Philadelphia Flower Show facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philadelphia Flower Show |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
2017 Philadelphia Flower Show entrance.
|
|
| Frequency | Annual |
| Venue | |
| Organized by | Pennsylvania Horticultural Society |
| Website | http://theflowershow.com |
The Philadelphia Flower Show is a super cool yearly event put on by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). It usually happens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in early March. It's the oldest and biggest indoor flower show in the whole world! More than 250,000 people visit it every year. People often call it "the country's oldest, largest, and most famous celebration of flowers."
The show has amazing large gardens. These range from fancy, designed landscapes to single plants entered by individuals or clubs. Each year, the PHS picks a special theme for the show. All the displays are judged in many different groups, and the competition is tough!
A really popular spot at the show is the Garden Marketplace. Here, visitors can buy all sorts of things. You can find plants, seeds, cut flowers, handmade crafts, and other items related to flowers and gardening.
The Flower Show also offers awesome flower and garden designs. You can enjoy live entertainment and special food events. Plus, there are great workshops and talks by experts who teach you how to garden.
In June 2022, the show had 40 main exhibitors. Its theme was "In Full Bloom."
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show was held outdoors in the summer at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park in 2021 and 2022. It moved back to the Convention Center in March 2023. The theme for 2023 was "The Garden Electric."
Competing in the Flower Show
Many people love to compete in the Flower Show's amateur division, called the Competitive Classes. These classes often have a theme that matches the main show's theme. For example, in 2007, the show's theme was "Legends of Ireland." One class for dried flower pictures had to include a "Celtic Knot."
Another fun challenge is the Challenge class. Here, people only bring their pruning shears. They have to use materials provided at the show to create something based on a theme. They only have a limited time to do it!
The PHS director of design, Seth Pearsoll, explained what they look for. He said they want designers who love plants and gardening. They also want people who think about how their designs connect to bigger ideas in the world. He hopes visitors feel excited and changed by the gardens and the ideas behind them.
History of the Flower Show
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) is a non-profit group that started in 1827. They use gardening to help the Greater Philadelphia area. Their programs help create healthier places to live. They also help people get fresh food, find jobs, and make stronger connections with each other.
The very first Philadelphia Flower Show happened in 1829 in a Freemason building. It was a one-day event that showed off fruits, flowers, and plants. A special plant called the poinsettia, which was new from Mexico, was shown there. Some say the Flower Show helped make poinsettias a popular Christmas tradition in America!
There were no shows during the World Wars, from 1917–18 and 1942–45.
In 1925, the PHS teamed up with the Florist Club. That year, 84,000 people came to the show. Later, in 1927, a new group called Philadelphia Flower Show, Inc. took over running the show.
The show stopped for a short time in 1964 because they couldn't find a good place to hold it. But it came back in 1966! It moved to the Philadelphia Civic Center and stayed there until 1996. Then, it moved to its current home at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Today, the Flower Show helps the local economy and makes Philadelphia greener. The money earned from the show helps fund thousands of projects. These projects help improve communities. In recent years, a special youth section was added for pressed flowers. A 17-year-old student named Kendall Wolson won recently. She made a scene with two bears catching fish in a river!
In 2021, the Philadelphia Flower Show was held outdoors at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park in June. This was a big change because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first time the show was held outside! The 2022 show was also at FDR Park. In 2023, the show returned to the Pennsylvania Convention Center in March.
