It’s time for the overwhelming visual cacophony that is the Philadelphia Flower Show, with displays that suspend disbelief in a combination Cirque du Soleil-Mummers Parade riot of color and structure.
This grandmommy of all flower shows, now in its 182nd year, offers a globe-trotting theme “Passport to the World.” The show opens Feb. 28 and runs through Mar. 7.
The central feature takes a page from the Rose Parade with a towering 28-foot-high hot-air balloon covered in more than 79,000 dried flowers. This Victorian-era Explorer’s Garden display is a nod to the flower show’s roots of introducing newly discovered international plants to American audiences like magnolias, peonies, birds of paradise, camilla and rubber trees. Oversized Wardian cases showcasing giant floating waterlily pads and blooms will be placed throughout the main feature, mixed with heritage plants collected through the 1838-42 Wilkes Expedition and more recent finds from Longwood Gardens Inc., Morris Arboretum, the University of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Botanic Gardens.
This year the flower show has added the word International to its name to better reflect the influence and participation of horticulturalists and designers from around the world. In the feature gardens, visitors will encounter life-size elephant floral topiary next to lotus-filled pool in India, 100,000 flowering bulbs in the Netherlands, Zulu headdresses and drummers in the South African display, a plunging 15-foot Brazilian jungle waterfall, a formal orchid celebration in Singapore, and a Maori celebration of native New Zealand plants.
Also the landscapes and plants of China, Japan, Thailand, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, the Caribbean, and an artful perspective on the northern polar region’s Aurora Borealis will all be featured in the show.
Complementing the international flavor, daily musical and dance performances will be held on the Explorer’s Stage, including classical Indian musicians Bollywood-style dances, and Brazilian music and dance. And look out overhead as handlers from the Philadelphia Zoo set exotic trained parrots aloft throughout the show to add to the spectacle.
For those flower-weary, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and a display of fashions will also be featured. A bevy of activities appeals to the younger set, with family friendly pricing packages designed to woo all and a special program to teach kids how to create their own home vegetable gardens.
Navigating the show
Serious plant lovers will spend the entire day, if not multiple days to take it all in. The more casual visitors should plan for at least five hours. Basic tickets are $23, but a number of special packages are available.
A favorite stress-free way to take it all in is to hop aboard Amtrak, then take SEPTA to the convention center (free with your Amtrak ticket stub). Before you walk into the Convention Center, stop next door at the Reading Terminal Market to fill up on great, fresh food, much of it grown here. After the show, Chinatown makes for a good dinner option, but with so many great restaurants to choose from, you may want to research one to suit your tastes before you arrive. Many are serving up special Flower Show menus and pricing discounts.
If possible, avoid visiting March 6, as the only Saturday of the flower show is often the most packed.
Another strategy, visit the vendors in the Marketplace and check out the results in the competitive classes in the morning, taking in the major exhibits after noon when the crowds tend to thin.
Give your feet a rest at one of the 150 scheduled gardening presentations.
Bring a camera and a notepad to document plants you want to try this year, or save up for eventually. A number of displays will feature hardy, easy-to-grow plants for novice gardeners.
The show runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. through the week and from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.