Flower Power in Philadelphia

Attending the Philadelphia Flower Show topped my wish list for years. This March, I finally got to experience it on opening weekend. I had such a great time I hope to become a regular attendee like Norfolk Master Gardener Robin Franklin, who grew up in Philadelphia and loves this show.

Started in 1829 by the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, this is the oldest and largest horticultural event in the country. The Philadelphia Flower Show also is billed as the world’s largest indoor flower show.

The 2023 flower show ran daily at the huge Pennsylvania Convention Center from March 4-12. The show helps create a healthier Philadelphia by providing funds for tree planting, neighborhood greening, community gardens, job training, public garden maintenance, and connecting people with horticulture.

After two pandemical years of being scaled back and held outdoors, the show was in its full glory in the sprawling convention center right in the heart of Philly next to the Reading Terminal Market. 

This year’s theme, The Garden Electric, surrounded visitors with creative floral designs, sweet smells and a riot of colorful lights. Visitors began their journey through Florastruck – an  immersive garden with changing light colors and towering arrangements designed to stun and amaze. 

Past the dramatic entry, people spread out a bit making the opening weekend crowd manageable. This year’s show drew as many as 300,000 visitors from around the globe over nine days. 

Some folks opted for big exhibits of up to 2,900 square feet created by professional landscapers, designers and florists. Walking through these displays made you want to hop on a swing in a summer garden, savor a fanciful candy shop or dance in the disco. All of these delightful exhibits showcased gorgeous flowers and plants.

The more than 100 vendors outdid themselves with attractive displays. I was tempted to buy a coconut leaf broom and a big digging tool to haul them home on the train along with container gardens, vases and a bag of peony bulbs. 

If you didn’t get to the 2023 show, enjoy these images and, plan to attend next show in early March of 2024.  Dates will be announced later this year.

Random tips to help with planning:

• Buying show tickets months ahead will save you money. Tickets were as low as $38.50 in October 2022 and rose to nearly $45 by show time.

• Tickets are not for specific days or times so you can use them any day. To avoid crowds, consider going after the opening weekend and on a weekday or later in the day. On some days the show is open until 8 p.m. There also are special tickets for early entrance and after-hours events.

• Taking Amtrak from Norfolk is a great way to get to Philly. Buying my train ticket three months ahead cost only $54 round trip. Last-minute tickets would have set me back around $250. The seven-hour train trip is relaxing — especially in the quiet car. And, yes, you can haul a broom and random odd things home with you.

•  Amtrak takes you from Norfolk to Philadelphia’s William H. Gray III 30th street station – a beautiful 1933 neoclassical station. At the station, hop on a local SEPTA train to your lodging or the show. It is only two stops from the 30^th Street Station to the Jefferson Station where you directly enter the convention center for the show. 

• If you don’t have a Philadelphia metro card, you may get to ride to the show for free on SEPTA trains by showing at attendant your advance flower show ticket. That is what happened to me so I assume that is the norm.

• If you drive to Philly, you can reserve a nearby parking spot in advance online through the flower show website. 

• For lodging, the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown hotel is attached to the convention center, and there are 14,000 hotel rooms within walking distance. But, local train lines make it easy to stay farther away and quickly ride to the show. Maybe you are lucky like me and have relatives who live outside the city and let you stay for free.

• If you plan to meet a friend at the show, remember there are three entrances to the huge convention center so be specific about where to rendezvous.

• Robin Franklin, who also attended the 2023 show, says the key to enjoying it is “to allow plenty of time and take time to relax. I enjoy it best when I’m exploring by myself. That way I can linger where I want without making someone else wait on me.”

• Everyone at the show seemed to be taking cellphone photos, including me. But, I found it pleasant to put my phone away and look with my eyes. This gave a different perspective and imprinted favorite displays on my brain and in my dreams.

• There are food vendors inside the convention center, but a great option is to take a break, get your hand stamped and head to the adjacent Reading Terminal Market  to eat. The market opened in 1893 and is the place for a cheesesteak, hoagie, pretzel, cannoli or other Philly specialty that will fortify you for seeing the rest of the show.

Learn about the show: https://phsonline.org/the-flower-show  

Sign up for show updates: https://join.phsonline.org/updatesflowershow.