Dates and Themes
| Year | Date range | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | February 29 - March 8 | Riviera Holiday |
| 2019 | March 2 - 10 | Flower Power |
| 2018 | March 3 - 11 | Wonders of Water |
| 2017 | March 11 - 19 | Holland: Flowering the World |
| 2016 | March 5 - 13 | Explore America |
| 2015 | February 28 - March 8 | Celebrate the Movies |
| 2014 | March 1 - 9 | ARTiculture |
| 2013 | March 2 - 10 | Brilliant! |
| 2012 | March 4 - 11 | Hawaii: Islands of Aloha |
| 2011 | March 6 - 13 | Springtime in Paris |
| 2010 | February 28 - March 7 | Passport to the World |
| 2009 | March 1 - 8 | Bella Italia |
| 2008 | March 2 - 9 | Jazz It Up! |
| 2007 | March 4 - 11 | Legends of Ireland |
| 2006 | March 5 - 12 | Enchanted Spring...A Tribute to Mother Nature |
| 2005 | March 6 - 13 | America the Beautiful |
| 2004 | March 7 - 14 | Destination Paradise |
| 2003 | March 2 - 9 | Festival de Las Flores |
| 2002 | March 3 - 10 | The Pleasures of the Garden |
| 2001 | March 4 - 11 | Great Gardeners of the World |
| 2000 | March 5 - 12 | Gardens for the New Millennium |
| 1999 | March 7 - 14 | Design on Nature...the Art of Gardening |
| 1998 | March 1 - 8 | La Passion du Jardin |
| 1997 | March 2 - 9 | The Great Exchange - People, Places, and Plants |
| 1996 | February 25 - March 3 | This Land is Your Land - "Philadelphia In Flower" |
| 1995 | March 5 - 12 | Moments in Time...A Galaxy of Gardens |
| 1994 | March 6 - 13 | Islands in the Sun |
| 1993 | March 7 -14 | Preserving the Past, Presenting the Future |
| 1992 | March 8 - 15 | Horizons for Discovery |
| 1991 | March 10 - 17 | Endless Spring |
| 1990 | March 11 - 18 | Purely for Pleasure...Gardens for the Senses |
| 1989 | March 5 - 12 | Kaleidoscope...The Wonderful World of Color |
| 1988 | March 6 - 13 | The World is Your Garden |
| 1987 | March 8 - 15 | The Way We Were...Gardens from the Past |
| 1986 | March 9 - 16 | Hometown USA |
| 1985 | March 3 - 10 | A Touch of Britain...Our Garden Heritage |
| 1984 | March 11 - 18 | A Trip to the Orient |
| 1983 | March 6 - 13 | Follow the Sun |
| 1982 | March 7 - 14 | Penn's Greene Countrie Towne |
| 1981 | March 8 - 15 | N/A |
| 1980 | March 9 - 16 | N/A |
| 1979 | March 18 - 25 | N/A |
| 1978 | March 5 - 12 | N/A |
| 1977 | March 13 - 20 | N/A |
| 1976 | March 7 - 14 | N/A |
| 1975 | March 9 - 16 | N/A |
| 1974 | March 10 - 17 | N/A |
| 1973 | March 11 - 18 | N/A |
| 1972 | March 12 - 19 | N/A |
| 1971 | March 7 - 14 | N/A |
| 1970 | March 15 - 22 | You and Your Garden |
| 1969 | March 9 - 16 | Flowers Round the World |
| 1968 | March 10 - 17 | N/A |
| 1967 | March 12 - 19 | A Carnival of Flowers |
| 1966 | March 12 - 17 | Natural Beauty in Town and Country |
| 1965 | March 13 - 18 | N/A |
| 1964 | March 8 - 14 | An Abundance of Flowers |
| 1963 | March 10 - 17 | N/A |
| 1962 | March 11 - 18 | Garden Bounty |
| 1961 | March 5 - 11 | N/A |
| 1960 | March 7 - 12 | Dancing Waters |
You can find historical art and photos from 1829 to today about the PHS's Flower Show. Just check out the Digital Archives of the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Gallery
-
2009 Philadelphia Flower Show
-
2010 Philadelphia Flower Show
-
Carousel animal, 2011
-
Dolphin, Eiffel Tower, 2011
-
Flowers, 2011
-
Boat of flowers, 2011
-
Green Wall, 2011
-
Philadelphia Flower Show 2015
-
2015 Philadelphia Flower Show
-
2015 Philadelphia Flower Show
-
2017 Philadelphia Flower Show
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
