Garden Displays

For behind-the-scenes information on major exhibitors at Show, visit our Flower Show blog.

Each year, some 60 professional landscapers, florists, and horticultural and educational organizations create full-scale gardens and floral displays that delight visitors to the Philadelphia International Flower Show. These skilled designers compete for many awards, including the coveted “Best in Show” in their respective categories.

Many of these exhibitors have spent decades perfecting their craft, which often includes forcing a great variety of plants into bloom in time for the Show. Exhibitors spend an average of 18 months preparing their displays. With only one week to show off their talents, each company or organization must pull out all stops to be considered the very best.

Exhibitors are invited to enter the Show based on their all-around ability to conceive and create breathtaking displays for the nation’s premier Flower Show. If you are interested in becoming a Major Exhibitor, please email us.

2010 Major Exhibitors 

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS FOR
“PASSPORT TO THE WORLD”

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
100 N. 20TH Street, 5th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Contact: Show Designer Sam Lemheney, 215-988-1621

The Explorer’s Garden

This year’s presentation, “Passport to the World,” will greet guests with a 28-foot-high hot-air balloon, covered in more than 80,000 dried flowers. The Victoria-era display, filled with varieties of plants like those collected through the remarkable Wilkes Expedition (1838-42) and more recent finds from Longwood Gardens Inc., Morris Arboretum, the University of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Botanic Gardens, harkens back to the Flower Show’s roots as a showcase for new plant discoveries. Giant pads of floating Victoria water lilies and blooms introduced to America at early Shows will fill the larger-than-life Wardian cases throughout the display.

SHOWCASE EXHIBITORS

American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD)
Philadelphia Flower Co.
12343 Academy Rd., Philadelphia., PA 19154
Contact: Ron Mulray, 215-632-6270, ronmulray@aol.com

Exploration South Africa

Working with design colleagues from South Africa, the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) provides a tangible artistic presentation of the Zulu culture. Hand-thatched huts, live drummers, a chandelier of floral birds, and sculpted life-size lion and giraffe provide an enchanting entry to a walk-through display that invites visitors to inspect tribal headdresses and masks that depict the vivid colors and patterns found among the native people.

Burke Brothers Landscape Contractors, Inc.
7630 Cheltenham Ave, Wyndmoor, PA 19038
Contact: Michele Rich, 215-887-1773, mrich@burkebrothers.com

Floresta  Amazônia

A small portion of the Brazilian rainforest has been transplanted in Philadelphia. Just about all of the plants being used are tropicals native to South America. Lush foliage encircles a lagoon with a seven-foot waterfall, where frolicking floral flamingoes appear under the watchful eye of a life-size puma and a hungry cayman. Angel-wing begonias, a plant that is both native to South America and easily grown in the Delaware Valley as an annual, is the one element of the rainforest visitors can grow in their own gardens. Keep an eye out for feathered friends, both imaginary and real, in this recreation of the Amazon jungle.

Jamie Rothstein Distinctive Floral Designs Inc.
311 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
Contact: Jamie Rothstein, 215-238-1220, JamieLRothstein@aol.com

Flowers! The Jewels of an Indian Wedding

 An Indian wedding is an unforgettable event, and this exhibit is equally memorable. With a traditional wedding canopy, life-size floral elephant, soaring palm trees, golden columns entwined with jasmine, lotus-filled pools, floral mosaics, and elaborate ropes of marigolds, this wedding scene celebrates the senses and the colorful, joyous spirit of India.

Stoney Bank Nurseries
61 Stoney Bank Rd., Glen Mills, PA 19342
Contact: Jack Blandy, 610-459-5100, design@stoneybanknurseries.com

New Zealand’s Gardens of Ora - Bog & Kiwi

The gardens of New Zealand cover a diverse range of cultures. In this exhibit, a Garden of Ora (Well-being) displays native plants and draws on the traditions of the Maori culture. Working in copper, glass and mosaics, with the help of artists Greg Leavit, Will Dexter and Dave Wentzel, the designers have created a hot water lizard that will carry thermal waters from the New Zealand bush and forest hillside into a bubbling mud pool located in a Maori meeting area. The colonial period brought many Scottish and British settlers to the islands, and elements of their Bog Garden are melded with New Zealand flora.  The third section displays the Kiwi Garden and includes non-native plants made to blend in with the landscape.

