Philadelphia Flower Show 2026 - A Fare to Remember

I feel much better today, I'd say at 80%. I had to take one nap, and I'm having trouble keeping food down, but I think that may be under control now. Yeah! So I have enough energy to do a more ambitious post about the Flower Show.

This is another of the Standard Flower Show contests. This was called "A Fare to Remember," and the description is "A functional design for a dining table or buffet based on a World's Fair.

Fourth place was "Liberty, Carried West." The intent (I'll share most of it for this one) says, "Liberty, carried west,... reinterprets the Liberty Float from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915, reflecting the bell's transfer from Philadelphia to San Francisco, symbolizing national unity and recovery following a 1906 earthquake." This was entered by an individual.

The judges said it was colorful, balanced, and artfully arranged. They took issue with the size of the centerpiece, noting that it made the table less than functional for dining which was part of the rules.

Yeah, that centerpiece is lovely but would be awkward at an actual dinner. I'm sure we've all been victims of the obstructing centerpiece.

Third place is "Tabletelling: A World's Fair Memory." The intent says, "Remembering the feeling after the 1964 New York World's Fair inside a warm, bright room... Mid-century lines and florals hold that bright space-age optimism." This was another entry from one or maybe two individuals.

The judges said, "The repetition of spirals and crossing angles bring to life the mid-century sense of space-age optimism." But they thought there were too many lucite containers with greens that interrupted the rhythm.

I guess I didn't catch all the lucite containers because there aren't many in the picture, and anyway, I think they echo the famous globe of the NY Fair which is pictured on the poster. You know I'm not a huge fan of orange, but I loved the use of color in this exhibit. It's just crackling with energy. If I'd done it, I might have tried to connect the elements more with lucite tubes and spheres- maybe along the edges. Yes, MORE spheres and angles!

And this is just glorious!

Second place went to the Chestnut Hills Garden Club with "Beneath Eiffel's Towering Marvel." The intent says, "On the longest summer day, Pierre awaits his intended at the Paris Exposition... the selected blooms... were chosen for their meaning in the language of flowers."

The judges said the arrangement was colorful, pristine and meaningful. "Pierre's intended will be swept away." They liked the textures, but thought the off-white hydrangeas detracted.

I guess I didn't like the hydrangeas either because I didn't include them in a picture! Haha. I thought the suggestion of the Eiffel Tower and outdoor dining was very well done.

The blue ribbon went to the Garden Club of Wilmington with "Blooms: Bridging Tradition into Future." The intent is "Inspired by memories of World's Fair Osaka 1970, a former visitor merges the minimalism of Japanese esthetics with Western convenience."

The judges said, "remarkable contrasting textural harmony... artful...supports the compelling narrative." They particularly liked the floral sushi.

Here's the sushi.

I particularly liked this decoration with the red-twig dogwood and the spiral wreath, except I wanted the twigs to be vertical.

So what do I think? Hmm. it's tough. I really thought the NY Fair with the orange and yellow was spectacular, and fit the era exceptionally well. I would have capitalized more on the spheres and angles as I mentioned. I really wasn't wowed by the Osaka one- there was nothing there that said "World's Fair;" it was a Japanese table anywhere, any time, but the floral sushi was cool, and they used a larger variety of plant materials (which wasn't mentioned by the judges, but I think it's a factor they consider.)

I did get to the grocery store and did some editing. Sorted mail and papers from while I was gone and answered a bunch of emails. Hopefully, tomorrow there will be no reasonable excuses for not getting a lot accomplished.

See PFS 2026- Begonias

Philadelphia Flower Show 2026- Begonias

You know I love begonias. In my dream world I'd have hundreds-all different.

It seemed like there were not as many unusual ones this year, but here are a few. This one is 'Soli Mutata," and it's the only one in this bunch that I have shown from another year. The leaves supposedly change color in the sun- hence the name

Some of them didn't have a variety name. This was just identified as a Begonia Rex. All that means is that it's in the group of plants with over 500 cultivars that all have large fancy leaves.

This one is called 'Snoopy." I'm not sure why.

