Philadelphia Blooming

It’s the largest flower show in the world, and it comes every year at a time when most folks are sick of winter. The Philadelphia Flower Show, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, is running now through Sunday, March 8. The theme this year is Bella Italia, which means wine and food tastings, Italian cooking demos with local celebrity chefs, opera singers, and Italian-style gardens with pergolas, stone walls and outdoor living rooms. Plus the usual acres of gorgeous flowers, plants and garden designs.

Professional landscapers, florists, horticultural and educational organizations create full-scale gardens each year at the show, and spend months arranging their displays so that their flowers, trees and shrubs will be at peak bloom.

The designers compete for the “Best in Show”

Major Exhibitors award in each of their respective categories.

Sunday is Girl Scout Day, with half-price admission for Girl Scouts in uniform, and Scouts can earn a horticulture patch by attending the 11:30 program about growing plants from seeds. More importantly, Girl Scouts will be selling their COOKIES in the Family Lounge all weekend — get them while you can!

Traveler‘s production manager David Burneston and his wife spent a day at the show and came back with photos, garden ideas and a new obsession with pergolas (see above).  They also recommended eating across the street at the Reading Terminal Market, one of the oldest farmers markets in the country.

All proceeds for the show support the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, including its urban greening program, Philadelphia Green, which “empowers people to make the city a more attractive and livable place through horticulture. 

Another plus: if you take the train to the Flower Show, Amtrak will give you 20% off the regular fare.

Photo by David Burneston