The theme this year was "Bella Italia." The show was full of Mediterranean style gardens, citrus trees, Italian flag colors, and . . . . kitchen gardens! I was so excited to see people embrace the food culture of Italy and incorporate food into their designs. It was everywhere; in the garden entrances, front porches, backyards, commercial landscaper exhibits, and educational displays. Some people had neat little rows of lettuces and herbs, and others used chard "bright lights" and other showy varieties of vegetables as ornamentals in their designs.
Here are some pics from the show (I apologize for the poor lighting, I did the best I could):
The entrance, with huge floral bouquets and columns.
A "garden entrance" design from Lower Merion High School that is full of food plants (orange tree, basil, chard, rosemary, artichoke, mint, peppers and eggplants).
A "window box" design made completely of herbs.
An educational display by W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences (a charter school in the city), completely designed and installed by students. It is a replica of a South Philly (Philly's Italian section) meat-and-cheese shop, including a courtyard with a kitchen garden.
Absurd clothing and shoes created entirely out of plant material (taking inspiration from Milan's fashion industry).
Gorgeous springtime displays featuring azaleas and rhododendrons.
The blue ribbon winner from the "backyard" design, depicting my future back yard (complete with a bird house with a green roof).
Individual contestants in the terrarium category (I am obseeeeeessed).
And of course, more absurdity. What would the Flower Show be without it?
Here are some pics from the show (I apologize for the poor lighting, I did the best I could):
The entrance, with huge floral bouquets and columns.
A "garden entrance" design from Lower Merion High School that is full of food plants (orange tree, basil, chard, rosemary, artichoke, mint, peppers and eggplants).
A "window box" design made completely of herbs.
An educational display by W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences (a charter school in the city), completely designed and installed by students. It is a replica of a South Philly (Philly's Italian section) meat-and-cheese shop, including a courtyard with a kitchen garden.
Absurd clothing and shoes created entirely out of plant material (taking inspiration from Milan's fashion industry).
Gorgeous springtime displays featuring azaleas and rhododendrons.
The blue ribbon winner from the "backyard" design, depicting my future back yard (complete with a bird house with a green roof).
Individual contestants in the terrarium category (I am obseeeeeessed).
And of course, more absurdity. What would the Flower Show be without it?
4 comments:
wow, that looks incredible! i love that America as a whole is starting to pay more attention to food gardens - let's bring back the potager!
so amazing and strange to see those "gardens" with a roof over their heads... i'm curious about how they were planted!
What ARE those last two? o.0
Hmm, well I know that most of these "gardens" are actually plants in pots that are arranged in groups with mulch covering the pots, so as to appear to be actually planted in a huge garden bed.
And those last two are ridiculous displays created by commercial landscapers. The first seems to be a table setting, and the second . . . um . . . a Dr. Seuss tree?
Bella Italia!!! You know I love it!
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