The Philadelphia Flower Show (Part III)

A bit of the old sod...

The theme of this year's Philadelphia Flower Show was "Legends of Ireland" and in a Wizard-of-Ozian way, entire clods of Irish countryside, including cottages and stone churches, spun their way through the skies and landed in the capacious confines of the convention center.

This thatched cottage with overflowing flower gardens around it was realistic enough that visitors could be forgiven for wanting to walk up the path to the door for a spot of tea.

These major exhibits vie for Pennsylvania Horticulture Society awards in various categories and are a major draw for the 250,000+ visitors that attend every year. They are spectacular feats of design and maintenance (which can't be easy indoors). Unfortunately, as in years past, they are very poorly lit, which detracts from their effectiveness. Whether this is done intentionally to heighten drama or is an attempt to keep the plant material fresh longer, I hope that show administrators revisit the issue of display lighting.

No excuses for missing church!

It would be fascinating to document the design and construction of one of these marvels. The logistics and planning necessary to pull one of these displays off properly must be complex. Soil, rock, turf, and flowering material at it's peak (though by nature out of season), all need to be coordinated--and that's before you start constructing stone churchyards!

Not everyone stuck to the Irish theme. The number of competitive classes is truly enormous, as a glance through the show's Exhibitor's Guide reveals. Botanical artworks and crafts also have their day and many classes are set aside for these artisans.

Tropical orchid paradise

A tropical orchid garden, with hundreds of blooming orchids and magnificent tropical foliage plants had plenty of fans. The color is non-stop and the incredible forms of orchid flowers tempted the crowds to get up close for a look.

And even more adventurous designers challenged visitor imaginations with their unique creations. Balls of foliage on stilts (why do I keep thinking of the Ewoks in Star Wars?) had many doing double and triple takes. With all the attention being focused on roof-top and wall gardens these days, it isn't such a great leap to move to horticulture of a completely different kind.

So what would YOU call it?

Part of the take away message for the crowds was to expand their notion of what can be done with plants. Open minds foster creativity and imagination was in full force all over the show floor. Ideas showcased in the exhibits were transferable to home surroundings--even though significant modifications might be required in certain situations.

Large or small, exhibits were eye-candy for the home gardener. A large marketplace was the perfect spot to begin looking for elements for that "new look."

Smaller displays were in abundance, and although much less complex than the big entrants, were just as interesting (and even more approachable).

Bulbs for sale...

Window boxes, niche displays, ikebana, and other flower arrangements focused attention on the beauty of small and manageable horticulture. More within the realm of individual (as opposed to corporate) exhibitors, these classes utilized cut flowers from tulips to orchids--and things even more exotic to create designs both traditional and fantastic.

The smaller the exhibit the more creativity was necessary to make it stand out. The challenges of designing on a small scale are sometimes more pronounced than in a larger setting where sheer volume and scale make up for a multitude of sins.

Melding interior and exterior spaces is a trend in the garden world and the show always accommodates with some of the wildest table arranging you'll see anywhere.

Imagine the evening you'd have in either of these eat-in gardens. Here soft light is an asset. The pink table is reached by stepping stones across a shallow pond.

My new dining room....

The entire tableau is a study in romantic elegance. It is soft, luscious and inviting--the kind of setting you'd linger in with a glass of wine and soft music.

The plantings on the shore add to the scheme and complement the extravagant floral and table arrangement. Shake me. Wake me--it must be a dream....It's not too difficult to forget entirely where you are--except that you can't stay...

The white table is no less romantic, but very different. To my eye it's a little harsher and more formal. It's equally as elegant but has a slight edge to it that would encouage one to be on his best behavior.

...and its closest competitor at this year's show.

The use of flowers and floral elements is even more pronounced although this is a more indoor as opposed to outdoor setting.

While a deep pocket and plenty of help would be necessary to realize either of these designs in their entirety, the details spawn ideas for anyone's entertaining.

As with the rest of the Philadelphia Flower Show, there are ideas for you to take home everywhere you look. Visit the displays and the marketplace. Scour the competitive horticultural classes to see how your gardening skills stack up. Just don't miss it...Same time next year!

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Copyright  2006- 2007 by Carlo A. Balistrieri.
All rights reserved.