Robertson’s Flowers
1301 E. Mermaid Lane, Glenside PA 19038
Contact: Lisa Roth, 215-836-3057, lroth@robertsonsflowers.com

Tulipmania

The Netherlands is the land of tulips, and the many colors, sizes and varieties of the flowers overflow in this stunning, authentic canal scene. The exhibit presents views of the Dutch landscape from inside and outside of a flower shop, with thousands of tulips growing throughout the scene – in the canal, in the cracks in the sidewalk, in the folds of a bed.

Waldor Orchids
10 E. Poplar Ave, Linwood NJ 08221
Contact: Walter Off, 609-927-4126, waldor@waldor.com

A Visit to the National Orchid Garden

Singapore, the “Pearl of Asia,” is represented in a luminescent tribute to the orchid. The tropical, multi-tiered fountains, reflecting pool and formal design are inspired by Singapore’s renowned botanical gardens. This walk-through wonderland is highlighted by a stunning “orchid tree” and the most popular and unusual varieties of the exotic flower.

MAJOR EXHIBITOR PRESENTATIONS

American Ivy Society
P.O. Box 461 Lionville, PA 19353

Contact: Russell A. Windle, 610-970-9175, Hedera@worldnet.att.net

An Oriental Meditation Garden
This display simulates a serene setting conducive to meditation. The weeping trees are a variety of ivy formed to imitate a weeping willow.  The focal figure is a topiary with a fabric design made with a variety of ivy.  The simplicity of the design allows for quiet reflection.

American Rhododendron Society, Greater Philadelphia Chapter
632 Burnham Rd. Phila., PA 19119
Contact: Linda Hartnett, lindahartnett@gmail.com

Rhododendron Ramble

Varieties of rhododendrons, ferns, spring bulbs, and a selection of deciduous trees are woven into this stunning exhibit. Visitors learn how to use rhododendrons in their gardens and how to plant and maintain the plant’s beautiful foliage and flowers.

Beautiful Blooms LLC
1011 N. Hancock St., No. 103, Philadelphia , PA 19123
Contact: Donna O’Brien, 215-925-9300, donna@beautifulblooms.com

Global Terrain

The way land and sea are represented and form the texture of maps -- inspired this unique display. Multiple vases and arrangements of thistle, delphinium, baby’s breath, trachilium and other plant varieties are used to replicate the look and feel of these three-dimensional depictions of the world.

Camden City Garden Club, Inc.
3 Riverside Dr., Camden, NJ 08103
Contact: Michael Devlin, 856-365-8733, mdevlin@camdenchildrensgarden.org

Soup & Salad: From Camden to the World

This exhibit addresses food security and sustainability and educates visitors about how easy it can be to grow their own produce. “Soup and Salad” will pay homage to two healthy meals that are enjoyed by most cultures in various ways throughout the world. “Salad” specifically symbolizes the mission of the Camden City Garden Club and its ever-expanding Community Gardening Program.

Camden County Technical School, Pennsauken Campus
Educational Partner: Mantis Corporation
6008 Browning Rd., Pennsauken, NJ 08109
Contact: Shawn McKay, 856-663-1040, x. 7220, smckay@ccts.tec.nj.us

Journey to a Tropical Paradise
The benefits of tropical rainforests are explored in an exhibit that also explains how everyone can help preserve these precious resources. The display provides a glimpse into the cultures of South African and South American tribal communities, through their dance, music and food. Wildlife and plants found in the rainforests are also featured.
 

Celebrations Design Group
345 S. Morris Ave., Crum Lynne, PA 19022
Contact: Tom Covello, 610-833-5739, info@celebrationsdesigngroup.com

The World of Color

Flowers from around the world create a profusion of color in an exhibit with a hexagon structure. Each of its six walls is devoted to an abundance of flowers of one color. Viewers will experience the new and unusual varieties of stems used in the floral industry and the limitless combinations of using classic and extraordinary blooms together.

