The fusion of art and horticulture inspired the creations at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's 185th annual Philadelphia Flower Show. The show, held March 1 to 9 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, presented a floral fantasyland based on this year's theme, ARTiculture. Through everything from larger-than-life exhibits to miniature displays, the show provided a glimpse into emerging trends in the flower business as well as inspiring designs for events.
Approaching floral design in a new way, several exhibits showcased flowers positioned stem up, flower down. A display entitled "Choreographing Modern America" interpreted movement and dance through flowers. The piece was designed by Robertson's Flowers & Events as part of the series "Dancing the Dream," based on a show of the same name at the Smithsonian Institute's National Portrait Gallery.
In the spirit of the show's emphasis on art-meets-horticulture, "Strokes of Genius" by the Gallagher Group integrated floral pops of color into famous works of art. Part of the Store Windows competition, in which entrants were tasked with creating a store window with a theme, the creators strategically placed the blooms to bring life to the stylized, two-dimensional drawings.
Contrasting the larger-than-life bouquets, single flowers, each in its own vase or container, were a big trend at this year's show. The minimalist approach appeared in several exhibits, including one by Flowers by David.
Radiant Orchid, the Pantone Color of the Year, made several appearances at the Flower Show, including in an exhibit by Flowers by David of Langhorne, Pennsylvania. The exhibit was inspired by the work of Fresh Artists, a nonprofit organization that supports art education in public schools.
The elaborate display "The King's Feast" was inspired by the "Treasures From Korea: Arts and Culture of the Joseon Dynasty" exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Created by the American Institute of Floral Designers, the piece showcased the trend of arranging flowers and plants to resemble food.
Several exhibits incorporated found and reclaimed objects in new and unusual ways. The display by Organic Mechanics Soil Company integrated repurposed objects, demonstrating how yesterday's trash can be today's beauty.
Several exhibits integrated flowers into overhead lighting. Another part of the exhibit created by the American Institute of Floral Designers showcased such a technique.
The Asian-influenced exhibit by the Pennsylvania Bonsai Society celebrated the Japanese art of bonsai.
Many exhibits, including one by Kristin Kern of the Sasqua Garden Club, featured a delicate balance between flowers and nonorganic materials in abstract geometric shapes. An acrylic ribbon helped create a sense of movement and flow.
Flower Show visitors saw a slew exhibits incorporating the decorative elements of crystals and flowers. Michael Bruce Florist of Collingswood, New Jersey, created a display based on an exhibit at the Grounds for Sculpture in Trenton, New Jersey.
Several exhibitors showcased flora as framed works instead of traditional arrangements. One piece demonstrated how live plants can replace paintings and photos as 3-D wall art.
Rather than displaying flowers against a traditional black or white background, several exhibits showcased color blocking. A specific (often bright) color was used as a backdrop to contrast and highlight the beauty of the blooms. A piece by Connie Hong used such a technique.
Orchids permeated a large number of exhibits at this year's Flower Show. A display, also part of the Dancing the Dream series by Robertson's Flowers & Events, used the delicate blooms to represent the art of the ballet.