'Tiger Kitten' is similar to 'Kit Kat' and also another one called 'Little Darling,' so I guess you can't draw conclusions about naming based on something like spots.

This one was large and unidentified, but it took the red ribbon in its group.

And finally, this was only identified as being in the 'Superba' group. But it took the blue ribbon. Not only is it blooming, but the spots on the leaves are pink.

I was up more than I was down today, and I think I'll be good to go tomorrow. And go I must- to the grocery store!

See begonias

Philadelphia Flower Show 2026 - Warm Colors

I need to do an easy post tonight, so I'll just show you half a color wheel with warm colors.

One thing that's so cool about the show is how lavish the plants are. Here are many shades of red and pink.

A spray of very orange orchids.

Orange shading to yellow in this Gloriosa Lily.

And yellow in another orchid.

I did get to my meeting. I wore a mask to help keep the germs to myself and stayed upright and contributed. But I've slept most of the rest of the day and hope to continue that all night.

I had been thinking I'd walk after the meeting, but there was too much snow in the woods, and I didn't have the energy.

See PFS 2026- Floramere- Block

Four Bridges to Home

Yes, I am safely home. And I want to say a definite thanks to God that I managed to miss driving in any bad storms either coming or going. Mostly clear roads, and only a little rain to drive in. That said, it was a long time in the car today. The longest driving day in a couple of years- 10.5 hours. I'd like to quit doing that, but I need to develop a friend near Port Huron to break it up.

Anyway, here's where I was last night- with Dan and Ruth in Canandaigua, NY. They are two of the few people who have walked the entire North Country Trail and I love spending time with them. We have much in common.

I show you three of these bridges that define my route home pretty regularly. But I got pix of all of them today! First up is the Peace Bridge from Buffalo, NY, to Fort Erie, Ontario.

Then when you leave Canada at Sarnia/Port Huron, you cross the Blue Water Bridge into Michigan.

When I take the northern route home it puts me over the Zilwaukee Bridge.

And I'm adding this one in. This is a causeway type brigde over Sanford Lake. This was in the news in 2020 when the dam that created it failed. No one died, but it was pretty dramatic. Repairs have been made and the lake is beginning to refill. So I included this picture because you can see the ice surface beyond the guardrail.

I think I have a touch of Marie's cold. And I have to get up and go to a meeting in the morning which is why I had to get home today. I'm going to bed early. No walking occurred except to and from the car. I'm pretty stiff, but not as bad as I expected.

What a wonderful trip!

See Travel Adventures

Philadelphia Flower Show 2026 - Floramere's Block

The other entity of the Floramere exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show was "Block." It was supposed to be industrial and geometric. They chose to demonstrate that with concrete forms and stylized flowers. For example, they arranged roses in geometric rows and painted them.

This section was similar in different colors.

And some flowers were natural but they tend to look more industrial in their form.

I think the idea was that the wildly organic met the rigid and geometric and their roots intertwined and produced an artistic fantasy.

Today was travel and one final visit with friends. More on that tomorrow. I did get in a short walk.

Miles walked in 2026: 94.9

Canandaigua, NY, streets, 2.0 miles.

See PFS 2026- Ocean

Philadelphia Flower Show 2026 - Floramere's Ocean

Today I'll show you more of the Ocean part of the Floramere exhibit. This was really one of my favorite pieces of the show. Here is a closer view of the section I showed yesterday. The colors and textures are great.

And yesterday's picture, just to remind you. The circles and fans really suggest the rolling of the waves

The end of the floral structure successfully gives the impression of a crashing wave.

But they did a great job of contrasting the calm beneath the surface too. These are plants growing on the "Ocean floor."

I think this group works particularly well. Doesn't it just look like a bed of seaweed with some sort of spiky plant or even animal at the base?

It was kind of a bummer of a final day together. Marie is sick, although she feels a little better tonight. It rained all day. I packed and edited. We did play a game and watched a movie in the evening.

She has an appointment in the morning, and I have to hit the road.