Delaware Valley College
Ornamental Horticulture and Environmental Degree Program
700 E. Butler Ave., Doylestown, PA 18901
Contact: Dr. Barbara Muse, 215-489-2287, Barbara.muse@delval.edu

My Corner of the World

With the growing international concern for the health and well-being of humans and the natural environment, many people find themselves daunted by the magnitude of the challenge. Thisexhibittackles the tough issues such as growing food, maintaining clean water and air, biologically diverse ecosystems, recycling and reusing organic products, and minimizing exposure to toxins, all within a small plot of land.  The display showcases solutions to global issues that fit into the average Pennsylvania backyard.

Delaware Valley Fern and Wildflower Society
121 Garden Road, Oreland PA, 19075
Contact: Tom D. Tomer, 215-887-3683, tdtomer@juno.com

Where the Wild Things Grow

Ferns and wildflowers are featured in a pastoral, woodsy scene set in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Visitors will learn how to maintain beautiful native plants and encourage their use. 

EP Henry Corp. – Official Sponsor
P.O. Box 201, 201 Park Ave, Woodbury, NJ, 08096
Contact: Carolina Lobo, 856-845-6200, clobo@ephenry.com, Joe Palomino, 856-468-1700.

Grandmom’s Green Backyard

Step into the domain of a grandmother who wants to make her backyard a favorite spot for her grandchildren and a place that has a positive impact on their future. Visitors are greeted by curved paths brimming with native azaleas, rhododendrons, roses, Victoria sage and hollyhocks. For the adults there’s a relaxing spa, sunken fire pit, and quiet rest area, and for the grandkids – an exciting treehouse. The other great features of this inviting setting are its green elements: an organically-maintained garden with rainwater collection system, green roof garden shed with compost pile, and EP Henry ECO-pavers, developed to address storm water management.

Fairmount Park Commission
One Parkway, 1515 Arch St., 10th Floor, Philadelphia., PA 19102
Contact: Charles Dougherty, 215-683-0223, charles.a.dougherty@phila.gov

Bartram’s Garden

Bartram’s Garden, in Fairmount Park, played an influential role for plant explorers, botanists and naturalists throughout the world. This exhibit showcases native plants discovered by the Bartrams in the 18th century, as well as those plants that would have been utilized in gardens during John Bartram’s time. Practical take-home tips will be offered on the use of native perennials and shrubs for large- and small-scale projects.

Flowers by David
2048 E. Old Lincoln Hwy., Langhorne, PA 19047
Contact: Robin or David Heller, 215-750-3400, flowers.david@verizon.net

Bon Voyage  

Inspired by the anticipation of their own first cruise experience,
exhibit designers David and Robin Heller combined a prom theme (something they’ve always wanted to do) with a cruise departure party. Proms signify the end of one phase of life and the beginning of a new journey. Shapes and lighting are used with roses, orchids, lilies and other cut flowers to interpret this vision of transition and the promise of the next stop on the journey. 

Hunter Hayes Landscape Design
102 Holland Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003
Contact: Lauren Hilburn, 610-896-0309, Lauren@hayeshorticulture.com

Home Green Home

This exhibit captures the warm feeling of coming home, especially after a long trip.  A patio and fountain serve as focal points in a backyard rain garden filled with sustainable landscaping products, including rain barrels and a compost bin. Guests will also learn how to utilize the gifts of Mother Nature to maintain beautiful home gardens.

Ikebana International
Philadelphia Chapter 71
550 Main St., Sewell NJ 08080
Contact: Lorraine Toji, 856-757-9719, ltoji550@comcast.net

Ikebana

Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement.  It is more than simply putting flowers in a container. It is a disciplined art form in which the arrangement is a living thing where nature and humanity are brought together. This year’s exhibit features the Ichiyo School of Ikebana, in which arrangements are intended to arouse the senses and give the viewer an experience with nature that is unexpected, stimulating, and profound. Imagination is considered as essential to creative designs as materials and containers.   

Irwin Landscaping
P.O. Box 186, Hockessin, DE 19707
Contact: Peter Irwin, 302-239-9229, irwinland@msn.com

The Atlantic Highway, from Maine to Florida

The exhibit follows the path of U.S. Route 1 down the East Coast, with representations of three landscapes on the road trip. The area devoted to Maine features pine trees, ferns and a lobster topiary. In Virginia, cherry trees hang over a floating flag made of flowers. And in Florida, taxodium, hibiscus and succulents surround an alligator topiary.

