Speechless Sunday -- Philadelphia Flower Show - Lights, Camera, Bloom

The Philadelphia International Flower Show has always been one of the most beautiful and artistic events you could ever see. By far, the Philadelphia Horticultural Society’s show has always been my most favorite event of the year.

I've been to a dozen flowers shows in Philadelphia, but never visited  on a weekend, this was my first time and will, without a doubt, be the last.  The crowds were suffocating.  According to show organizers visits among children and students doubled, obviously because of the Disney theme.

This year, the “movie” theme was impressive even though all the displays were Disney flicks. The flower designs for “Cinderella” and “Frozen” were incredibly overwhelming and amazing.

Many of the displays, while stunningly breathtaking, were hardly anything one could get an idea or two about and duplicate at home. Some displays were merely blocks of the same spring bulbs we all have at home-no creative use or design. Some of the retail kiosks (window sales) left me scratching my head wondering "What does this have to do with horticulture?"

That being said, I feel that The Philadelphia Flower Show is moving away from the true underlying theme of the show which is horticultural and moving more towards commercialism.

Call me old-fashioned--call me sentimental--I actually love plants and gardening. I don't need to see the glitz! I come to the show to see vast areas of rose bushes, tulips, hyacinths and daffodils all lovingly arranged and displayed by real horticulturalists, not car dealerships and remodeling companies.