See PFS 2026 - Floramere

Philadelphia Flower Show 2026 - Floramere

Floramere was one of the major exhibits created by Schaffer Designs, but people from five countries and six U.S. states worked on it. It was huge and elaborate. There was a large book with this story line on it. I'll only quote it and not show the book because there are plenty of pictures with flowers.

The story is, "Once upon a time there was a realm born of flowers, connection and imagination. Its name was Floramere. In Floramere, two florists met and fell in love. One from the west between the ocean and the trees. The other from the east between concrete and steel. From contrast came harmony. From collaboration came growth. In time, they built Floramere as a living network - where creativity takes root. Many hands intertwine and imagination continues to grow."

We think we missed a couple of the signs that go with the exhibit. This was Ocean, which is mentioned in the story line with one of the florists. I really liked this part. You will see more of this another day.

And this is Block. The other entity is from concrete and steel, and this has to be that side of the relationship.

Here are the two beings. There was mention of their roots intertwining and of roots creating networks, not destroying.

These were very tall- maybe 20 feet. They were reaching out to each other across an aisle.

And their relationshp resulted in a Nest.

This was one of the archways through which we walked between the realms.

This display was intricate, colorful, and hard to examine closely because it was mobbed. I think you'll see more detailed pieces of this another day because the flower arranging was creative and textured, layered, full of color. But this is all I can manage tonight.

Today was a zoo. We went to church, then to a huge breakfast at the German Club. Then we went to Marie's Franciscan meeting in the afternoon. Home for dinner (which we cooked yesterday). Then we played our game and crashed. I have one more day here.

See PFS 2026- Doorways

Philadelphia Flower Show 2026- Doorways

This is another set of entries in a category in the Standard Flower Show at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The category is "Doorway - Hidden Histories." It's supposed to be a "wreath and container collection designed to welcome and inform visitors, inspired by an obscure or little-known historical event."

There were 5 entries, and two of them got white ribbons for 4th place. This is "The First Lady Visits Winterthur," by two individuals. The intent says, "Jackie Kennedy is coming to visit our estate... we are just so happy and proud."

The judges said the entry missed the chance to showcase more of the estate's plant material and the plantings lacked height.

I might agree. Let's just say this didn't move me in any particular way.

The other fourth place is "The Lavender Scare" by Shipley School Sprouts. The intent says "the lavender scare was a mid-20th century attempt to purge homosexuals from the federal government."

The judges said they took on the theme with dignity, and liked the diversity of the plants, but not the sizes and numbers of them.

I agree with the judges. The arrangement of the pots did not make good use of the space.

Yellow was taken by "Forest Fore!" by Moorsetown Garden Club. The intent says, "a Charleston golfer reflects on his sport's roots... and he's proud to be part of its history."

The judges said the clubs and the "4" on the door clearly show that a golfer lives there, and the plant selection was representative of Charleston, but they wanted more.

I agree that the plants are great, but it's awfully symmetric, and it had stiff competition as you'll see next.

Second place is "To Heligan and Back," by the Spade and Trowel Garden Club. The intent says, "in 1990, two men are poised to revive Helegan Gardens... [in] Cornwall."

Judges liked everything except the rake. They said the plants were authentic and cohisive and invite exploration, but that the rake was out of place.

I liked this one best. And if the men are "poised" to revive the garden, a rake in the doorway makes sense to me. I love how they filled the space with a variety of heights and shapes.

First place went to "Mary Gibson Henry: Pioneering Botanist," by the Garden Club of Philadelphia. The intent states "Mary gazes at spring unfolding... field botanist, explorer, collector of nearly 8000 specimens."

The judges called it a "captivating expression." They called the overall effect "rustic chic" that makes the viewer want to enter.

I do like this one a lot. I just like the one that took second place better.

Today was busy- more busy for Marie. She did stuff all morning, and I woke up leisurely and then edited till she got home. We cooked, we did some errands, we played our game. Then we went and visited Selma for a while and put together a small puzzle. She cant see to do it, but it gave us something to talk about. We helped her put in the last piece.

It was cold and windy outside. No walking occurred.

See PFS 2026- The Wright Way