J. Downend Landscaping
411 Smiley St., Crum Lynne, PA 19022
Contact: Tom Morris, 610-833-1500 ext. 12, tmorris@downendlandscaping.com

No Passport Required

A Delaware Valley garden can incorporate beautiful plants from around the world in both hardy and tender forms. In this visionary scene, water cascades down a staircase of Pennsylvania bluestone into a reflecting pool, presenting the appearance of a floating walkway. A bronze globe is draped in a backdrop of roses and amelanchier, and a limestone eagle is enveloped in snapdragons and delphinium, reminding us that we live in a horticultural melting pot of the global landscape.

Jacques Amand, The Bulb Specialists
P.O. Box  4000, Ancramdale NY, 12503
Contact: Elaine Wiggers, 800-452-5414, info@jacquesamand.com

A World in Your Garden

Flowering bulbs from around the globe include some with recorded histories in going back 3,000 years. This display includes modern varieties of traditional tulips, hyacinths, narcissus and crocus, as well as exotic lilies, arisaemas and amaryllis.  Knowing the history and geographical origins of bulbs provides clues to how to care for them in the garden and obtain more lasting results.

Kepich & Associates
Box 152, 3425 Holicong Road, Holicong, PA 18928
Contact: Chris Kepich, 215-794-5090

Just a Thought

Set in the Bucks County countryside, a stone bank that gives access to an old barn has been reclaimed as an outdoor destination. The seating area includes a trellis covered in mature plantings and surrounded by azaleas, perennials and bulbs. But a little bit of the wild woods is allowed to remain in this colorful, imaginative reuse of a rural setting.

Horticulture Academy at Abraham Lincoln High School
Education Partner: Monrovia
Rowland and Ryan Aves, Philadelphia, PA 19136
Contact: Karen Kardon Weber, 215-335-3213, kkardonweber@phila.k12.pa.us

Get the Dirt on Plant Growth

Soil is the foundation for a strong root system, and plants with a strong root system ensure healthy, disease- and pest-resistant foliage and flowers. This display is an island of four scenes, featuring a classroom and greenhouse that provide lessons on utilizing the best soil.

Lorenz Landscape Contractors
507 East Ave., Glenside, PA 19038
Contact: Leo Lorenz, 215-885-8123, lorenzc5@msn.com

Serenity

This Japanese-influenced garden features three waterfalls that flow into a large stream and pond. Flowering trees, including crabapple and weeping cherry, accent the display, which also relies on the presence of rock and specimen conifer plants to create the tranquil ambiance. A bonsai work area adds to the Japanese flavor, and blooming azaleas, rhododendrons, and perennials capture the fleeting moments of spring.

Loughran Landscaping LLC
137 Pencoyd Ave., Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Contact: Frank Loughran Jr., 610-283-4287, frankloughran2@hotmail.com

Highlander Haven

Nestled in the foothills of the Scottish countryside, this serene woodland garden reflects a balance between the man-made landscape and the beauty of Mother Earth. Natural stonework and masonry blend together, linking garden terraces and wild paths. In late spring, the raised flagstone terrace is engulfed in color rising from an abundance of azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas and an assortment of annuals and perennials.

Mark Cook Landscape Contracting
P.O. Box 1112, Doylestown, PA 18901
Contact: Mark Cook, 215-345-9164, limecooper@hotmail.com

Remember When…

A beautiful sitting garden recalls memories of another time and place. Surrounded by colorful perennials and flowering trees sits a playhouse only a child could image. This garden reminds us that within every adult dwells remnants of childhood.

Men’s Garden Club of Philadelphia
353 Aubrey Rd., Wynnewood, PA 19096
Contact: Stanley M. P. Amey, 610-649-5687, stanamey@adjusterassociatesltd.com

Thai Tranquility

A large gazebo in the form of a Thai tea house sits on the shore of a calm lagoon, surrounded by smaller spirit houses that reflect the Buddhist culture. River boats float up to a bamboo bulkhead, and a wide variety of Thailand’s native species – including multi-hued orchids, roses, lilies and carnations – create an exotic, dreamy garden setting.

