Visiting Gardens: The Philadelphia Flower Show
Robin Schachat
Among flower show enthusiasts in the United States, the Philadelphia Flower Show is undoubtedly THE event of the year. There is no other like it. This year’s show will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia from March 2 – 10. The theme is “United by Flowers.”
For those of us lucky enough to belong to the Shaker Lakes GC and GC of Cleveland, Barb Earnhardt of the Akron Garden Club has offered us a chance to unite (by flowers) with a group from AGC who are pulling together a bus and an arrangement for hotel-and-show-tickets to experience this extravaganza. Those of us who have been to the show know what a wonderful opportunity this is. For those who have not yet had the opportunity, I strongly suggest you have a look at the show website. Exhibits from all over the world, check. Garden designs, professional and student, check. Competitive classes in horticulture and in floral design, professional and amateur, check – judged by GCA judges! Educational opportunities, check. Hundreds of vendors from all over the globe, check. Specialty food options, check (and the Reading Terminal Market, Philly’s version of the West Side Market, right next door as well). It’s unimaginable, unless you have seen it, preferably many times – it changes vastly from year to year.
Our group arrangement involves travelling to Philly on Monday, March 4, and returning on March 6, with a full day ticket for the show on March 5. Our hotel will be the downtown Marriott, which connects directly to the Convention Center – no mushing about in an early March snowstorm for this group. Transport is described as a “luxury bus” – lean back in comfort and enjoy exchanging stories with other garden club ladies, or read and nap. Alternatively, you can drive (7 hours, and there are tolls) and extend your days on the coast; the self-drive cost will be about $600 per person, plus travel expenses. Assuming 20 ladies sign up for the bus, the cost will be approximately $1000 per person; the more people who sign up, the cheaper it will become. That’s an incentive to convince your friends to come along on an unforgettable trip.
We need a quick turn-around on this offer, so if you are interested please respond to BOTH Barb (barb.earnhardt@yahoo.com) AND me (robinschachat@gmail.com) as soon as you are able to determine your plan. Trust me – you will not regret it!