The Philadelphia Flower Show’s Passport to the World! Part V

in Garden Buzz by Britt — March 8, 2010 at 12:57 am | 0 comments

The Philadelphia Flower Show’s Victorian envisioned Passport to the World was a journey worth taking!  On entry we were greeted by the Explorer’s Garden which greeted visitors with a 28 foot high floral hot-air-balloon covered with over 80,000 dried flowers!  Each painstakingly glued on by volunteers with the direction of Vally Forge Flowers.

Underneath the magnificent balloon was a grand display hearkening the flora collected during the Wilkes Expedition (1838-42).   The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society teamed up with Longwood Gardens to display Longwood’s famous hybrid water Lilly pads.  It turns out pads were the perfect choice for this exhibit!  ”One parent of the “Longwood Hybrid’ was brought from the warm shallow waters of the Amazon to England, and named Victoria Regia in honor of Queen Victoria.” Longwood explains. “In 1961, they continue, “Patrick A. Nutt of Longwood crossed the only two species of the giant water platters to produce the ‘Longwood Hybrid’.

These are just amazing!!!!!  Below is a great video show the amazing growth of these pads just for the show and the delicate packing that had to adhered to in order not to tear any part of the leaves.  It’s a great video below!

This year’s world showcase featured many other countries as well, including Brazil, India, Singapore, New Zealand and The Netherlands. On of my favorites was Expedition South Africa: The Mighty Togo.  The floral designs were so creative and fun.  The exhibit was always busy with visitors.

The flower displays were bursting with energy!

There display also featured a fantastic orchid giraffe that was possibly photographed more by onlookers than anything else at the show.

Up close the orchids were lovely.  All matching orange and in little vases with globe weights.  Just a superb creation.

There was also a very special garden tribute to Jane Pepper, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society who has put this show on for nearly the past 30 years. Jane is stepping down this year and this Scottish Garden is a tribute to ALL her hard work and absolute dedication.  It was titled Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club.

The garden kept the Beatles theme by adding a wonderful portable Beatles record player that sat on a table just waiting for Jane to come start the party.

The garden also featured a fantastic bird house and of course Jane’s own bicycle!

Overall is was a garden I bet she loves.  The view was lovely from what would be her garden.

Yet again there is still more to show from this years show!  I’ll be sharing some more amazing floral displays and featuring some of the artists and business people that brought their great work for sale.  You can still take a look at their work on the internet and possibly shop!

Despite not feeling well this week and expecially this weekend, I managed to get out there a shoot some great flowers!  I spent the rest of the time sleeping!  Trying to feel better.  This week has been a blur!  So tomorrow well take a break from the Philly Show and bring you Longwood Garden’s Orchid Extravaganza!!!!!!

I can’t wait!

‘Til Tomorrow…

Britt : )

Related posts:

1. The Philadelphia Flower Show! Part I: Let the judging begin!
2. A hanging Global Terrain at the Philadelphia Flower Show! Part IV
3. Tulipmania at the Philadelphia Flower Show! Part III
4. This weekend ONLY! Longwood Gardens’ International Orchid Show and Sale!
5. Here at the Philadelphia Flower Show it’s all about the Flowers! Part II

Tags: Feature featured Jane Pepper Longwood Gardens The Philadelphia Flower Show!