Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
Normally, breaking traditions kept since 1829 would be a bad thing. But since the past year has been anything but normal, finding new ways to make things happen has been the key to survival. The Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS) Philadelphia Flower Show made history by holding the gardening extravaganza outdoors for the first time in its 193-year run.
Hosting what is called “the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event” takes a year of planning, and what a year it was! Organizers had to rethink and plan the flower show amidst a time of ever-changing circumstances and unknown factors. Fortunately, by the time the June 5 – June 15 event arrived, many of the restrictions in place because of the COVID-19 virus had been lifted, especially for outdoor events. The 2020 Flower Show, held February 29 – March 8, was one of the last major events in Philadelphia before the shut down. So, it’s fitting that the flower show was also part of things opening back up as life begins returning to “normal”, albeit different, in the city. Crowds were excited to have the opportunity to participate, once again, in this horticultural celebration.
This year’s theme “HABITAT: Nature’s Masterpiece” felt right at home in its outdoor setting at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Park, located in Southern Philadelphia along the Delaware River. Attendees could freely walk among gardening exhibits spanning 15 acres of the park, or stop by one of the many vendors dispersed between the displays. According to the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, this year featured “the most designers, gardens, and floral displays in the Show’s history, with over 75 unique installations for guests to see and interact with”. The Show welcomed 34 major exhibitors, including eight “brand-new major exhibitors displaying gardens at the Show for the very first time”.
Among these new exhibitors was Wambui Ippolito, winner of the coveted PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup–Best in Show, Landscape. Her show garden, Etherea, was inspired by memories of her childhood years in East Africa and lifelong travels. The display featured perennial verbena (bonariensis), foxgloves, delphiniums, different types of hydrangeas, and a metal moon gate, along with many other beautiful flowers, grasses, and meaningful symbols to evoke light, air, and peace. The gold medal garden also won the Men’s Garden Club of Delaware Valley Award and the Special Achievement Award of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania.
One of the more artsy and unique displays was created by Nomad Studio, winner of the Governor’s Trophy for its innovative design. Their exhibit named Kokedama Forest consisted of more than 1,200 forest seedling kokedama, nestled in a woven steel structure, creating a miniature sculptural forest. Kokedama, translated from the Japanese as “moss ball” is a creative method of growing plants in a soil ball covered in moss. Visitors were encouraged to enter the “micro-woodland” while surrounded by thousands of elevated kokedamas on the inverted metal dome.
Among the Shore Local Gardener’s favorites were the European countryside inspired Beauté et Générosité by Petit Jardin en Ville, of Philadelphia; PHS Gold Medal winner Mark Cook Landscape and Contracting, LLC (also a favorite at last year’s show) with their exhibit Intertwined; and of course, our South Jersey favorite, the award-winning Waldor Orchids’ exhibit Living with Plants. The Linwood orchid grower has been participating in the Philadelphia Flower Show since the mid-1930s and continues to amaze the crowds and win awards. This year’s display featured a walk-through home scene—complete with a 150-gallon terrarium, a pergola, and a greenhouse. All were filled with orchids, Aroids, and rare plants. Linwood’s Lang’s Garden Market supplied bedding plants, outdoor trees, and shrubs for the display.
While holding the event outdoors was unique and enabled the show to go on this year, it was not without consequences. Temperatures in the 90s made for wilted plants and visitors. Thunderstorms throughout the week made it necessary to evacuate the park during at least one of the scheduled time slots during this “rain or shine” event. But the gardening show came at a time when we had all spent a year confined. It felt like a celebration to breathe in fresh, unmasked air, while surrounded by flowers. Time will tell if PHS organizers will go back to the long tradition of holding the event indoors, just before spring, when we are all craving life and color in the garden. Who knows what the year ahead will hold?
Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.
