Surfacing at the end of winter like a horticultural life raft, the week-long Philadelphia Flower Show is salvation for gardeners grown weary of cold weather. The Philadelphia Convention Center, a cavernous place, is filled with flowers and plants, from tulips to exotic orchids to beautifully grown succulents. Flowers strut their stuff in display gardens and … Read more
Last week I participated in an annual ritual of spring that involved a lengthy pilgrimage, followed by acts of homage at impressive shrines in the company of hundreds of other pilgrims. At the end of my journey, I returned home footsore, but spiritually renewed. The scene of this religious devotion was, of course, the Philadelphia … Read more
The horticultural world—past and present– is full of big personalities, including a colorful cast of plant fanatics, design divas and fastidious flower arrangers. Each adds a bright strand to the tapestry of horticultural history. My recent trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show inspired thoughts of one such big personality, J. Liddon Pennock, Jr.—1913-2003— a longtime … Read more
There are some things in this life that are just too good to miss. One of them is the Philadelphia Flower Show. A few years ago, Flower Show week found me recovering from a bad bout of the flu. It took a major effort just to get from my bed to the bathroom and I … Read more
Most of us who live in cold winter climates get sick of winter just about the time that sleet, ice, snow and gray days really get going. That depressing period generally starts after the first of the year, when the holiday excitement is long gone, along with the decorations. Living spaces are bare, New Year’s … Read more
