Girl Scouts Day, March 8 – 1/2 price for Scouts

To follow up on LBH’s post, all Girl Scouts (ages 17 and under) are invited to the Flower Show, Sunday March 8 for 1/2 price. Just reserve your ticket by emailing csharkey@pennhort.org, then show up in your uniform at the WILL CALL booth (12th and Arch St. West Entrance)–pay and pick up your ticket. Stop by the press conference at 1:30pm to see the new patch announcement.

And moms, grandmoms, leaders, friends–if you want to make it really a special day, treat your favorite Girl Scout to an afternoon tea at 3:45pm. P.S., did you know that the Girl Scouts of Eastern PA chapter were the first to start the cookie program and this is its 75th anniversary? How cool is that!?

This is T.J.

T.J. greets each visitor to Beautiful Blooms Urban Floral and Event Design Space, which is exhibiting in the Flower Show for the first time this year.

Even though T.J.weighs 120 pounds, he has a gentle demeanor and makes all of the customers at Beautiful Blooms, located in Northern Liberties in Philadelphia, feel at ease. Owner Donna O’Brien says he hopes for a rub on the back or behind the ear, but mostly he just lays by the table and listens quietly to every word. Clients have laid on the floor with him when they weren’t feeling well and used him as a pillow. He has entertained grooms and relaxed with children. He welcomes the floral delivery supplier and waits for his treat from the UPS driver.

If you haven’t heard, Donna, T.J, and her whole team are opening a 1,200-square-foot European retail shop five blocks away from her current space. This “Best of Philly” winner will offer hand-tied bouquets, cut flowers, flowers by the stem, and arrangements along with gifts, soaps, books, and more. Can’t wait to see it.

To learn more about all the major floral and landscape exhibitors, please visit here.

Get Your Vote On

Flower Show fever is spreading. More than 50 store-front windows around Philadelphia are competing in our 14th Annual Phlower Power Window Decorating Contest. Check out the windows on our Flickr page and vote for your favorite starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 20) by e-mailing us at phlowerpower@pennhort.org.

An Amazing Year of Greening

Thousands of people look forward to the Flower Show each year as their official kick off to spring, but for many, it’s also a time to look back at all the projects  Philadelphia Green has accomplished. Philadelphia Green, the acclaimed urban greening program of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, receives the proceeds of the Philadelphia Flower Show.

For more about green views at the Flower Show, go here. For a look back, keep reading.

Do I Smell Girl Scout Cookies?

Yes, it’s not a mirage. There are Girl Scout cookies in the office. And that’s because there will be Girl Scout Day at the Flower Show on March 8.

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania will be out in full force–and uniform–that day to join with PHS to launch a new patch program that will encourage scouts to conduct greening projects in their neighborhoods.

Through the hands-on program, called  “Planting Seeds, Growing Lives,”  scouts will learn about planting and maintaining vegetables, flowers and trees. Scouts will work in teams to improve open spaces with a goal to become green leaders in their communities.  At next year’s Flower Show, select scouts who earn the new badge will be honored at a special ceremony.

Ah, to be young again. Stay tuned for more info and the reveal of the new patch. Now where are those cookies? 

Meet the Experts

I have to be honest. I am not a great gardener. I live in the city (so I have a small backyard, which doesn’t look so great right now). But I am interested in making it better. If you have any interest about gardening (new homeowners), flowers (brides-to-be), or even crafts (wreath makers), I would highly recommend checking out the lecture and demo schedule. Plus you can meet some of the speakers, and even get their book signed (Joseph Fox Bookshop will be hosting a number of book signings at the Show including P. Allen Smith – TV star/gardener).  Read more for total list of book signings.

Shoppe until you…Droppe?

One of the Many Marketplace Vendors

The Flower Show is a dream-come-true for those who love to shop. The Marketplace, which takes up roughly one-third of the Show floor, features more than 150 vendors selling everything from beeswax candles to big-ticket items like garden sculptures and sunrooms. View the list of vendors here.

The Marketplace is nothing short of fabulous, but there’s only one place to pick up official Flower Show merchandise, the Show Shoppe. Learn more after the jump.