Michael Bruce Florist
29 Haddon Ave., Westmont, NJ 08108
Contact: Michael Bruce, 856-854-6322, mbfint@yahoo.com 

Glass House 

An enclosed free-standing structure surrounded by a “moat” of rocks and stones will evoke the adage, “Don’t throw stones.” Observers can walk around the see-through structure that will house an iconic floral American flag “floating” on pillars to create a dynamic movement through the surface of the flag. With flowers, woven yarns, fabrics and jewels, the flag will take on the appearance of fabric.  It will be mesmerizing and represent “Old Glory” in a new light. The ‘ah ha!” moment occurs as the observer looks through the display, to see other people looking back at them (from the other sides).and the impact of “don’t throw stones” becomes real.

Michael Petrie’s Handmade Gardens
320 W. Uwchlan Ave., Downingtown, PA 19335
Contact: Michael Petrie, 610-505-8262

Bamboo

Outside, visitors see an island of bamboo. They must enter this space to find its meaning. Each visitor will be given a light, shown the path, and then must find the way through the grove. They may see shadows; they may see light, rippling across green lengths of bamboo like fireflies at night. What visitors experience and take away depends on their own inner nature.

Mid-Atlantic Horticultural Therapy Network
427 Bluebird Lane, Dresher, PA  19025
Contact: Cheryl Wilks, 215-643-3050

Passport to Healing: Horticultural Therapy Around the World

In the professional world of horticultural therapy, plants are used to reduce stress, distract from pain, enhance fine motor skills, teach new abilities, increase self-esteem, and help in many other ways. In this exhibit, visitors will see accessible gardening techniques that allow people to reconnect to the nurturing benefits of our most popular pastime, gardening. Herbs, flowers, vegetables, succulents and tropical plants are used in ways that are fun, meaningful, stimulating and life-affirming.

MODA Botanica
339 S. 13th St., Philadelphia , PA 19107
Contact: Armas Koehler, 215-906-0275, info@modabotanica.com

Box

This very modern exhibit will have a mysterious, industrial exterior. But inside, get ready for a fantastic burst of exotic flora. The international theme will be expressed in blooms from around the world, including the exhibitor’s signature flower, the vanda orchid. Using a lot of color saturation and certain types of plants repeatedly, this display will make a striking, memorable, sensory statement.  

Netherlands American Business Association
3 Woodhill Dr., Willow Grove, PA 19090
Contact: Thomas A. Snyder, 215-280-2969,
tasnyder@comcast.net
Exhibit Partner: Abington Memorial Hospital

Tulips Around the World

The tulip gardens of the Netherlands, Japan and China are featured in this dazzling greenhouse exhibit.

North American Rock Garden Society
Delaware Valley Chapter
1211 Hadleigh Dr., West Chester, PA 19380
Contact: Ken Wiggall,
kenwigg@comcast.net

A Traveler’s Rockery

The exhibit evokes the playful home rockery of a well-traveled gardener from another era. The design uses an irregular, overall form composed of typical rock garden elements, such as screens, rectangular containers and raised beds, filled with plant material collected from around the world, and a liberal supply of artfully constructed rocks.

OuterSpaces Inc.
75 Temple Road, Glen Mills, PA 19342-1234
Contact: Robert Nonemaker, (610) 226-5362, bobosi@comcast.net

A 21st Century Latin American Urban Oasis

A sensuous style of Latin American modernism inspired this sophisticated exhibit. The garden is an exercise in creating romance and tranquility within a chaotic urban environment. Its design addresses today’s environmental concerns by using sustainable woods, living walls and roofing materials, a solar shade structure, and low-volume water features.

Pennsylvania Bonsai Society
1140 Little Conestoga Rd., Glenmoore, PA 19343
Contact: Randall Naftal, 610-651-2818, randallnaftal@yahoo.com

Pennsylvania Bonsai Society

Bonsai is a living art. The trees change over the years and need to be trained and maintained by feeding and watering, in addition to a lot of loving care. The Pennsylvania Bonsai Society has been in existence for over 45 years, and this year will feature a formal Asian display with all types of species related to Bonsai, from tropicals to pines.

Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club
Contact: Margaret W. Ingersoll at ink1951@aol.com

We Love You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

The content of this exhibit is a carefully guarded secret that won’t be unveiled until the eve of the Flower Show. We can tell you that this garden is planted as a tribute – and as a surprise -- for PHS President Jane Pepper, who will retire in spring, 2010.

