Floral Products, which according to Kelly Mace, aims to "make more high-end floral products available to the consumer, especially garden clubs, who might not be able to find everything locally."
Ruth Ong drove in from New York City and agreed with the judges who awarded "Best of Show: Floral" to Robertson's Flowers and Events.
The vibrant red arrangement "defied gravity" and following the Explore America theme, the "best part was that it was inspired by Arches [National Park], but didn't try to mimic it. Instead it was kept very abstract and definitely beautiful,” Ong said.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Flower Show wrapped up March 13, but you know that the "Big 188" is right around the corner. Word around the Horticourt is a "Holland" spotlight theme is planned for next year.
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