The 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show
If you’re ever in or near Philadelphia during the beginning of March, try to stop at the Philadelphia Flower Show.
I hope you saw my photos on my personal Instagram page @MarthaStewart48 - be sure to follow me. Last week, while in the area for a business meeting, I had the opportunity to attend this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. It is the nation’s largest and longest-running indoor flower show, and proceeds benefit the year-round programs organized and managed by the PHS. Started in 1829, the Philadelphia Flower Show gathers hundreds of talented florists, landscapers, and designers from around the world and showcases interesting plant varieties and garden and design concepts. The event also hosts competitions in horticulture and artistic floral arranging and growing. The 2024 show was called "United by Flowers," and celebrated communities that share in the passion for gardening.
Enjoy these photos.
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- There is always so much one can learn from attending a flower show. This unusual plant is Bowiea volubilis, or climbing onion. It is a succulent perennial that thrives in the dry desert regions of eastern and southern Africa.
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- These branches are Corylopsis spicata, or spike winter hazel – part of the exhibit “Two Worlds” by floral designer, Mark Cook.
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- These yellow cut branches are Oncidium, also known as dancing lady orchids.
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- This is a closer look at the Arrange Floral and Event Design’s exhibit, “The Orchid,” which won The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup for Best in Show, Floral.
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- These dried leaves were used in the floor covering for Arrange Floral’s exhibit. They are from Cecropia peltata, or the trumpet tree, a fast-growing tree in the genus Cecropia. It is a common tree in Puerto Rico.
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- And here is a close up view from Apiary Studios exhibit “Right of Way,” which won the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup for Best in Show, Landscape.
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- I took this photo of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s entrance garden. It is the first garden visitors saw upon entering the show. It was titled “Edges and Reflections.” It featured 8500 gallons of water, over 14,000 bulbs and tulips, and more than 75,000 fresh cut stems. Seth Pearsoll, Creative Director and VP of PHS led the design of this garden.
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- It was the Flower Show’s largest body of water ever created. The colorful aerial blooms above reflect in the glass-like water below.
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- This is called Cleistocactus colademononis, or monkey’s tail. It is a pendant cactus covered in a thick coat of soft, hair-like spines. It is native to Bolivia, where it grows on the sides of cliffs with plenty of sun exposure and high humidity.
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- This is Clivia miniata, Clivia. I also have clivias at my farm. Clivia miniata, the Natal lily or bush lily, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Clivia of the family Amaryllidaceae. It is native to woodland habitats in South Africa.
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- This is a potted Cymbidium sp., white orchid with its beautiful blooms. These are exceptionally elegant plants with long lasting blooms. Cymbidiums flower anywhere from four to 12 weeks on the plant and at least two to four-weeks as cut flowers.
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- This ‘Butterscotch’ Rex Begonia features interesting leaves of silver-green with burgundy markings. I have many begonias in my greenhouse – they’re among my favorite of houseplants.
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- You may recognize this tree, it is Laurus nobilis, or bay laurel. Laurus nobilis is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glabrous leaves. It is in the flowering plant family Lauraceae and native to the Mediterranean region. The leaves are popularly used for seasoning in cooking.
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- This is Mammillaria orcuttii, spiny cacti with spherical or columnar stems often in clusters. When in bloom, it bears many prominent tubercles, and funnel-shaped flowers usually in a ring near the apex of the stem.
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- This is called Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myers’ – an asparagus fern. It is a spreading perennial that has a fine texture with a stiff, upright habit. This plant grows fairly rapidly and could grow up to two-feet tall.
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- This orchid is Sophrolaeliocattleya rubescent ateus ‘Waterford.’ I also have many orchids in my personal collection, including cattleyas.
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- Here is a close up of the hanging arrangements from the Schaffer Designs’ exhibit called “Connected: A Floral Legacy.” Many of the installations at the flower show take weeks to complete. This one was also part of the entrance display.
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- This is from Kelly D. Norris’ exhibit “A Beautiful Disturbance,” showing spontaneous vegetation to promote the growing need to reimagine city spaces as homes for future nature.
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- And here is an Acer palmatum ‘Arakawa,’ a rough bark Japanese Maple, with an interesting ruff and corky bark. It develops this jagged bark as the juvenile growth matures. This is one of the most popular cultivars in Japan and is highly sought after in both the landscape and for use as bonsai trees.
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- Before leaving, I stopped for this photo with Seth Pearsoll and Matt Rader, PHS President. Thank you to the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society for a wonderful and informative show.
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