Another Philadelphia Flower Show has come and gone – this year’s event brought 250,000 visitors through its doors, raising about $1 million for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Even though Philadelphia faced not one but two Nor’Easters during the span of the show, with them bringing power outages and snow-ins alike, fans remained unfazed by the weather and persevered into Center City to admire this year’s theme, the “Wonders of Water.”
Sam Lemheney, the PHS chief of shows and events, mentioned that this was the Philadelphia Flower Show’s most educational year yet, as guests had the opportunity to learn about water conservation on a more personal level.
With flowers featured from warmer, wetter conditions, Flower Show-goers remarked they felt like they were in a rainforest, especially thanks to the rain curtain and suspended rope bridge. The rainforest entrance alone was enough to transport guests, with its 25-foot waterfall and canopy filled to the brim with plants, flowers, and vines. There were also over 1000 butterflies fluttering around at Butterflies Live, another feature of the 2018 Flower Show.
Bethany Ao of Philly.com joked that the rainforest feel was a welcome escape from the mountains of snow that otherwise surrounded the city. For a brief afternoon, visitors could pretend they were exploring the Amazon rather than fighting the wind as they traveled back home.
This year’s show also featured Flowers After Hours, a special dance party and concert on the first Saturday evening of the show. The musical act? The Village People, featuring Ray Simpson, and Robert Drake from WXPN. It required a separate ticket, but definitely started the nine-day event off with a bang.
For the furry showgoers, the Philadelphia Flower Show also had Fido Friday. Dogs were free to come and explore the show, complete with a “yappy hour” and “pupperazzi,” where, of course, you were invited to take selfies of yourself and your dog.
Some other celebrity attendees included the renowned designer herself, Martha Stewart, where she signed books for lucky visitors. Smokey Robinson, too, made an appearance, having recently launched a line of wines, and generously offered to autograph bottles that first Saturday and Sunday.
Next year’s theme will be Flower Power, a nod to the 60s and Woodstock, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. The show will also incorporate the Florists’ Transworld Delivery World Cup, otherwise known in the horticultural circles as the premier flower design competition in the world.