Philadelphia Flower Show Draws Huge Crowd to “Explore America”

March 18, 2016

One hundred and eighty-seven years hardly is a nice round number, so the Pennsylvania Flower Show (founded in 1829) is sharing the stage with the relative youngster National Park Service, celebrating its sweet 100.

“The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is honored that the Philadelphia Flower Show has been chosen by the National Park Service as a centennial event marking this amazing milestone,” said Sam Lemheney, PHS Chief of Shows & Events.

The centennial celebrations formed this year's theme "Explore America" at the show, which ran March 5-13 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and highlighted this nation's parks and historic sites.

“The National Park Service and PHS share a commitment to introduce new generations to the beauty of nature, to be good stewards of our environment, to honor the contributions of individuals to our history, and to build vibrant communities,” said Cynthia MacLeod, superintendent of Independence National Historical Park.

Considered one of America's best ideas, "nobody else had national parks until America created the Service – people used to go have picnics in cemeteries,” said Beth MacMillan at the Hamilton Horticourt Info Booth.

Complementing this theme, the nation's largest flower show had exhibits showcasing organic and sustainable practices, countless plant varieties, garden and design concepts and vendors including Oasis Floral Products, which according to Kelly Mace, aims to "make more high-end floral products available to the consumer, especially garden clubs, who might not be able to find everything locally."

Ruth Ong drove in from New York City and agreed with the judges who awarded "Best of Show: Floral" to Robertson's Flowers and Events.

The vibrant red arrangement "defied gravity" and following the Explore America theme, the "best part was that it was inspired by Arches [National Park], but didn't try to mimic it. Instead it was kept very abstract and definitely beautiful,” Ong said.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Flower Show wrapped up March 13, but you know that the "Big 188" is right around the corner. Word around the Horticourt is a "Holland" spotlight theme is planned for next year.  

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact