When you go to the Philadelphia Flower Show , it helps to take along the right attitude . If seeing gorgeous , in high spirits concept gardens full of the most fashionable efflorescence make you feel unsafe , then take yourself elsewhere . If you need a massive battery-acid of colour , fragrance , humidity , and horticultural inspiration , then the Philadelphia Flower Show will be perfect for you . On my calendar , it officially scar the end of winter . It also reminds me of everything that a garden can be — provided you have a forklift , a crew of ten , at least $ 20,000 and the ability to make crocus , roses and hydrangeas all bloom simultaneously .
Every class I stand in reverence of the flower organisation , many of which are literally and figuratively over the top . Each shower articulates a theme , which , gratefully , is spelled out on poster beneath or beside the arrangement . Most of the arranging are large , and many are gorgeous . Some are just incomprehensible . A big sculptural installation dominated the center of the showing area , look as if it had been constructed from pieces of a child ’s giant metal edifice bent . Long metal rods connected balls and cubes pass over with red or white-hot carnations , and the whole matter revolved tardily . The event was that of an interesting uniting between the Tournament ofRose Paradeand the complete works of Alexander Calder . I think it ’s secure to say that the piece made a statement .
Above all , the Philadelphia Flower Show is about mode . Last twelvemonth potagers orkitchen gardenswere hot than hot , and there were several on display . Thisyear the only vegetablesthat I saw were in the arrangement with the roue . Last yr there were G oflamb ’s ears(Stachys ) . This year there were a few , but midget boxwood was clearly much more important . Over the preceding few years , the “ bungalow garden ” paper has been articulated with masses of digitalis everywhere . This year foxglove have been supervene upon by giant snapdragons , each one individually post to stand improbable and proud .
Malvas , those tall , slenderly more elegant hollyhock congener , were omnipresent . The comparatively raw cultivar ‘ Mystic Merlin ’ , which has bluish - purple striped flower , and its first cousin Malva ‘ Zebrina ’ , another stripy bloomer , stood in majestic clumps from one end of the student residence to the other . On the shorter side of things , scabiosa , sometimes name to aspincushion flowers , enlivened the front of many displays . I saw lots of blueish and regal scabious , but oddly , no pink . perhaps next yr .
One fashion that has persist is the vogue for flame nettle – the bright the good . I saw hydrated lime fleeceable coleus , and blood - red varieties . The Victorian gardener inside me leaped for joy at the sight of flame nettle cultivar with splattered and whorled foliage in shades of cream , Paris green and pinkish . The coleus waving was crested by the colorful cap of flame nettle standard . These plants , train togrowon supports , with the side shoot clipped off until the top of the support is reach , are vivacious reading of traditional low - exfoliation topiary . I have no doubt that this come summer we will see them flanking the front steps of many fashionable houses .
Flower show normal seems to dictate that you ca n’t really have an impressive showing without a water feature , and about three - quarters of the Philadelphia exhibitors supplied them . Each of those same displays had a little sign in front of it admonish Pennsylvania residents about drought - related water usage restrictions . Artificial pond , pools and cosmetic runnel may be eternally fashionable , but with piss shortages on the horizon , they may not be very practical . If the natural spring rains do n’t get along , I predict that this yr even stylish gardener will be thinking more about mulching than plumbing .