The PHS Village
PHS, 100 N. 20th Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Contact: Sam Lemheney, 215-988-1621

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society display offers a sampler of PHS programs, highlighted by two fast-paced demonstration gardens where visitors can learn how to plant vegetables, herbs or shrubs, design a small-space or container garden, or find answers to their horticultural questions. The 10- to 15-minute lessons will include children’s gardening demonstrations. The Village encompasses a 3D exhibit of PHS’s acclaimed Philadelphia Green Program, a specially stocked Meadowbrook Plant Store, an informative Membership Booth with prizes, and award winners of the PHS Gold Medal Plant program, including examples of excellent, hardy trees and shrubs recommended by PHS experts.

Philadelphia Cactus & Succulent Society
335 Fieldstone Drive, New Hope, PA 18938
Contact: Paul G. Wesolowski, 267-614-2989, pwesolowski@bmtc.com

Around the World in 80 Cacti

Learning about the diverse world of cacti and succulents involves more than just growing unusual plants. Some growers decorate their homes in a cactus décor. Some hobbyists plan a vacation around a trip to the desert or other environment that allows them to pursue their interest. This display of the many types of cacti and succulents features photos of club members and their experiences in traveling the world in search of these amazing plants.

Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators
2034 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
Contact: Virginia Fitzpatrick, 610-566-3648, firgfitz@aol.com

Celebrating the Artist as Explorer

When U.S. expeditions traveled the globe to find new plants, botanical illustrators were important members of those intrepid explorations. And many of those botanical artists were women. This exhibit will show the history and techniques of botanical illustration through history. A portion of the sales of paintings at the Flower Show will go to the Living Beyond Breast Cancer organization.

Philadelphia Water Department
1101 Market St., 3rd floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Contact: Arthur M. Holst, 215-685-6143, Arthur.holst@phila.gov

Healthy Stream, Healthy City, Healthy World

Prior to the Internet, telephone, and other modern technologies, waterways were passports to the world.  Many of Philadelphia’s waterways have been degraded due to flash flooding, pollution, and erosion.  The Philadelphia Water Department exhibit shows how modern streambed restoration techniques mimic nature with the use of stone and native plants. These “Healthy Streams” reduce the risk of flooding, supply the city with drinking water, and provide a rest stop for wildlife traveling to other parts of the world.

Ponds & Gardens of Limekiln
200 Limekiln Pike, Glenside, PA 19038
Contact: Hermann Twelkmeyer, 215-694-7968, pondsandgarden@aol.com

Fruehling in Deutschland (Springtime in Germany)

The arrival of spring inspires a party in a German beer garden! Celebrants gather in a beautiful tent, adjacent to a gurgling pond filled with colorful koi. Water lilies and other aquatic plants, annuals and perennials adorn this toast to the changing seasons.  

Romano’s Landscaping
P.O. Box 80, Pitman, NJ 08071
Contact: Peter Romano, 609-471-1067

Journeys Past

The beauty of azaleas, rhododendron and adorning ferns have their time of majesty and splendor, then pass with the autumn winds. The stream goes on feeding the pond as it has since time began. The bridge remembers -- the aging pathway connects people and places, dreams and destinations. This postcard from another time speaks to the solitude and simplicity that calls out to the restless heart.

Rosade Bonsai Studio
6912 Ely Rd., New Hope, PA 18938
Contact: Chase and Solita Rosade, 215-862-0619, chase@rosadebonsai.com

Bonsai: Living Art of the World

Bonsai is an ever-changing art, as can be seen from the classic Bonsai of Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia to the contemporary Bonsai of Europe, the Americas, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the rest of the world. In this region, tropical Bonsai may be enjoyed in the home or office environment, and temperate Bonsai may be grown in a garden, patio or terrace. Visitors are invited to a live workshop in this display.

Schaffer Designs
4403 Richmond St. Philadelphia, PA 19137
Contact: Bill Schaffer, AIDF, AAF, PFCI, 215-533-6468, bill@schafferdesigns.com

Polar Fantasy

Though flowers are not normally grown in 40-below temperatures, this exhibit brings flowers to the Arctic with the warmth of the swirling lights of the Aurora Borealis.  The display features all-white flowers encapsulated in caverns of snow and ice.  Thousands of white dendrobium orchids behind sheets of “ice” frozen in stalagmite and stalagtite formations are combined with spherical mounds of white carnations piled high throughout the exhibit.  As guests walk through, fiber optic cables power the swirling colorful lights in an ever-changing pattern that captures the imagination and brings warmth to the coldest point on the globe.

