GardenDC Podcast Episode 274: Philadelphia Flower Show's Past, Present, and Future

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Janet Evans, Associate Director, McLean Library & Archives, at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), all about the fascinating history of the Philadelphia Flower Show. The plant profile is on California Poppy and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Brewing Success in the Garden" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

Janet Evans
Photo Credit: Morgan Horell

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

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If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 230: Secrets of the Philadelphia Flower Show

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/11/gardendc-podcast-episode-220-age-of.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 121: PHS Gold Medal Plants

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-121-gold-medal.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 260: Orchids of the First Ladies

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-260-orchids-of.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 226: Designing Your Natural Garden with Kelly D. Norris

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-226-designing.html

Show Notes will be posted after 3/1/2026.

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3VadcDa7oBXMsKA6zbX02o?si=yPCReyNHQ_23afDp3oOQrA

The GardenDC podcast is also available on -

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We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

GardenDC Podcast Episode 230: Secrets of the Philadelphia Flower Show: A 2025 Review

In this special episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we first hear from three members of the garden media -- Marianne Willburn, Louise Clarke, and Peggy Riccio -- who share their thoughts and opinions about the Philadelphia Flower Show 2025. In the second half, we are joined by PHS' Andrew Bunting, who fills in some background and information about the show.

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

See how at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/support.

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 167: Flinging with the Garden Tourist

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-167-flinging.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 121: PHS Gold Medal Plants

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-121-gold-medal.html

Visit https://shop.kathyjentz.com/ to browse our new online store!

This episode is archived at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/episodes/Philadelphia-Flower-Show-2025-Review-e2vk24g

Show Notes: 01:03: Introducing 3 members of the garden media: Marianne Willburn, Peggy Riccio, and Louise Clarke 01:17: Initial impressions of The Philadelphia Flower Show 2025: Gardens of Tomorrow 03:46: Favorite displays – were they on theme? 07:29: Susan Cohen’s Garden: The Field of Vision 09:15: Kathy talks about her favorite exhibit (it includes squirrels!) 11:28: Marianne talks about the Roots exhibit and exhibit musicality 16:00: Louise talks about use of orchids in displays 16:46: “Philadelphia will be, in 25 years, fully zone 8.” 17:15: Plant Society displays 18:28: Louise talks about being a special panel judge for rock garden plants 21:12: Kathy talks about the display of African Violets 22:13: “Anything special catch anybody’s eyes?” Kathy asks Marianne 23:20: Peggy talks about what she saw in the vendor marketplace 25:09: Kathy talks about her Butterflies Live experience 27:19: What to do at the Flower Show for non-gardeners, children’s activities, and more 28:14: Kathy talks about speaking on March 9th at the Philadelphia Flower Show 2025 about deer and garden mammals 29:05: Marianne mentions the Hendrick's Gin Booth and the Reading Terminal Market 30:56: “Any final thoughts on Gardens of Tomorrow?” Kathys asks everyone 32:56: “Groundcover Revolution” by Kathy Jentz 34:25: Introducing Andrew Bunting, Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society 37:02: “Because it's a flower show, people do want flowers!” 40:44: The Flower Show’s relationship with The Philadelphia Society for the Promotion of Agriculture 41:14: Gardener News in New Jersey 44:43: Andrew talks about repeating exhibitors and spotlights new exhibitors 52:54: Garden programs supported by The Philadelphia Flower Show proceeds 56:05: The Horticourt is “the beating heart of the Philadelphia Flower Show” 56:48: Kathy wraps up The Philadelphia Flower show 57:48: “The Urban Garden” by Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight 58:43: How to support the GardenDC Podcast

The GardenDC podcast is also available on -

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardendc/id1502631179
• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc
• RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/gardendc-G2ql5V
• iHeartRADIO: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-gardendc-73615877/
  
• aCast: https://play.acast.com/s/gardendc
  
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• Bullhorn https://www.bullhorn.fm/gardendc
• Chartable: https://link.chtbl.com/GardenDC
• Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/GardenDC-id2691161?country=us
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/us/show/5587897
• GoodPods: https://goodpods.app.link/u3gtlpybILb
• Headliner: https://play.headliner.app/podcast/37086
• Himalaya: https://www.himalaya.com/courses/gardendc-1747568
• Ivy: https://ivy.fm/podcast/gardendc-940013
• Listen Notes: https://lnns.co/VIfcBjWRnw6
• Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/gardendc/
• PocketCasts: https://pca.st/9phvd8bk
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/2629285
• Podfollow: https://podfollow.com/GardenDC
• Podlink: https://pod.link/GardenDC
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• Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1502631179/gardendc
  
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• TuneIn: http://tun.in/pj7Sb
• Vurbl: https://vurbl.com/station/gardendc/
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine

We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Show Notes: Skylar Drew

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

WELCOME SPRING AT THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW

 

COME JOIN US FOR A DAY-TRIP TO A VIRTUAL GARDEN OF DELIGHTS AT THE UPCOMING PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW!

Washington Gardener Magazine has one trip this year going up to the Philadelphia Flower Show. 

The Philadelphia Flower Show is the oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world. The theme for 2023, “the Garden Electric,” will pay tribute to the enormous impact of flowers on our lives. America’s leading floral and garden designers will create stunning landscapes, imaginative gardens, and breathtaking floral displays. Through imaginative exhibits, guests will see ideas like community, healing, peace, transformation, and hope brought to life in surprising, vibrant ways. 

The Flower Show attracts non-gardeners as well as die-hard green-thumbed people of all ages. Foodies of all tastes will love the vendors and nearby Philadelphia restaurants. First-time and returning riders will enjoy the welcoming, custom details of our coach service.

Here are the details:

Wednesday, March 8 from 10am-10pm (snow date: March 10), leaving and returning to downtown Silver Spring, MD - includes a lunch and is nearby to public transit - see the registration form for more details:

Note: The form is for printing and mailing along with your payment. It is not an interactive online form. If you have any trouble printing it out, please send an email to kathyjentz@gmail.com and I can send the form directly to you. 

Our coaches fill up quickly, so please act fast to reserve your spot with us!

Philadelphia Flower Show - Here We Come!

 

For those who asked about our trip to this year's Philadelphia Flower Show Tour 2021.

Yes, we are ON to go again this year! 

The trip is Wednesday, June 9, 2021, 10:00am-10:00pm -- leaving and returning from downtown Silver Spring, MD.

We plan this to be a safe and enjoyable event for all so we want you to be aware of a few BIG changes:
- We require that everyone sign a waiver and be fully vaccinated.

- We ask that everyone mask-up as much as possible onboard the coach -- outside of when you are eating or drinking.

- We have one less row of seats up front by the driver for current distancing regulations, that means a few less attendees onboard and so we expect to sell out quickly.
  - The show is mainly outdoors and we are going rain or shine, so be prepared for whatever weather it may be that day.  

Please return the registration form and waiver with your payment by May 25.
I will take forms on a first-come basis and will date them as they arrive, then start a wait list.

See the registration form on page 17 in the May 2021 issue of Washington Gardener or email Kathy Jentz @ gmail for the forms.

UPDATE: A quick note that we still have a few spots left on our Philadelphia Flower Show Tour 2021 - on Wednesday, June 9, 10:00am-10:00pm -- leaving and returning from downtown Silver Spring, MD, so I am extending the deadline to June 2.

This year's Flower Show is shaping up to be a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience!