Flock to Gardens & Green Spaces this May

The Flower Show is fleeting, but the PHS team wants to connect you to beautiful gardens year-round. This month is especially exciting if you are a bird lover? From warblers to chickens to hawks, the wide world of birds is much-discussed in our May compilation of gardening and greening events in the Philadelphia region. You can even tour the home of bird-enthusiast John James Audubon on a trip sponsored by the Morris Arboretum.

Click here to learn about these (and other, more traditional) gardening and greening events.

If your mission is to spend time outdoors with the young people in your life, we’ve got a list for that too. There are even night-time events at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Tyler Arboretum, and the Delaware Center for Horticulture—so embrace your nocturnal tendencies!

Click here for the list of kids and family events.

Meadowbrook Farm Presents Plants You’ll Love!

The Meadowbrook Spring Open House on Saturday, April 28 can provide you with phenomenal plants to make this year’s garden your best yet! Below are some essential additions to your garden that will delight and dazzle you.

Lotus Amazon Sunset:  This bold and fiery (yet delicate and ornate) plant is perfect for hanging baskets, containers, and window boxes.  It is also beautiful hanging over a low wall like in the photo on the right. We love this plant because it reminds us of the bold colors and exotic forms found at “Hawaii: Islands of Aloha,” while being perfectly suited for the local climate.

Euphoriba Diamond Frost: This ethereal plant produces masses of pure white bracts above finely textured, apple-green foliage. It can add stunning texture and color to your garden, and thrives in partial shade. As you can see in the picture, the Euphoriba Diamond Frost has intricate blossoms that add whimsy to any garden.

Next up is a very special HGTV mixed container that will make its nationwide debut at the Spring Open House. The planting pictured above is called “orange bliss.” It is part of the Expressions line and is only available at Meadowbrook Farm (while supplies last).

Additional plants for you to fawn over include Nemesia, Diascia, Cuphea, Solenia Begonia, Geraniums, and Verbena. Plant lovers, rejoice! And come on out to the Spring Open House this Saturday! Directions, hours, and additional info on tours and kids crafts can be found at www.meadowbrookfarm.org.

Subaru Sponsors Springtime Festival

Can’t get to Washington, D.C. to see the cherry blossoms? Be awestruck with their beauty a little closer to home at the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia now through April 21. The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia hosts this event, which strives to encourage a better understanding of the cultural, social, and educational customs of Japan and the United States.

The Festival benefits the JASGP Community Tree Planting Project, an ongoing effort to beautify Philadelphia by planting and maintaining cherry trees in area parks. In the spring of 2007, the JASGP finished planting 1,000 cherry trees to supplement the 1,600 flowering trees donated by Japanese government as a gesture of friendship in 1926.

Be sure to keep an eye on the Festival’s schedule of events for when the PHS Plant One Million project will make an appearance. Subaru of America, a sponsor of the Philadelphia International Flower Show for more than 10 years, is the title sponsor of this event and we couldn’t be more proud.

Burke Brothers Landscapes the Macy’s Flower Show

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There are only a few days left to visit the Macy’s Flower Show, “Brasil: Gardens in Paradise,” which is running through April 7 during store hours at the City Center location. Celebrated at Macy’s in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, the show features a variety of activities for the entire family, including organ concerts; floral, tabletop, and cooking demonstrations; guided tours; and more.

Philadelphia International Flower Show major exhibitor Burke Brothers Landscaping was responsible for the installation and creation of the flower gardens in the Grand Court at the old Wanamaker building, shown in pictures here by Laura Blanchard. Fresh from PHS’s Hawaiian-themed show, Burke Brothers was able to use some of the tropical plants from the Convention Center for the Macy’s installation. Once that show is over, the plants will be auctioned off at Burke’s annual fundraiser for the Sara’s Smiles Foundation at Burke’s Cheltenham Avenue location May 4-6.

Hurry—there are only a few days left to bask in the warmth of Brasil (without leaving Philadelphia). Thanks to Burke Brothers and Macy’s for extending Flower Show fever into April!

Macy’s Flower Show Features Some of Our Favorite Designers

We’ve barely caught our collective breath after a trip to Hawaii during this year’s Flower Show, and now Macy’s invites us to another exotic locale during their show, “Brasil: Gardens in Paradise,” March 25 through April 7 during store hours at the City Center location.

Celebrated at Macy’s in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, the show features a variety of activities for the entire family, including organ concerts; floral, tabletop, and cooking demonstrations; guided tours; and more. Also featured is the “Bouquet of the Day,” where local designers create floral masterpieces within the store.