Subaru of America – Official Sponsor
Subaru Plaza, 2235 Route 70 West, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Contact: Abana Jacobs, 856-488-3944

Subaru Japanese Tea House

This Japanese garden depicts a very tranquil setting that incorporates the use of stone, water and plants. The view from the tea house is of flowering cherry trees, azaleas, iris, and the sublte green tones of Japanese ferns. The sounds of water gently cascading down the hillside to the koi pond relax the soul. Inside the tea house, an extraordinary display of bonsai plants lifts the spirit as everyday  worries drift away.

Temple University
580 Meetinghouse Rd., Ambler, PA 19002
Contact: Baldev Lamba, 267-468-8178, blamba@temple.edu
Metromorphosis:

 Transforming the Urban World

This three-part exhibit reveals the ways rapid urbanization has had a negative impact on the world, but nature has a way of reclaiming its place. In an abandoned vacant lot, a succession of hardy plants have returned, forcing their way through cracked concrete and transforming the lot into an ecologically rich habitat. A city courtyard has been turned into a vertical, edible garden, as herbs and other plants reclaim steel wall surfaces. Another section shows how an urban rain garden of wetland and aquatic plants harvest storm water, and a mundane plot of ground becomes a lush, green ecosystem.  

Tourism Ireland- Official Sponsor
Built by Burke Brothers Landscaping
Contact: Laurie Clabbers, 215-887-1773
Cead Mile Failte (100,000 Welcomes)

A wee bit of Northern Ireland’s Mount Stewart garden is recreated in this unique display. Situated along the Gulf Stream, Mount Stewart’s temperate climate allows for a wide array of plants. This walk-through exhibit captures the formal, Italianate style, with its stone walls and plants of the British Isles. But it also juxtaposes rhododendrons with palm trees, and unique woody plants with subtropicals. The centerpieces are a six-foot-high topiary harp, a replica of the one at Mount Stewart, and a recreation of Mairie’s Garden, inspired by a familiar nursery rhyme and consisting of a baby pram, bell flowers and sea shells. 

U.S. EPA Region III
1650 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
Contact: Jeff Lapp, 215-814-2717, or Todd Lutte, 215-814-2099, lutte.todd@epa.gov

East Meets West

In this tranquil, Asian-style water garden, there is a practical lesson in treating storm water on site. A serene tea house overlooks koi fountains and a surrounding garden of native azaleas, pitcher and other bog plants, many varieties of ferns, and beautiful stands of bamboo. The result is a very aesthetic approach to environmental responsibility.

W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences
7100 Henry Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19128
Contact: Barbara Brown, 215-487-4467, bbrown14@comcast.net

Through Her Gates

The Statue of Liberty stands as a symbol to welcome all who pass through her gates. In this display, plants from around the world come together, representing the melting pot that is America. Varieties from Asia, Europe and the Americas surround the great lady, linking horticultural traditions.

Waterloo Gardens
200 N. Whitford Rd., Exton, PA 19341

Contact: Martha Garvin, 484-879-2384, or Susan LeBoutillier, 484-879-2388, sleboutillier@waterloogardens.com

A Backyard Adventure

This spring flowering garden is intended to stir the inner child. Blooming cherry and crabapple trees, azaleas, rhododendrons and beds of bulbs will capture the fundamentals of garden design, including proportion, balance, rhythm and movement.

The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades
106 S New Middletown Rd, Media, PA 19063
Contact: Donald Jackson, Director of Horticulture, 610-566-1776 ext 240, djackson@williamson.edu

Forests and Man

The earth’s ecology is inter-related.  This exhibit uses maples, rhododendrons, azaleas, hollies, oaks, magnolias, cherries, birch, dogwoods and viburnums to show the surprising number of plant genera that are native to both the People’s Republic of China and the eastern United States.   Students of the Williamson School want visitors to think broadly to truly appreciate the complexity of the earth’s forest environments and find ways to make their lifestyles more earth-friendly.