Philadephia Flower Show- For Peat's Sake

 This was another of the Standard Flower Show contests at the Philadelphia Flower Show 2025. The assignment was to create a "pocket garden that encorporates a bog garden area."

We need to start with defining a bog. A bog is a wetland that is acidic, and it will support particular kinds of plants.

Oddly enough, the blue ribbon entry is titled "The Mysterious Fen." Now, let me explain that a fen is also a wetland, but it is the opposite of acidic; it is basic. Completely different kinds of plants grow in a fen.

I have to confess that I was rushing so much to take pictures of entries that I did not stop to examine the plant material carefully; however, what I can see and ID is not necessarily suited even to a fen. The corkscrew rush is pH normal to acidic. Most of the other plants I may be figuring out are from all over the world, and would never be found together. The intent even says that: "an enchanting convergence of native and foreign growth- a mystical vortex."

The judges said, "Wonderful composition."

Second place went with something more realistic titled "Guardians of Tomorrow." This depicts the cedar bogs of New Jersey, and states "the reddish-brown watery bogs of New Jersey's Pinelands are our protectors." Well... this warms my heart because that is exactly the kind of thing I was studying for many years.

The judges said, "Wonderful use of bog plants."

Everything you can see even in this corner is really is a bog plant. Two kinds of pitcher plant, a flytrap, haircap moss, wild cranberries, and a clubmoss.

Third place is "Through the Pitcher Window." This is a play on words, with a lot of kinds of pitcher plants- reminder: these eat insects. The intent says, "Pete reflects on his carnivorous plants in his peat rain garden."

The judges remarked on the varieties and quality of the various pitcher plants, but thought the window was out of proportion to the exhibit.

Note, there is a pitcher of purple pitcher plants that you can see through the picture window.

There were three more entries which all got honorable mention.

This one is called "Whimsical Wetlands," and the judges thought it could be more "robust." It is pretty realistic, but not much artistry.

This one is called "The Mystical Side of Nature," where "magical plants sway eerily in the evening."

The judges said is was "enchanting," but the azalea was not suitable. Well, there are native azaleas that do grow in bogs, but this is just a commercial one, although they all prefer acid soil. This would certainly have done better if they had used a different azalea because the ferns were carefully chosen and the garden is colorful.

The last bog garden was called "The Living Canvas" which "invites relaxation and reflection."

The judges said it was a lovely collection, but that the houseplants were not suitable." I have to agree. There is nothing about this that says "bog."

OK, at a flower show where I am Queen, the New Jersey Bog would have taken first place for having actual bog plants, the diversity of native plants, adhering to the theme of the entire Flower Show (Gardens of the Future), and having the structural element (the log) at a diagonal instead of straight (the rock stream) in the one that took first place. So there.

I was sort of tired all day. I didn't sleep well. My head and face were itching like crazy and I took an extra pill and got out the ice pack again. This is all very normal for the neuralgia, but there is no way to know how long it will continue.

I puttered at various jobs and took a tiny walk that doesn't even count.

See PFS- Lab to Landscape