{"id":1687,"date":"2017-03-15T23:09:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-16T03:09:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2020-08-13T17:25:01","modified_gmt":"2020-08-13T21:25:01","slug":"the-philadelphia-flower-show-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardern.co.za\/2017\/03\/the-philadelphia-flower-show-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"The Philadelphia Flower Show – Part 1: Design"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A carpet of tulips set along a canal bridge bedecked with even more flowers welcomes attendees at the 2017 Philadelphia Flower Show – a theme this year that celebrates Dutch culture.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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\nAlthough I am no stranger to spring flower shows, it’s been nearly a decade since I’ve taken the time to attend a major one. That said, the great Philadelphia Flower Show is one I have never attended so I was looking forward to being wowed, yet half expecting disappointment. It’s safe to admit that I experienced a little of both, but don’t get me wrong – any disappointment comes from being over-exposed to the flower show circuit and from being a bit of a plant geek – the ‘wow’ here certainly delivered a punch, even to me, the most jaded of plant folk. <\/div>\n
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\nThe these this year was Holland, and if you know anything about flowers, you know that the Netherlands is home to the world’s largest flower market, and central hub of most every plant and cut flower sold on this planet, so one would expect a virtual explosion of flowers with this theme, which is exactly what the organizers got. This years’ show was Disney meets The Netherlands meets a museum installation. Even if you don’t like flowers (I saw a few husbands holding their wives handbags and flowers near the ladies room checking out the bicycles suspended from the ceiling), no one could get bored with this level of display.<\/div>\n
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No detail was overlooked by the talented show designers, even underneath the bridge elaborate Dutch tile work and floral design delighted most every smart phone user.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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\nAs I mentioned earlier, I am no stranger to this phenom called ‘the spring flower show’. I attended my first as a little kid, and have fond memories of riding high on my dad’s shoulders in the mid 1960’s looking over a sea of tulips at our local spring show then sponsored by the Worcester County Horticultural Society at Horticultural Hall. Later, I remember the excitement and anticipation attending shows int he winter at around age 10 or so. Seeing glimpses of forced branches in the windows of Horticultural Hall as snowflakes fell, was a particular memory, as is the scent of daffodils and hyacinths indoors. IN fact, attending spring flower shows was probably the most influential event when I think about what got me first so excited about plants. So, hopefully, that still happens with young people who attend these shows.<\/div>\n
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Design is often best appreciated in the details. Under this reproduction of a canal bridge, which could have so easily been left unfinished, was a thoughtful installation of delft pottery tiles and a collage of plant material. As guest passed under the bridge, it became a favorite selfie spot.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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\nThe adult me views things with that burden which experience brings – a filter of unintentional yet innate cynicism earned through either over-exposure or just desensitization. Yet even though it’s sometimes hard to reach the same level of excitement over forced tulips (I can fake it, but sometimes that is just sad), this show still excited me because design was of such a high quality. Some might say that there were too many bicycles and windmills, that the Dutch wooded shoe-thing was too cliche, but I am a sucker for cliche – at least when it’s designed and presented so well.<\/span><\/div>\n
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When visitors emerge from under the canal bridge, they enter this space with colorful suspended dried flowers, all illuminated with color-change lights that wowed everyone, regardless of their age or interest in flowers. It’s all about the experience, right?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\nAttending this show is like visiting Amsterdam as well as the flower fields of the Netherlands, but also it delivers a contemporary punch with installations and techno music – not unlike an evening in a hip museum opening or even a Dutch nightclub. I do think that something from the ‘Red Light’ district might have rounded things out, but no one here dared go there. Clearly, this was a family event, but I think one of the design themes for floral design might have been interesting with a more ‘provocative’ theme.<\/div>\n
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Another view of the color installation of dried plant material and color\/illumination.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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\nThis years’ theme for the show is ‘Holland: Flowering the World’, perhaps the most delightful of flower show themes to ever work with for designers, not only because of the euro-centric possibilities, but because of Hollands strong connection to the world of ornamental horticulture. Clearly, the designers here went wild with the theme, but don’t worry, there are enough windmills, bikes and wooden shoes for everyone. I never thought about it, but if you think about it – the Dutch windmills were perhaps the first sustainable source of energy creation -how time cycles around, could have been an equally effective theme.<\/div>\n