Put on annually by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, The Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest of its kind, with the first show taking place at the Masonic Hall all the way back in 1829. America’s leading floral designers team up every year to create an indoor wonderland of thriving plant life, celebrating specific themes within the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
I attended the Philadelphia Flower Show last year and was astounded by the beauty of nature and the amount of people drawn in to appreciate it. So, when I was presented with the opportunity to return this year, on World Wildlife Day, I just couldn’t resist.
Tip! The Pennsylvania Convention Center hosts the Philadelphia Flower Show, though that is far from all there is to see inside. When you need a break from your floral photography and admiring strolls, take a break to wander the halls of the convention center and stop at one of the craft stations to design your own flower crown, walk among the butterflies – and let them walk all over you – in The Butterfly Experience, grab a snack at the cafeteria-style eatery on the second floor, or head directly across the street to the Reading Terminal Market for a food vendor experience unlike any other.
2017’s theme, “Holland: Flowering the World,” was brought to life with windmills, endless rows of tulips, and Amsterdam canal-style bridges. Being the Netherlands-obsessed travel enthusiast that I am, I was absolutely in love with this display.
Philadelphia Flower Show, 2017 – “Holland – Flowering the World”
Philadelphia Flower Show, 2017 – “Holland: Flowering the World”
This year, however, the “Wonders of Water” theme had me anticipating some ocean/tropics inspired flora and fauna. I was slightly disappointed in the lack of props compared to last year and thought a water-inspired theme could have been represented a bit better, but it’s hard to say I was underwhelmed by such a grand display of nature because the show was stunning as always.
Though I wasn’t as impressed as I was in 2017, this could be chalked up to my personal preferences and isn’t to say the 2018 show wasn’t absolutely beautiful. The Philadelphia Flower Show is an event I look forward to every year and I never fail to have a great time exploring Philadelphia and wandering the grand Pennsylvania Convention Center.
We spend far too much doing anything but appreciating this beautiful planet and working towards its preservation. An event like this can be the perfect opportunity to surround yourself with the unparalleled beauty of nature and leave feeling… well, green.
Thank you to my friends at Bradford Travel Service and Niagara Scenic Tours for inviting me back!