You’ll recognize these participating artists from the Philadelphia Flower Show: Jamie Rothstein, Jamie Rothstein Distinctive Floral Designs (March 25-26); Michael Bruce, Michael Bruce Florist (March 27-28); Donna O’Brien, Beautiful Blooms (March 29-31); Barb King, Valley Forge Flowers (April 1-2); Eric Schellack, Robertson’s Flowers (April 3-4); and Bill Schaffer, Schaffer Designs (April 5-7).

Remember, no passport is required to experience the lush, vibrant South American plants and flowers as interpreted by some of Philadelphia’s most-recognized floral designers. Enjoy!

The Art of Flowers: PHS Teams Up with Museum

In a joint promotion with the 2012 Flower Show, the Philadelphia Museum of Art celebrated its current exhibit,”Van Gogh Up Close,” with “Eight Days of Van Gogh’s Flowers.”

From zinnias to roses to almond blossoms, the botanical paintings by post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh were featured on the Art Museum’s Facebook page, with a description of each plant and a brief history of each painting provided by Janet Evans, PHS librarian.

Looking at van Gogh’s Butterflies and Poppies (pictured above), Janet revealed that poppies were exhibited at a PHS meeting as early as 1834. In July 1889, almost one year before this work is thought to have been painted, van Gogh wrote to his sister Wilhelmina, “If you want to do as artists do, gaze upon the white and red poppies with the bluish leaves, with those buds raising themselves up on stems with gracious curves. The hours of trouble and battle will assuredly come and find us without our going to look for them.” Janet also suggested that if we want to grow our own poppies, they should be planted in well-drained soil that receives full sun.

Art and flowers: A truly inspirational combination! The “Van Gogh Up Close” exhibit is available for your enjoyment until May 6. Before you go, click here to read all “Eight Days of van Gogh’s Flowers.”

Liquid Luau Voters Pick a Favorite!

With almost 300 discerning participants sipping tropical libations around town during the Flower Show, a tally of the responses found that the winner—by a healthy margin—was the Toloache (Hawaiian for “enchanting wild flower”) from Positano Coast by Aldo Lamberti!

The Nani (meaning “beautiful”) from Bridget Foy’s came in second.

In partnership with Center City District, the Liquid Luau gave everyone a chance to experience a taste of Hawaii at some of the area’s best bars and restaurants. A heartfelt “mahalo” to all of the venues and voters who participated, and to Center City District for making this special event possible.

Click here to see the list of recipes.

Liquid Luau: A Sip of Hawaii

Get ready for a Liquid Luau in Center City!

To celebrate the theme of the 2012 Show, the area’s best bars and restaurants have created specialty Hawaiian cocktails, and will be serving them for a limited time: now through March 11!

To add to the fun, you can vote for your favorite drink.  The winner will be announced after March 12, 2012.

Enjoy these drinks at the participating restaurants or try your hand at recreating these at home. Special thanks to Center City District  (CCD) for making this special event possible.

Click here to see the list of recipes. Then vote for your favorite.

Cast a Vote in the Window Decorating Contest

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Are you excited for Flower Show Week? We sure are!

One event to look forward to is the Window Decorating Contest. More than 50 businesses in Philadelphia and beyond have adorned their windows with “Hawaii: Islands of Aloha” decorations.

A panel of judges will choose winners in categories ranging from “Most Creative” to “Best Interpretation of Flower Show Theme.” The awards will be presented on Friday, March 2 at the Convention Center.

But in the era of “American Idol,” we think your opinions matter just as much as those of the expert judges. You can help determine the winner of the “Crowd Favorite” category by following some simple steps.

First, become a fan of the Flower Show Facebook page and check out the Window Decorating Contest photo album. The album contains one photo from each participant. Browse through the many submissions and vote for those you think are tops by hitting the “like” button. The photo with the most “likes” will be awarded “Crowd Favorite.”

If your goal is to see these windows in person, we’ve prepared an interactive map to help you hop from window to window all over town.

Start voting today!

From Casino to Convention Center, SugarHouse is a Sure Bet

SugarHouse Casino, a proud sponsor of the Flower Show, is making it easy for visitors to have an action-packed day at both locations! Purchase your tickets for the Show at the cage cashier in the casino, and then jump on the free shuttle to the Convention Center that will run every hour on the hour for the duration of the Show.

While at the Show, stop by the SugarHouse table in the Man Cave for a chance to win some incredible prizes: From March 5 to 9, you can register for a eight-day, seven-night vacation to the beaches of Hawaii.

On March 10, add your name to the “Cruise into Spring Sweepstakes,” when one participant will be selected every hour from noon until to 8 pm to win a free three-night, four-day cruise to the Bahamas. Good luck!