April in Paris may be cliché,
but for eight days this month, from March 6 to 13, Philadelphia’s annual flower show brings a flower fix extraordinaire with its “Springtime in Paris” themed flower show. Not just any flower show, this show is the nation’s premiere horticultural event with acres of gardens, pocket parks and floral displays. Started in 1829 and conceived as an annual horticultural show, this year’s show brings together garden and green thumb experts for floral tips and seminars, as well as a separate retail section on the convention floor for related flower and garden merchandise. This year’s show offers a tour de force of blooms and blossoms for the casual visitor or the die-hard floral designer.
At the entrance to the show, in the convention center, stands a replica of one of Paris’ most iconic monuments, the Eiffel Tower. Standing 33 feet tall, this magnificent, illuminated arch beckons visitors to explore a Parisian style park filled with perfect flowers and topped off with a fantastic display of animal topiaries set amid blossoming lilacs, lavender, roses and tulips.
Spiraling out from this sprawling floral park are more winding paths lined with French street scenes and pocket parks, accentuated with flowers. A life size floral montage set in an opulent Belle Ėpoque salon and styled to resemble an 1875 glamorous interior parlor, is designed by Jamie Rothstein Distinctive Floral Designs. Rich, antique inspired floral arrangements cascade down window frames like window treatments. Many of the 19th century antiques were loaned by collector John Whitenight loaned a number of his 19th century decorative arts for this installation.
Another remarkable floral installation is “Underground Paris”, an avant-garde floral depiction that pays tribute to the Paris catacombs presented by the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). A maze of underground tunnels and abandoned spaces are decorated with graffiti and fantastic floral arrangements that accentuate the hard edge underworld.
And what could be more Parisian than stumbling onto one of the dozens of secret gardens that actually exist in the city of light. In this case, “En fin de Journée” (At Day’s End), is an isolated garden in a peaceful, verdant setting, offering the perfect place to end a day at the flower show.
For additional information on this year’s show, visit www.theflowershow.com.