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2007 Annual Report
Philadelphia Flower Show
On March 4, 2007, the 178th Philadelphia Flower Show, “Legends of Ireland,” opened to the public at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This year’s Show drew more than 250,000 people, who were attracted to the Irish theme, fabulous exhibits, and entertainment.
Thanks to a partnership with Tourism Ireland, renowned garden designer Chris Woods served as guest designer for the major themed exhibit. Former director of Chanticleer in Wayne, PA, Woods is now director of the VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, Canada.
Visitors entered the Show through the Living Wall, an archway overflowing with colorful plants created by Valley Forge Flowers. Stepping into Hall A, they walked amid the Ealain Wood, a serene forest featuring towering trees and plantings of daffodils, including cultivars originated in Ireland. Next up were the exuberant Knot Garden and Spiral Garden displays (designed by Jamie Rothstein Floral Design) that led to the Castle of the Emerald Kingdom. The castle featured a delightful surprise—a stage upon which high-stepping Irish dancers and musicians entertained Show-goers throughout the day with their electrifying Celtic music. Says PHS president Jane Pepper, “These young performers had astounding energy. Our visitors couldn’t get enough of them.”
PHS also staged colorful exhibits about its Philadelphia Green and Gold Medal Plant Award programs. Meadowbrook Farm created its own vision of Ireland’s beauty, too. “Because our exhibit was a classic Irish ‘walled garden,’” says Jessica Story, head grower at Meadowbrook, “it was designed to be stunning from any angle.”
Education and competition reigned in Hall B, where visitors encountered the Grow It, Know It, Show It section. Here, one could find everything from exotic plants to the artistic and design classes, all of them brimming with sterling horticulture and gardening know-how. In the horticulture section, new colors, a more open layout and new signs helped make the viewer’s experience more enjoyable. New display modules provided added flexibility for entries in this growing section of the Show. Special thanks to Mrs. Samuel M. V. Hamilton for making these changes possible.
Other attractions included the PNC People’s Choice Pavilion, where Show visitors voted on their favorite exhibits; Borders Book Fair; the Gardener’s Studio (sponsored by Subaru); culinary demonstrations; garden lectures and demonstrations; and the popular Garden Tea.
Revenues generated by the Philadelphia Flower Show help support the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s programs, including Philadelphia Green, the nation’s most comprehensive urban greening program.
PHS gratefully acknowledges the sponsors of the 2007 Philadelphia Flower Show. New Official Sponsors this year were Acme Markets, Monrovia, PHL-Philadelphia Airport System, and Smith & Nephew. They joined long-time Presenting Sponsor PNC Bank; Premier Sponsors Surbaru of America, Inc. and Tourism Ireland; and Official Sponsors ARAMARK, Bartlett Tree Experts, EP Henry, Fiskars, Philadelphia Newspapers Inc., and 6ABC/WPVI-TV.♦ |
